by Cory Cruz
Staff Writer
Building the bridge between students and alumni was one of the main purposes when the Student Alumni Association (SAA) was founded by former Director of Alumni Relations Kim Rutledge in 1993.
The SAA is a part of an international organization called the Student Alumni Association/Student Foundation Network, with chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
Donna Redman, current director of alumni relations, and Mark Bagley, director of development, are currently co-advising the organization that has nine active undergraduate members and 15 active alumni members. All members who have participated in the past and are still attending the University as full-time under graduates are still associated with the organization.
“The purpose of SAA is to act as a liaison between the current student body and the alumni,” said Bagley.
Members of SAA are volunteers of the public relations organization that helps create a link between current and future alumni. The organization is working to inform students, parents, alumni and friends about the University’s academic programs, faculty, student services and development program.
SAA currently represents the student body to the alumni and supporters of the University and assists with public relations programs.
Even though growth in the organization has been slow, Bagley believes that SAA works better with fewer members.
“We hope to have at least 20 members,” he said. “But I don’t know if we’ll grow beyond that. First, we want to see what we’re like at 20. Right now, we’re trying to take baby steps. Later, if students are interested in having an association with 30 or 40 members, we’ll be willing to work with that too.”
SAA has put on events in the past such as “teachers’ toast,” in which the members invite a teacher to a banquet to show them their appreciation. Last Saturday was alumni day for reunion classes. This is where the alumni are escorted around and shown the new improvements to the campus as well as what is in the works for the future.
“I think that it is neat to show the alumni that were here when there was only three buildings, all the development that has went on since they went to school here,” said sophomore Tracey Landisi.
Bagley agrees. “The alumni enjoy talking to the students and hearing about what’s happening on campus now as opposed to when they were students here.”
At the present time the organization is working on the commuter finals survival kit. The members send out letters to the families of students encouraging them to buy their son or daughter a kit for finals that includes a variety of different goodies and coupons that are good for free drinks at the spot and Lordsburg Roasters as well as a car wash.
“RHA does a survival kit for the residence hall students, so we wanted to focus on the commuters who usually don’t have this benefit,” said senior Amber Neri, who is in charge of selling and distributing the kits.
Students and alumni who are involved in SAA also have the opportunity to attend national and regional SAA conferences and conventions. In the past, members have traveled to Reno, Las Vegas and Santa Barbara for these gatherings. This year, the regional convention will be held at UCLA.
“Being involved gives you the opportunity to meet college students from across the country,” said Bagley.
Junior Juan Pablo Miramontes said that “getting to know the alumni and being able to network with them has been an advantage.”
Redman and Bagley said they are having a great time advising the organization.
“It’s a great chance to work and interact with students and alumni,” said Bagley.
“We still have alumni from the early ‘20s who are as active in the organization as they can be at that age,” said Bagley. “At our last banquet, we had one lady who graduated in 1926 and was at ULV to celebrate her 70th reunion.”
Landisi said, “the group is cool because we are a very diverse group that are all parts of other groups and we can come together and put on events for the alumni successfully.”
To be a member of SAA, a student must have attended ULV for at least one year and must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or above.
Members must also be able to attend all of the meetings. The organization currently meets every other Tuesday, but when the fall semester starts they will adjust the days and times accordingly to fit the students’ schedule.
“Students are spread so thin with so many different activities,” said Bagley. “We hope to have members who can commit themselves to SAA.”
SAA will be accepting applications until May 3. Students who are interested can pick up an application at the University Relations office during business hours.
Cory Cruz
