Creating Connections
by Michele Giannone Talwani ’93,’96G, PSUAA Chair and Andrea Bergeron Sbona ’81, PSUAA Chair-Elect
Have you ever wondered what the students at Plymouth State are all about these days? How does their curriculum differ from when you were taking classes? How have the Internet and computers affected the classroom environment? What is life like in the residence halls? What happens on Saturday nights?
Find out what’s going on by jumping aboard the “creating connections” opportunities offered by the Alumni Office and the PSU Alumni Association. We have been working to bring students and alumni together. Students learn from alumni about “real world” experiences and their journey to their current positions. Alumni share their knowledge of their fields, interact with the students, and learn more about PSU today, plus, so much more! Studies show that when alumni build active relationships with students, it helps keep them engaged long after graduation, and helps them be more successful in their careers.
Several years ago Althea Goundrey ’87, ’96G and Gerard Buteau ’86, associate professor of education at PSU, developed a program called “Dinner with 12 Strangers” to bring together students, alumni, and faculty from the same field for dinner, mentoring, and real-life advice at the home of a sponsoring alum. Through this program, PSU students, alumni, and faculty come together as strangers and leave as friends.
September 2006 marked the first combined Homecoming and Family Celebration Week. Alumni, students, and families connected with each other and the campus through exhibitions, presentations, and social and cultural activities. The feedback from the alumni, students, parents, and faculty alike has been overwhelmingly positive.
So how can you stay connected with what’s happening at Plymouth State? Our online community, my.Plymouth, is the answer. Every alum now has a lifetime PSU alumni e-mail address and access to the my.Plymouth portal. Here you can instantly connect and reconnect with new and old friends, and find information about your graduating class, athletic teams, and affinity groups—a great way for students and alumni to share their common bond. We encourage all alumni to check it out
Each year, the PSUAA awards seven $700 scholarships to deserving PSU students. These scholarships have become very competitive, with many qualified students applying. Alumni volunteers review applications, interview applicants, and select the most deserving students. The recipients are notified of their awards in June and are recognized at an awards dinner during the fall semester. These scholarships not only help to defer the cost of tuition, but also create an opportunity for students and alumni to come together.
These are just a few ways that the PSUAA is encouraging students and alumni to become more connected. To learn more, contact the Alumni Office at (800) 772-2620 or alumni@plymouth.edu.
Contact the Alumni Relations Office
(800) 772-2620
Office of Alumni Relations, MSC 50
Plymouth State University
17 High Street
Plymouth, NH 03264
