Spring Break
MUSF students to visit alumni chapter events
Stephanie Petropoulos and Stacey Skotzko
Issue date: 9/19/06 Section: Campus
Miami University has always maintained a relationship with alumni, and now the Miami University Student Foundation (MUSF), a student branch of the alumni association, is making it possible for current students to travel across the country to meet with former graduates.
MUSF has been keeping alumni involved with Miami since 1973, and more recently, will allow current students to establish stronger connections with alumni, near and far.
"There are different events going on everywhere," said senior Lindsay Johns, member of MUSF's executive board. "The upcoming event is the campaign gala being hosted at the Duke Energy Center Sept. 29. MUSF members will get the chance to help host and mix-and-mingle with alumni."
MUSF is still in the beginning stages of these plans and is not sure how many members will be able to travel and where they will be headed.
Potential events taking place later in the year include a campaign gala held in Chicago in November, and another in New York, for which a date has not yet been set. Other opportunities include chapter gatherings where alumni and students meet, the next of which will be held in Columbus, Ohio.
"The original idea of the organization when it started in 1973 is the same as it today, for the organization to support students and to build money for scholarships," said MUSF adviser Mark Macechko, assistant director of university advancement. "The alumni really better the university with their continued support."
The funding for these trips will come through the alumni association and MUSF fund raising.
"The fact that MUSF is funded by the alumni association is unique - no other student groups are," Johns said.
MUSF continues to look for new opportunities for students and alumni to both network and remain close with Miami.
"When it first began, MUSF was the 'it' group to be involved with," Johns said. "We wanted to reestablish what MUSF once was, and we're doing so by developing more goals and reevaluating our mission statement. There are so many opportunities such as the (MUSF sponsored) triathlon in the spring, which is an awesome opportunity to work directly with alumni."
Another opportunity to get in touch with alumni will be the "Eye on Alumni Program," when Miami brings back prominent alumni and treats them to a full day of re-living their time at Miami. This year it will be held the weekend of Feb. 5.
"The alumni attend classes and have the opportunity to talk to their old professors, eat where they used to eat, and go uptown," Johns said. "Students participating get to ask the alumni questions about job opportunities and what alumni did after graduating and maybe what they wished they had done."
Both Johns and Macechko stressed the importance of alumni to students, as alumni are a perfect networking tool.
"Alumni are a huge resource that not everyone taps into. We're hoping that will change," Johns said.
MUSF has been keeping alumni involved with Miami since 1973, and more recently, will allow current students to establish stronger connections with alumni, near and far.
"There are different events going on everywhere," said senior Lindsay Johns, member of MUSF's executive board. "The upcoming event is the campaign gala being hosted at the Duke Energy Center Sept. 29. MUSF members will get the chance to help host and mix-and-mingle with alumni."
MUSF is still in the beginning stages of these plans and is not sure how many members will be able to travel and where they will be headed.
Potential events taking place later in the year include a campaign gala held in Chicago in November, and another in New York, for which a date has not yet been set. Other opportunities include chapter gatherings where alumni and students meet, the next of which will be held in Columbus, Ohio.
"The original idea of the organization when it started in 1973 is the same as it today, for the organization to support students and to build money for scholarships," said MUSF adviser Mark Macechko, assistant director of university advancement. "The alumni really better the university with their continued support."
The funding for these trips will come through the alumni association and MUSF fund raising.
"The fact that MUSF is funded by the alumni association is unique - no other student groups are," Johns said.
MUSF continues to look for new opportunities for students and alumni to both network and remain close with Miami.
"When it first began, MUSF was the 'it' group to be involved with," Johns said. "We wanted to reestablish what MUSF once was, and we're doing so by developing more goals and reevaluating our mission statement. There are so many opportunities such as the (MUSF sponsored) triathlon in the spring, which is an awesome opportunity to work directly with alumni."
Another opportunity to get in touch with alumni will be the "Eye on Alumni Program," when Miami brings back prominent alumni and treats them to a full day of re-living their time at Miami. This year it will be held the weekend of Feb. 5.
"The alumni attend classes and have the opportunity to talk to their old professors, eat where they used to eat, and go uptown," Johns said. "Students participating get to ask the alumni questions about job opportunities and what alumni did after graduating and maybe what they wished they had done."
Both Johns and Macechko stressed the importance of alumni to students, as alumni are a perfect networking tool.
"Alumni are a huge resource that not everyone taps into. We're hoping that will change," Johns said.
