Want to know more about the Young Alumni
Chapter?
Contact Susan Kusilek Larson, Class of ’07, at
slarson@uwsuper.edu or 715-817-0655.
|
Several of the founding members of the Young Alumni
Chapter met on campus this summer to finalize details of the new
affinity group. From left, Jim Paine, Class of ’07; Amanda Evenski,
Class of ’08; Ben Okemwa, Class of ’08; Jackie Wallgren, Class of ’07;
and Stefan Fletcher, Class of ’08.
Want to know more about the Young Alumni
Chapter?
|
Recent grads form Young Alumni Affinity Group
They all have their reasons, but perhaps Jackie Wallgren, Class of ’08, said it best: “Even though I’m not (on campus) anymore, I’m still a Yellowjacket.”
That’s why Wallgren and several other recent graduates across the country have formed the Young Alumni affinity chapter through the UW-Superior Alumni Association.
The Young Alumni Chapter is aimed at current students and alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years. The chapter will focus its efforts on providing professional networking and mentoring opportunities. It may also implement a lecture series that brings UW-Superior alumni back to campus to advise students on career matters and encourage mentoring.
Charter members of the group also created the Early Advantage Fund and each pledged to make gifts to the UW-Superior Foundation of $200 a year for each of the next five years. Gary Coleman, MA ’08, came up with the name to reflect the fund’s goals: To encourage alumni to give back to the university early in their careers to give an advantage to current students.
Dave Anderson, Class of ’78 and chair of the UW-Superior Alumni Association, is enthusiastic about the new alumni chapter.
“It’s a priority of the Alumni Association to recruit recent grads into the ranks of its active members,” he said. “The sooner recent grads make a commitment to become active through a chapter, the greater the potential for the development of a lifelong relationship that will benefit both them and the university.”
Stefan Fletcher, Class of ’08, initiated talks with the Alumni Association’s board of directors about starting the Young Alumni group. His goal is to help build “an alumni culture” among students before they graduate so they become lifelong supporters of their university.
Fletcher’s motivation was simple. “We want to help our university,” he said.
He didn’t have any trouble finding others who shared that sentiment.
“What sold it for me was looking back at what UWS did for me,” said Wallgren, whose UW-Superior degree and experience enabled her to earn a spot in a highly competitive master’s degree program at the University of North Carolina. “If not for UWS, I never would have gotten into UNC. This is repayment for that.”
“I’m very happy to join the group,” said Ben Okemwa, Class of ’08. “I realize a lot of young alumni want to give to the university but need a way to get involved. This group will create more tools for that, and also help them with networking.”
Making financial gifts to their alma mater can be a daunting prospect to new graduates in the first years of earning a salary. But Jim Paine, Class of ’07, said spreading the amount over five years helps.
“I’ve given to different organizations, but always in small amounts,” he said. “Small amounts are manageable, and you feel committed.”
Other charter members of the Young Alumni affinity chapter are Susan Kusilek Larson, Class of ’07; Chenthu Jayachandiran, Class of ’04; Kim Store, Class of ’07; Amanda Evenski, Class of ’07; and Amanda Hanson, Class of ’09.
Anderson said the Young Alumni Chapter will provide many benefits to its members, especially in networking.
“Staying in touch with recent grads who have had shared experiences on campus will also result in the sharing of professional experiences after college that could open doors and create new opportunities for everyone involved,” he said. “In addition, the work that our chapters do to support UW-Superior is a great way to ensure that up-and-coming students will continue to reap the benefits of a top-notch education at a fantastic campus.”