The President's Council approved the creation of a BYU-Hawaii Student Alumni Association last week Wednesday, September 15.
Over the past several years, the Alumni Association has made efforts to work closer with the current BYU-Hawaii students. The recently created SAA represents the culmination of those efforts.
"We have said all along that our students are 'alumni-in-residence,' and what better way to begin the connection then while they're on campus," said Rowena Reid, executive director of alumni affairs.
The purpose of SAA is outlined in its mission statement: "The mission of the SAA is to 1) connect BYUH students with Alumni, 2) develop divine-centered leadership skills among students, and 3) prepare them to serve as effective future alumni, country and Church leaders in their native communities."
The SAA was formed in conjunction with two interdependent leadership organizations - the Alumni Association and the BYU-Hawaii Student Association.
The Alumni Association will create an SAA Chapter comprised of 44 students representing the 44 alumni chapters around the world and at least one student representative from target areas where there is not currently an alumni chapter.
These representatives, called Student Alumni Association Chapter Chairs, will participate in leadership workshops with the intent of becoming future alumni chapter and community leaders in their respective countries.
They will also introduce students to the Alumni Association prior to graduation, as well as coordinate networking, job placement and career development opportunities between students and alumni in their home countries.
"Students will connect with alumni through e-mail, phone/teleconference, and face to face interactions," said Richard Norton, chairman of the SAA and director of the connectivity and leadership efforts overseen by the Alumni Association. "Through this interaction, alumni will be able to inform students of how valuable they will be when they return home.
"Additionally, students will be able to work with alumni to help them find a job when they return home," Norton continued. "The SAA will provide leadership training to students from professionals and from Church leaders so that they will be able to have the skills necessary for a successful return home."
The BYU-Hawaii Student Association will organize, publicize and market events, activities, fundraising efforts, competitions and service projects on campus to involve current students.
Events and programs will include the Voyage of Faith fundraising drive, a time capsule for the Golden Jubilee, an online website to network programs between alumni and students, and events such as student reunions and student/alumni competitions.
Spencer Whitlock, this year's BYUHSA executive assistant and vice president of the SAA, will direct the activities and promotion efforts overseen by BYUHSA.
"We hope to provide students with leadership opportunities and experiences that enhance their education and promote BYU-Hawaii spirit through involvement in campus, community, and alumni activities," Whitlock said. "We want to help create deeper Seasider pride and loyalty, so that when they do graduate, they will be better prepared to feel a strong nostalgic connection to BYU-Hawaii, and a stronger interest in it's perpetual success."
"I'm grateful to Richie Norton and Spencer Whitlock for catching the vision and taking this project to the students," Reid said. "It truly is a partnership, and through the SAA, students will begin to see the value the alumni associations around the world would have on their educational experience at BYU-Hawaii."
The efforts of SAA will be mutually beneficial to all organizations in this partnership. The following are expected benefit outcomes of SAA:
As part of the effort to bridge the gap between students and alumni, the alumni office will be moved into the Aloha Center, where the Plantation Store once was. "It is symbolic of the SAA's creation," Whitlock said. "Now the closest office to the BYUHSA office will be that of the Alumni Association."
"Our main goal is to connect students to alumni and alumni back to the university," Reid emphasized. "This connectivity will help tremendously with returnability - having a mentor from your own home country would greatly enhance your chances of 'returning home.'"
"I believe that the key to return-ability is connectivity - students connecting with Alumni," Norton added. "Also, the key to a successful return is quality leadership training. The BYU-Hawaii Student Alumni Association will meet all of those needs."
The SAA's first meeting will be held on Thursday, 30 September, 2004.