The Journal

Issue date: 4/28/05 Section: Culture

Media Credit: JOURNAL FILE PHOTO Alumni celebrate a correct answer in the trivia night held Oct. 8 in the U.C. Grant Gymnasium.

At some universities, alumni events are scheduled around sports, but Webster University has managed to hold on to a thriving alumni tradition without an athletic influence. Some Webster alumns more than 50 years removed from their graduation date, but still participate in alumni events and come back year after year for Homecoming Weekend.

Homecoming is just one of numerous events planned by the Alumni Association. The Alumni Association sponsors lunches, events to raise funds, dinners, group outings to The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Opera and Conservatory theaters. Under the Alumni Association, there are several committees and chapters that serve the different alumni demographics within the St. Louis area, as well as other U.S. campuses.

African-American Alumni Chapter (AAAC)

This chapter of the Alumni Association is open to all African American alumni at any Webster campus. According to Nick Valenziano, regional alumni development officer, AAAC has reached the highest level of recognition as a chapter. Valenziano said AAAC receives the most financial support from the Alumni Association because it is a fund-raising chapter.

Student Outreach Committee

This committee was developed to introduce students to alumni before they graduate. Necole Powell, alumni development officer, said students weren't formally introduced to alumni in past years.

"The first contact previously has been after graduation when the alumni ask the graduates for money," Powell said.

Powell has been working with students as an adviser to form the Student Alumni Association (SAA), which will function as a student group, recognized by the Student Government Association (SGA). Powell said since a lot of students are looking for ways to network, SAA will co-sponsor events with the Student Outreach Committee to bring alumni and students together.

"Certain things should be board-driven, alumni-driven and student-driven," Powell said.

Junior, Crystal Ginn, an interactive digital media major, has been working with the Student Outreach Committee as the liaison between the student group and the Alumni Association. Ginn has been meeting regularly with Powell and Julie Reese, vice president sales representative at Moore Jaguar and the chair of the Student Outreach Committee.

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