Author Archives: lkazin

UMass Alumni Welcome SAA to D.C.

Posted on by

Guest blogger Lauren Richardson ’17 writes:

While SAA was visiting Washington D.C. last weekend for the CASE ASAP National Convention, we were lucky enough to meet up with area alumni for dinner at Clyde’s, a buzzing pub located in Chinatown. Our alumni group, including Klyde Siegfriedt ’80, David Garriepy ’04, Philip Bakerman ’07, and Susan McCarthy ’05 were kind enough to share their Friday evening with us, but also their suggestions for making the most of our UMass connection both now and when we graduate.

Time flew by at our table, as we discussed our UMass experiences, our favorite Amherst restaurants, “Deflategate,” and our plans for the future. Our alumni shared their career paths from graduation to present, and they advised us how to tackle the real world after UMass. They encouraged us to frequently ask questions of ourselves and others to ensure that we are on the right track to achieving our goals. As we plan our future classes, internships, and ultimately the career we will each seek after graduation, this advice will remain helpful and relevant.

Our student-alumni group poses for a photo at Clyde's restaurant.

Leading by example, they suggested taking advantage of the UMass Alumni Networks. These Networks span the entire country, providing opportunities for professional development, as well as provide an avenue for athletic, social, volunteer, and family engagement. The D.C. chapter even plays intramural sports on the National Mall lawn together! It was comforting to know that no matter where we move in the country, the nearby Alumni chapter can help us get settled in a new city and make connections both personally and professionally.

I found our dinner to be a very rewarding experience.  The alumni were amazing people (even though David was a Buffalo Bills fan and I am a staunch Patriots supporter). We bonded over our love for UMass and made plans to meet up at the Homecoming football game this fall. I’m grateful for this opportunity because the connections we formed at dinner were personal, not just professional. The alumni made achieving success in the real world seem a little less daunting, and a lot more possible. Go UMass!

Prepare for Monumental Success: CASE ASAP DC!

Posted on by

Guest blogger Ali Lampson ’17 writes:

This past week I had the privilege of joining my fellow Minutemen (Minutewomen) in the wonderful Washington, DC for the CASE ASAP national conference. CASE ASAP is a very large international organization. The goal of this organization is to enhance student participation in advancement at our schools. There were over 800 people at the convention and six of us from UMass SAA were able to attend.

IMG_2297

We had the opportunity to spend our first day in DC exploring the city and walked over 10 miles!  While sleep was lacking, we were excited to learn about the other organizations from across the country. This conference not only helped us share our own events, but taught us about the many new events and marketing best practices we could introduce on our own campus! We learned a great deal of information and got a lot of new ideas about homecoming, recruitment, budgeting, fundraising, and so much more!

IMG_2244

Out of all the schools in attendance, we were able to spend some extra time with Smith College, Rice University, Penn State, URI and others too. CASE ASAP was an awesome experience for UMass Amherst. As leaders of our campus, it is our job to make sure that students have a positive undergraduate experience so they become active alumni. Once graduated, we are responsible for building a bridge between those alumni and current student body. It was great to have the opportunity to talk with other organizations that share the same values and goals as we do.

IMG_2287

Attending CASE ASAP reminded us that what we do is important for the campus community and our university as a whole. Not only did this past week at the conference get me excited for the upcoming year, but it brought our group closer! This was a great bonding experience and I know we are all very excited to bring back our new ideas and tools to our campus and start planning for the upcoming school year! Look out UMass – SAA is ready for fall!

IMG_2175