The new school year is just about to get started, and there’s so much to look forward to. There will be more opportunities to gather in person, and the return of many traditions that had to be skipped during the pandemic last year. 

The arrival of a new school year is always a great time to join an alumni association. If you’re already a member, it’s also a great time to recruit your friends and get them involved, as the start of a new school year is always a time bursting with school spirit.

Here are a few points you can make to convince people to join now and get involved!

• Networking: Alumni associations are, by nature, excellent networking opportunities. They are made up of members of all ages and professions, giving you plenty of people to use as contacts and connections professionally or socially. 

• Events: Speaking of social opportunities, there are events that happen all throughout the year. The big one you can talk about when trying to recruit friends is Homecoming, as it’s usually the first one to come up during the school year. Homecoming is always a time when schools honor their alumni who come back and visit. It’s a great opportunity for people to gather with old friends and embrace nostalgia.

• Making a difference: Financial contributions, volunteer time and merely your presence in the organization help to make a difference in the school’s community. Active alumni associations are highly beneficial for schools as they create a positive culture around the district and encourage alumni to give back to their schools in any way they can, be it financially or through volunteering. People who join their alumni associations have a real opportunity to make a difference in the lives of current and future students.

There’s a lot to look forward to this school year. We hope you’ll be a big part of it, and that you’ll find other alumni to join in the excitement!

Flashback: In honor of the 40th anniversary of the launch of MTV on August 1, 1981, here's a photo from 1981. Can you name anyone in this photo?  #MightyCardinals #IWantMyMTV 📺 🎥 🎸