When the Student Alumni Association relaunched in 2010, it set an ambitious five-year goal of 3,000 members. But thanks to another big fall kickoff event, the organization is on track to blow past that number in its third year.
On Sept. 6, more than 1,300 students signed up for SAA as new or returning members during a celebration held across campus. As of press time, there were 2,752 members.
“SAA Kick Off 2012 blew us all away, exceeding our most ambitious goal yet for the most successful day that SAA has ever had,” said Ryan Fork, SAA president and a fourth-year computer science major. “Our multiple-location strategy once again proved to be very popular with the students, and of course the wonderful freebies we gave away drew in tons of them. Our evening event was held in a different location this year, giving students the unique opportunity to be right in the mix with the T-Night activities going on next to the stadium. Overall, SAA’s 2012 Kick Off will forever stand out as one of the most amazing things I have ever had the opportunity to be a part of in my time here at Tech.”
SAA, Tech’s largest student organization, seeks to help the students of today become the successful and loyal alumni of tomorrow. As a lesson in stewardship and philanthropy, each member makes a $10 donation to sign up for the organization. Half of that goes to the Roll Call annual fund, and the other half goes into a fund that is donated to a specific project or group at Tech. SAA members vote on which project to fund.
SAA also teaches students about Tech traditions and history. And many of the students signing up for membership said they were most excited about the opportunity to join the Mentor Jackets program, which pairs student mentees with alumni mentors. So far, there are about 1,000 student-alumni pairs for the 2012-13 academic year.
“I’ve heard about it and thought it was a good program,” said Veena Madhu, a first-year biomedical engineering major. “…I was walking by and decided to sign up. The mentoring program sounds interesting, and I want to learn more about the other programs.”
Madhu had stopped by an SAA station set up next to the Campanile, where a swarm of students noshed on free Chick-fil-A sandwiches under the shadow of a giant inflatable cow.
SAA and Alumni Association had four other stations around campus, plus Tech-decorated golf carts that served as mobile signup stations. On the Fifth Street bridge, students picked up Waffle House smothered and covered hashbrowns made on an outdoor grill. Outside the College of Computing, SAA volunteers asked, “What’s the good word?” A correct response (“To hell with Georgia!”) earned a treat from Chocolate Jewels.
In addition to free food, students who signed up received a T-shirt and coupons from a variety of Atlanta businesses. Other sponsors included Coca-Cola, Mellow Mushroom, Rita’s Italian Ice and Eye Candy Cake Company.
And at each station, students learned about the SAA from fellow Wrecks and alumni.
At a station near the Instructional Center—complete with a giant inflatable Buzz and King of Pops popsicles—Jesús León, Cls 74, talked to students about his experience at Tech and encouraged them to take advantage of all that SAA has to offer.
“I enjoy this kind of thing, telling people what SAA can do,” Leon said. “I had this experience as a student with an organization that set up interactions between students and faculty and alumni. I enjoyed that tremendously. [SAA] is a great organization, one of the best things that we do. And it’s great to meet the students. They’re in a class by themselves.”
Tech President G. P. “Bud” Peterson toured the stations with Alumni Association Chair Walt Ehmer, IE 89, and President Joe Irwin, IM 80.
“It’s great for you to get connected and to stay connected,” Peterson told a group of students.
Natalie Wood, a first-year business administration major, had heard good things about SAA from a friend. So when she saw the station set up in the Instructional Center lawn, she quickly signed up.
“I’m really interested in the mentorship part,” Wood said. “The goal is to get a job after I graduate, so making connections early on is a good deal.”
Above: President G. P. “Bud” Peterson greets a student during the SAA Kick Off.
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