CBA Alumni Board pitches in year-round
Every spring, CBA Alumni Week brings together alumni and students for an exchange of ideas and networking opportunities. While the week may be one of the Board's most visible projects, this group is actually active throughout the year, assisting students in their job searches, serving the community and furthering the goals of the College.
Members of the CBA Alumni Board with President Gerard L. Stockhausen, S.J., Interim Dean Gerald Cavanagh and keynote speakers John ’79, and Nancy ’83, Kennedy.
Alumni Week thanks
Thirty-five alumni volunteered to visit the classrooms and speak to students on a variety of subjects for Alumni Week 2009. We wish to thank them for helping to make the week a success.
Jeff Antaya '80, '87
Kathy Dul Aznavorian '68
Cornell Batie '92, '00
Mark Bealin '84
Tony Belli '06
Joe Callaghan '78, '81
Armando Cavazos '74
Rick Damman '68, '74
Dennis Drenikowski '82
Dave Fitch '79, '83
Travis Furlow '06
Jim Giordano '85
Ken Gonzalez '02, '06
Dave Grubb '92
Jerry Hepp '58
Jon Keehn '05
Bill Kelly '85
Anne Kennedy '83
Pete Kennedy '85
Jim Kirby '92
Matt Larocca '04
Don Lee '91
John Naglick '78, '83
Dominic Paluzzi '04, '07
Evan Peterson '06
Dan Roma '84
Brad Simmons '79, '84
John Sirhal '69, '71
Teresa Soave '96, '98
Marvin Washington '92
Anthony Weekly '90
Bill Young '90, '04
Frank Zolenski '02
A special thanks also to Mary Hassett in the Dean's Office for working with the Alumni Board through the year and making this week possible.
Linda Small, from Alumni Relations, also works with this group on their full agenda of events and activities through the year, and this week would not be possible without her help and encouragement.
Of interest to CBA students is the twice-yearly Career Development Day, coordinated by the Student Outreach Committee of the Board. Alumni meet with graduating seniors to conduct mock interviews, giving students a valuable "real world" preview.
Says Joe Berkowski '73, "The interviews are done one-on-one, or sometimes two-on-one to give the kids a feel for what it's like to go through it. We try to ask questions we would ask in real business life. We also give them tips on how to dress and we look over their resumés."
Board members have also been taking a hand in recruitment and retention efforts for the College. Ken Gonzalez '02, '06, says, "Some of us give prospective students a call to let them know about our experiences with UDM and the College. We've also organized a mentoring program, in which a freshman or sophomore is assigned to a junior or senior to help them out with adjusting to the University, their class work, or life in general."
Another of the Board's functions is fulfilling the "leadership and service" portion of the University's mission through community service. The Community Service Committee coordinates a variety projects throughout the year.
Ann Morgan '99, '09, a member of the Board's Community Service Committee, says, "We think it's important that the Alumni Board reflect the mission in what we do. So every year we try to do as many service activities as possible. We try to do at least two Sandwich Bus events per year because we love service opportunities where we can work with students. We also try to do things where we are involved with the people we are helping."
This year, Board members helped package meals and ate lunch at Capuchin Soup Kitchen on Good Friday, and provided clothing and other essentials for three families at Christmas through Focus:HOPE.
Another goal Board members work toward is getting other alumni involved more fully in the College. Tom Chaplow '60, says the Board is always looking for dynamic people who want to give back to their alma mater. He adds that the Board is helping to increase the College's visibility and is now on LinkedIn. There is also a Facebook group. With dedicated alumni doing great things for the College, Chaplow says, "We're on a roll, we just gotta keep moving forward."
If you are interested in giving back to the College by joining the CBA Alumni Board, please contact Linda Small at smalll@udmercy.edu or 313-993-1540.
