PULLMAN -The Washington State University Alumni Association (WSUAA) is celebrating a banner year in alumni engagement. In fiscal year 2009, WSUAA volunteers were actively engaged in more than 407 alumni events attended by over 10,000 people — up from 275 events last year.
The WSUAA hosted events primarily in Pullman and Seattle while providing support for events hosted by its 30 alumni chapters and clubs across the state and the country. Attendance at the 2009 Golden and Diamond Graduate reunions in Pullman increased over last year, bucking national trends toward low participation at alumni gatherings such as reunions.
WSU Alumni Association President Rob Ellsworth says that innovative event programming was an important factor in the successful outreach effort. From gourmet cooking classes and Wine-By-Cougars wine tastings to golf tournaments and community-service events, WSUAA events offered something for Cougar alumni from all walks of life.
Current and future students were also engaged through increasingly successful student-centered events, including a Graduate Fair attended by 2,000 members of the spring 2009 graduation class and a Graduate Barbeque Bash attended by 375. New graduates were involved through events aimed at young alumni, including career-networking events and game-viewing parties.
Social networking and electronic marketing provided efficient, cost-effective ways for the WSUAA and its volunteers to reach alumni. The popular WSU alumni LinkedIn group, now over 3,800 members strong, was used to find speakers for career workshops.
Many WSUAA chapters connected with alumni by creating Facebook groups, which serve as a natural platform for contacting members about events and engagement opportunities. One such chapter, WSU King County Cougs, has nearly 800 members who receive regular communications about the group’s busy events calendar. To join the 2,050 Cougars who have become a fan of the WSU Alumni Association, go to www.facebook.com/WSUAA.
“The Alumni Association is proud to be generating the alumni support that is so vital to the success of the University,” says Rob. “WSUAA events help Cougars build a lifelong relationship with WSU.”
For more information about WSUAA events, please visit www.alumni.wsu.edu.
