Class of 2003 set to join ranks of alumni

Hey, class of 2003! Your big day is in two weeks. Shouldn’t you be on the cover of Temple Times?

The Young Alumni Association (YAA) thinks so. And that’s why, for the third consecutive year, graduating seniors will gather on the steps of the Liacouras Center for the annual class picture immediately after the 3 p.m. rehearsal on May 21.

The photograph, which runs on the cover of the traditional full-color Commencement Issue of Temple Times, also will be available for purchase from the YAA.

But believe it or not, there’s more to the YAA than the big picture.

“The Young Alumni Association provides an opportunity for alumni to network with professionals,” said YAA president Bunmi Samuel. “When students graduate, they often wonder how to get into things they’re interested in doing, so we have events throughout the year to get them connected.”

Samuel emphasized that the YAA is not a fundraising organization: it’s a resource for everything from professional networking to civic service opportunities to continuing education, and more.

“The YAA is a centralized resource for alumni to tap into,” said Samuel, who graduated in 2001. “It’s there for advice on what to do within their career, how to get more active within the Temple University community, or just to have some companionship in the post-graduate world.”

“When you graduate, you’re automatically a part of the YAA right off the bat,” added Brian Torrence, another 2001 graduate who serves as YAA communications coordinator. “A lot of people have the notion that this is something you have to join, but there’s no fee or signing up involved.”

“Being a part of Temple doesn’t have to stop when you graduate,” said Samuel, noting perks like retaining access to facilities such as the IBC Student Recreation Center at alumni membership rates, Career Development Services and the Temple Libraries. “And even if you’re not right by the campus, you can still access our Web site to be a part of the community.”

Other ways alumni can get involved include connecting their jobs or businesses to the alumni center, speaking to Temple classes or incoming students about their experiences, or volunteering for YAA projects.

“No matter where I go I find Temple alumni, whether it’s in a business meeting or just at the store,” said Samuel. “It’s amazing, and we want to build on that.”

For more information about the Young Alumni Association, call the Alumni Center at 204-7521 or visit the alumni Web site at www.temple.edu/alumni_friends.

— Helen H. Thompson