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From philanthropy participation to alumni leadership roles, there is a marked increase in YJ4L engagement, bringing an exciting verve to BW initiatives and activities.
Last year, YJ4L more than doubled Annual Fund contributions from the previous year. Likewise, alumni are increasingly taking on new leadership roles in volunteering their service. For this year's Alumni Weekend, nearly 40 alumni have signed up for BW's new class ambassador program.
"Alumni engagement is on the rise at BW. And while BW has always had generous donors who support student scholarship and campus initiatives, there is an increased and exuberant energy that comes from a place of pride in BW and its mission," believes Lee Fisher, president of BW.
"BW alumni know the value of a BW education because they witnessed it as students — from faculty and staff who truly cared about their success to the outstanding academics that enabled them to build meaningful careers," he noted.
"Whether they graduated three years ago or 30, BW wasn't just a place they attended. It was an integral part of their life journey they carried forward," emphasized Fisher.
Tony Peebles agrees. He earned his MBA from BW in 1998. Today, he serves the university as its alumni engagement director. Since starting his role in August, he has met with a number of alumni both in Northeast Ohio and in several cities around the country where BW has a significant alumni presence."
Among Peebles' many successes, he is working to boost engagement for this year's Alumni Weekend, which takes place Friday-Saturday, June 5-6. A group of enthusiastic and hard-working alumni class ambassadors is volunteering their time to reach out to members of their class year to participate in the annual alumni celebration.
"Deepening alumni relationships, expanding affinity group participation and establishing volunteer pathways are important as we further build our YJ4L community," said Peebles. "When alumni feel truly valued and connected to BW, a culture of meaningful engagement and generous philanthropy follows."
Whether it is the fond memory of a beloved professor, classmates who became lifelong friends or the connection to a place that was integral to them personally and professionally, many alumni stay connected to BW throughout their lives.
Carol Metzger Wilkerson of Oregon is both a donor and a class ambassador. She earned an MBA from BW in 1986. The MBA, which had an international focus, aligned well with her career. She owned her own ad agency and worked with manufacturing clients who did business overseas.
"I very much appreciate and respect Baldwin Wallace ... which is why I jumped at the chance to be an ambassador," she said.
All class years are invited to return to campus for this year's Alumni Weekend, where guests can attend fun events, visit favorite campus spots, and reconnect with friends and classmates.
New this year is a decade challenge to see which class year decade will reign supreme with the largest number of alumni attendees.
In addition, there will be milestone reunions for the classes of 1966, 1976, 2001, 2016 and 2021.
