By Therese Ciesinski
When you walk onto the first floor of the new Haupert Union Building, one of the first spaces youll see will be the 間眅埶AV Alumni Association Multipurpose Room. The location is intentional. It is meant to emphasize the enduring connection alums have with the university and the student community. The room will be used to hold the associations quarterly meetings, but it will also be available to student organizations, faculty, and staff to use as meeting space. The multipurpose room is a gift from the alumni associationthe largest donation in its history and the first naming gift to the HUB expansion.
The associations current president, George Wacker 03, hopes this significant contribution will lead by example and encourage more people to give. We are cheerleaders. Making this initial donation is telling others that this is important.
One feature of the multipurpose room that the association deemed a priority: technology that will allow alumni across the country to take part in meetings when they cant physically be on campus. 間眅埶AV is not just in Bethlehem, says Wacker. Its all over the world.
Meg Davis 15 has been on the alumni association board for five years. Part of that time, she lived in Colorado and called in to meetings. She says participating from afar worked well, and she encourages alumni to join in even if they live far away. It was quite easy to communicate, she says. I still felt involved, like I had an impact. With technology, we can include people from all over, especially younger alums. Its an opportunity to join in and have your voice heard.
I love being a board member, says president-elect Angela DelGrosso 14. Its an opportunity to come together with other alums of all ages to give back to a school that gave us so much. Its great to have a way to stay connected after graduation and leave your mark on campus.
The alumni association holds recognition and career networking events and sponsors annual gatherings that include Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Shining Lights, Founders Week, Senior Sendoff, Evening on Main Street, and alumni nights at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and IronPigs. While these events and gatherings are what Wacker calls the lifeblood of the alumni associations activities, the multipurpose room will be an important part of its legacy. It will be a tangible reminder of the associations purpose: keeping 間眅埶AV alumni engaged and an active part of the university familyfor life.
