Young Alumni

Happy Holidays, Lafayette Young Alumni!

I can’t believe 2011 is already coming to an end. We hope you all had a terrific year and are doing well. As you know, this year brought forth many new and exciting things for us as young alumni on and off the Hill. This year, we launched Lafayette’s first-ever worldwide tradition, Wine 3-9, a celebration of the signing of the charter by the governor of Pennsylvania March 9, 1826, establishing Lafayette College. More than 500 alumni from Hong Kong to Dallas and from San Francisco to Boston gathered in 22 locations uniting the entire Lafayette community in a reflection and appreciation of our past and the celebration of and belief in our future.

We hope you enjoy reading about the success of your fellow alumni in these spotlights, as well as connecting with local alumni and attending and events that are happening in your area. We look forward to seeing you at these functions, especially this year’s Wine 3-9!

As we look ahead, 2012 will only bring many more exciting events and outings and we hope you will be with us during those times!

Sincerely,

Alex Karapetian ‘04

Alumni Spotlights

Jenna Menard ’03: A Rising Star in the Beauty Industry | Jenna Menard ’03 has been named to the newly created position of global colour artist for Clinique, one of the world’s leading cosmetics brands. Menard, a noted makeup artist based in New York City, has become well-known through her work for top magazines, celebrities, and for runways in the fashion capitals of the world. | (READ MORE >>)

Jazz Quartet Lead by Jack Furlong ’05 Releases New CD | Lafayette’s James Bond of jazz, Jack Furlong ’05 is on a mission to deliver intrepid entertainment whether he’s arranging 007 movie tunes for the Jazz Ensemble, jazzing up “The A-Team” theme for the Pep Band, or performing a bebopping march about his mechanic with his all-alumni band. | (READ MORE >>)

Ellis Keleher ’08 Manages One of London’s Leading Art Galleries | In this age of specialization, liberal arts majors often hear questions about what they hope to accomplish with a degree in English or art history. Of course, the answer is “whatever they want.” Take Ellis Kelleher ’08 for example. An English graduate originally from New Jersey, she now lives in England and manages The Maas Gallery in London-one of the top galleries in the art district. | (READ MORE >>)

Danlami Gomwalk ’01 Helps Build a Better Nigeria | When Danlami Gomwalk ’01 left his native Nigeria to attend Lafayette College, he was looking to gain international education and employment experiences. He accomplished that mission and more. Through immersion in the College’s unique brand of global education, his eyes were opened to the dynamic nature of the international job market and the value of cross-cultural collaboration. | (READ MORE >>)

Alan Raisman ’10 Reflects upon his Lafayette Experience | Alan Raisman ’10, the Development and Marketing Coordinator at the Lehigh Valley Zoo, shares his thoughts about professional networking and creating a marketable Lafayette experience. | (READ MORE >>)

During your time at Lafayette, how important were extracurricular activities for you? I was very involved outside of the classroom while at Lafayette.  The two student organizations I was primarily involved with were the Hillel Society and Pards to People.  I was also on staff of the Landis Community Outreach Center.  I used my four years at Lafayette to not only grow academically, but to also network with individuals.  I studied Government & Law and International Affairs as a student, and jobs in those fields were not easy to find in the Lehigh Valley.  My extracurricular activities allowed me to learn the skills I needed to help secure my current job as well as network with the individuals who knew of the job opportunities in the region.

What was the most influential thing you did or learned at Lafayette to get you where you are today? Talking to my professors and the community members in the Lehigh Valley in a non-academic environment helped me build a relationship with them outside of the classroom.  Networking is very important, and I tried to build a relationship with every individual I met.  I work as the Development and Marketing Coordinator for Lehigh Valley Zoo, a job that I started last May.  I only learned that there was an opening at Lehigh Valley Zoo because my friend who I met throughout networking in the Lehigh Valley sent me a message on Twitter.  She knew of my extracurricular work and sent me the job description.  I studied government, law and international affairs, but I work in development and marketing.  I would not have this job today if not for my extracurricular work or my networking with those outside of the classroom.

Would you encourage students to take that same path and get involved with things outside of academics? I would recommend that every student get involved with an activity outside of the classroom.  I entered Lafayette College as an International Economics and Commerce major, and I changed my major to Government and Law because I found an interest in government after attending an Easton City Council meeting.  Extracurricular activities allow students to understand different learning environments and challenge them to try something new.

What has been your most fond memory of Lafayette since graduating? My favorite memory of Lafayette is graduation day.  It is on graduation day that you realize all that you did during your time as a student and how all of that work, both inside and outside of the classroom, led to that very moment when you receive your diploma.

What is one last piece of advice you would give to the current students of Lafayette? My advice to any current student is to take advantage of the opportunities you have around you.  Step out of your comfort zone when signing up for a club or choosing an elective.  You may decide to change career paths because of a new experience.

How are you currently involved in the school and what do you see for your future? My goal was to stay in the Lehigh Valley upon graduation, and my networking allowed me to find a job just 40 minutes away from Lafayette.  I returned to Lafayette to speak on a panel during last year’s Sophomore Surge event.  I also serve on the Lafayette College Young Alumni Committee, and I am in the Marquis Society.

