Formula for success mixes alumni and students

Alumni volunteer their time and return to campus to interact with students. Host Bolivar Leon ’78 takes time for a photo while leading a team-building activity for students.

It’s all about SU alumni sharing their pride and knowledge, their skills and talents to help students and one another in building a network that’s vital and relevant. As Wanda Polk Peyton ’80 affirms, “We have a mission to help students strive to reach their highest goals, as well as foster a sense of unity within the Shippensburg community. Our support will help all of us continue our lifelong connection and commitment.”

On July 22, members of the alumni association had their first opportunity to interact with incoming freshmen during Alumni Career Day as part of the summer Academic Success Program. This one day activity brought together 20 alumni with 124 students for a day of advice on college life, classes, career choices, and, of course, fun. At the end of the day the incoming freshmen enjoyed a new found sense of community that will help ensure a positive experience at Ship and a post-undergraduate life as engaged Shippensburg alumni.

It was a great day. Dr. Bob Orndorff ’88, associate director of career services and affiliate assistant professor of counselor education at Penn State University, presented “9 Career and Life Essentials” based on his book Becoming the Best Me. Kathy Roat ’87 talked about some of the challenges students may face during their college years, and Denise Calabrese ’86 and Bolivar Leon ’78 enjoyed socializing with the students.

A strong alumni association allows us to provide a strong networking and mentoring program that connects students and alumni. The result is a strong coalition of Shippensburg alumni, students, and faculty who are actively involved in advancing and advocating for Shippensburg University.

The University Relations office, located in the Rife Alumni House, is here to keep you connected to each other and the university. Utilize the benefits and services that are available to you as alumni, and help promote our students and each other by participating in our mentoring and outreach programs. You may create an alumni profile for the mentoring network on-line at www.collegecentral.com/ship. Call 717-477-1218 or e-mail alumni@ship.edu for future opportunities to participate.

A special thank you to our alumni volunteers who shared their educational and career experiences and offered words of wisdom as part of the July 22 program: John Frain ’84-’88M, Dr. Bob Orndorff ’88, Bill Minisker ’68-’73M, Wendy Bosler ’66, Chuck Hickes ’70, Stephanie Ponnett ’93, Denise Calabrese ’86, Kelly Altland ’91, Ginni Linn ’77-’84M, Kathy Roat ’87, Marsha Hoy ’89, Leevester Taylor ’76, Patrick Cloonan ’91, Bolivar Leon ’78, Margaret Johnson ’68-’96M, Bill French ’96, Pat Keeney ’67, Michael Pinkowicz ’76, and Dr. Ed Herr ’55.