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Show THE FORUM - A MAY 14,2014 13 never-endin- g ate and professional skier. You dont get Smythe Eddy that at other colleges. Coutiibufing Writer Graduation is just the beginning of students relationships with Westminster.. That experience you have with the campus and with the people doesnt end at graduation, said Alumni Director Michelle Barber-Lyhnaki- s. Along with receiving a diploma, students who graduate from Westminster of benefits. Lyhnakis explained that one of the also receive a multitude biggest benefits of being an alumni is that students dont have to pay. In order to access the benefits of our community, you just have to join, Barber-L- said. yhiiakis Alumni of Westminster can receive an magazine that keeps award-winni- relationship ng alumni current on campus happenings and information about faculty and students. In addition, a monthly newsletter provides stories about fellow alumni, faculty members and ways to stay connected to the school whether one needs a job recommendation or help on graduate school applications. I think its pretty cool at Westminster that you have these connections and can be in touch with administrators, said Brody Leven, Westminster gradu Leven graduated from Westminster in 2010 and said his favorite part about being a Westminster alumnus was the relationships that I made with faculty, staff and students and the wide array of relationships that I walked away with from my four years at Westminster. These relationships dont go away. If a student is moving to a different part of the country or even the world, there are several ways for them to receive guidance from Westminster alumni. Alumni chapters, or groups, meet in New York City, Washington D.C. and Seatde, and act as alumni support groups if a graduate is looking for a job, a roommate or general advice about the new location. Under the Universities category on Linkedln, students can search for Westminster College and be provided with over 10,000 contacts of Westminster graduates all over the world. for work so Im I travel year-roualways on the road, so I use more indirect services, Levin said. Whether Im in a city I need to know about or a country Im going to. If graduates are staying in the area, they can continue to utilize the Career Resource Center. An alumni ca nd reer coach is available to help with job searches and mock interviews. Alumni can participate in the Alumni Mentoring Program and the Take a Griffin to Lunch program as well to stay connected to students. I still work with students at Westminster, Leven said. I try my best to give back and help as much as I can. Kendra Black, a Westminster alumna, said, You get the chance to mentor other students and give real world and current advice. Now that Ive had a chance to go through the process of looking for a job, I feel I can more accurately help improve the process for others. The alumni community can also audit a class for only $150. Its all the benefits 'of learning at said. Westminster, Barber-Lyhnak- is The class shows up on alumni transcripts, but there is no grade associated with it. Its the best deal on continuing edusaid. cation ever, Barber-Lyhnak- is Barber-Lyhnak- is said graduates can continue to access their online files saved on the Westminster network as well as access their transcript for as long as she can foresee. Students can also keep their Westminster email account. A reunion weekend is held for alumni and a large networking event that hap pens every spring called Cocktails and Connections. Alumni, faculty and staff come together to share experiences, stories or even give job offers and recom- mendations. Stay connected and ask for advice, is said. I think its a Pitbull song actually. He says ask for money you get advice. Ask for advice get money twice. the wisdom of For Barber-Lyhnaki- s, Pitbulls lyrics ring true. If you sit down with somebody and you say I want to get to know you as a person and I want to find out how you got to your position and what its like to be doing what youre doing, theyre Barber-Lyhnak- going to give you the advice, but then theyre also going to be really impressed Barber-Lyhnak- is ! said. by your curiosity, The fact that you are taking your job search and the next steps of your life very its impressive. Graduating can be a challenging transition, but the alumni community is seriously available for support. That transition is more difficult and awkward than I anticipated, Leven said. Alumni and students can visit the Kim T. Adamson Alumni House for more information as well as visit the Westminster Alumni Facebook page. 4 |