Join Lafayette’s team of callers for an April Patriot League Phonathon Competition*!

• Network with young alumni from Lafayette and other Patriot League schools including American, Holy Cross and Lehigh.
• Raise support for Lafayette students and help your alma mater be victorious over our Patriot League rivals!
  • Call your friends, teammates, classmates – tell us who you want to call**!
  • Increase Lafayette’s donor count, while simultaneously supporting the value of your degree – it’s all about participation!

Phonathon Patriot League Competitions are happening in the following cities:
-     Boston on Monday, April 11, 2011
-     Philadelphia on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
-     New York City on Monday, April 18,2011
-     Chicago on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
-     Washington D.C. on Wednesday, April 27, 2011

AGENDA:
6 p.m. – Briefing/Dinner
6:30 – 8 p.m. – Calling Competition
8 p.m. – Happy Hour/Networking

*Lafayette is challenging the Lehigh, Holy Cross and American alumni during these phonathons. Each school receives points for the number of volunteers in attendance and new gifts during each of the five phonathons. A winner will be declared in each city, so come out and help Lafayette sweep the series.
**Use of your individual cell phone is required to abide by competition rules. The annual fund office will provide the necessary contact information and talking points for phone calls and a Lafayette staff member will be present to process gifts.

Questions? Contact Brook Wolcott at wolcottb@lafayette.edu or 610-330-5620.

To register, please email Brook Wolcott at wolcottb@lafayette.edu and let him know which event you’ll be attending and who you’d like to call (e.g. Women’s Soccer players between 2003 and 2007, or DU brothers between 2006 and 2008).

Can’t make it to the phonathon but still want to support Lafayette?  Make your gift online today and encourage your friends to do the same!

The Office of Alumni Affairs, together with the Young Alumni Committee, wishes to thank everyone for coming out to celebrate Wine 3/9. With your help, we made this inaugural program a resounding success! Alumni all across the globe, in big groups and in small, joined together on March 9th for a coast-to-coast toast in honor of Lafayette officially receiving its charter back in 1826. Good times were had by all and a new, meaningful tradition was born. A special thank you to our many chapter volunteers for organizing and hosting your events. We couldn’t do it without you!

Here’s to a bigger and better Wine 3/9 in 2012. Cheers, everyone!

Alex Karapatien ’04
Amanda Niederauer ’08
Co-chairs, Young Alumni Committee

Looking for a fun way to celebrate Spring and get together with fellow Lafayette alumni in your community? Join Lafayette alumni, students, faculty, and friends across the country for Lafapalooza: Lafayette’s National Day of Service on April 16, 2011.

Service projects are being planned for the following locations:

• Boston
• Lehigh Valley
• New York City
• Morristown, NJ
• Allendale, NJ
• Philadelphia
• Washington, D.C.

Click here for more information and to register early and receive a Lafayette t-shirt!

Questions? Contact the Office of Alumni Affairs, alumni@lafayette.edu, (610) 330-5040, or (800) LAFAYETTE (outside Pa).

Wine Three Nine

Get ready to celebrate, young alumni!

This year the Office of Alumni Affairs, together with the Young Alumni Committee, is planning a nationwide event called Wine 3/9. A brief history lesson for you: March 9, 1826 was the date Lafayette received its charter from then Pennsylvania Governor Shultze. In addition, Wine 3/9 has a nice ring to it!

The general idea of this program is to bring Lafayette alumni together on the same day to toast their alma mater. Wine 3/9 will closely model other nationwide events we host (for example, the telecast parties and Lafapalooza). Our alumni chapters have been busy planning festive wine tastings, cocktail parties, and celebratory happy hours.

Please click here to view the list of Wine 3/9 events taking place across the country. Don’t see one where you are and interested in hosting? Contact the Office of Alumni Affairs today at alumni@lafayette.edu or (610) 330-5040.

Cheers!

Lafayette may have lost Saturday’s football game, but it defeated Lehigh in the first Giving Challenge held to see which school could rally the most donors for their alma mater.

By a score of 740 to 724, Lafayette earned bragging rights for having the greatest number of young donors participate and a trophy, which was presented at the end of the game at Fisher Stadium.

“This is the first time we’ve done a competition with Lehigh,” says Brook Wolcott, assistant director of Lafayette’s annual fund. “It was a success for both schools. We got a lot of first-time donors, which was the objective.”

Wolcott’s office is still tallying how much money the challenge raised for Lafayette, but says it was a couple thousand dollars.  Graduates of the classes 2001 to 2010 and current seniors had until the Friday before the game to make a pledge.  During the game, any fan could text a donation to their school.

Wolcott says Lafayette received 119 gifts by text. “It was great to see that,” he says. Both schools plan to hold the challenge again next year.



Can’t make it back to campus for the big game? No worries! Attend your local Lafayette-Lehigh telecast party! Registering online is quick, easy, and helps our hosts keep track of how many people to expect so they can plan accordingly.

We have over 60 telecast parties in the words for this year (many of them hosted by a young alum), so in case you can’t make it back to the Hill for the big game, you can rest assured knowing plenty of ’Pards will be watching the game in a town near you. Click here for a full list of these parties and to register online today!