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Make a Difference!
Our students volunteer in a variety a ways including to help bring clean water to villages in Cameroon, setting up concerts on campus, educating young children, and cleaning highways. They make a difference and so can you - volunteer today!
Volunteer
Within the University of Delaware Alumni Association (UDAA) and University Development, there are several programs and many roles for volunteers. Whether you want to reconnect with UD from your hometown, interview the next generation of applicants, organize an alumni affinity group, or help plan your reunion, there is a role for everyone at UD.
Volunteer Program Info
Volunteers are a vital component of the mission of UD and are essential, not only to the alumni association, but also to many University departments and programs. Volunteerism at UD takes many forms, from Alumni Admissions, interviewing, UD regional clubs, and reunion planning to board membership and philanthropy. UD strives to engage alumni volunteers across the university, not just within the alumni association. Whether you’re a current volunteer, a parent, a new graduate, or are making your first steps into the UD volunteer corps, this page is the first step for your involvement.
VAST – Volunteer Admissions Support Team
VAST is an association of enthusiastic UD alumni, students, faculty, staff, and parents who assist the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in recruiting new students to the Newark campus. VAST was established in 1986 as part of the Office of Admissions with the full support of Alumni Relations. Since VAST’s inception, 1,550 volunteers have given personal attention to over 105,000 prospective students and parents. If you’re looking to be an active alumni interviewer, VAST ensures that nearly every applicant to UD has the opportunity to be interviewed by one of our alumni volunteers during the admissions process. VAST volunteers are not only a resource for applicants, but are ambassadors for UD. Contact VAST in the Admissions Office at 302.831.8125.
Career Mentoring
The Career Services Center offers the Alumni Mentor Program to give registered students and alumni the opportunity to connect in order to share important career information. Pass your professional knowledge and wisdom to grateful, eager Blue Hens of a younger generation. Making the connections between students and alumni is vital to both groups. Volunteers mentor students about career opportunities, choosing a major, employer information, interview coaching, networking, regional information, and resume critiques. Send an email to Marianne Green egreen@udel.edu asking to be part of the Alumni Mentor Program or call 302.83.1231.
Reunion Planning
Each year, the Alumni Association and University Development celebrate our alumni at Reunion Weekend. This annual event invites reunion classes to come back to campus to reconnect with UD, their classmates, and friends. Reunion weekend offers two days of arts, performances, educational events, and general reunion revelry. Alumni volunteers plan each class years’ Saturday night class party, create the class reunion newsletter, and build attendance by calling their friends, Greek group members, club members, and others through the UD affinity/attendance networking effort. Whether you’re gearing up for your first reunion or celebrating your 50th, sign on with the Alumni Association to help make your reunion fun, rewarding, and memorable. To join your reunion committee contact Heather Barron at hbarron@udel.edu or Patricia Fitzgerald at tfitz@udel.edu or at 302.831.2104.
Clubs/Regional
The UD Regional program is the point of contact for alumni within their hometowns. With more than 29 clubs—and growing—around the U.S. and Europe, UD regional clubs are the primary local point of contact for alumni. Current clubs are located all over the world, from New Castle County, Delaware to San Francisco, California to London, England. Clubs create their own networking events, and cater to the needs and interests of alumni in their region.
Whether planning events, organizing community service or service learning opportunities, hosting sendoff parties for matriculating students, or just getting together to root for the Blue Hens, there are myriad roles and opportunities available closer to home than you think. To get started, contact Sandy Tilford at stilford@udel.edu or 302.831.3125.
Affinity Groups
There are numerous ways to connect with UD, and one of the most important is affinity groups. Affinity groups are the alumni of the activities, living groups, and campus associations that you participated in as a student. The Marching Band, Harrington Theatre Arts, residents of Rodney, the swim team, Honors alumni, or established social groups such as fraternities and sororities—all of these fall under the affinity umbrella. Affinity groups provide a tangible way for us to identify and engage individuals in the life of the University.
UD is committed to providing affinity groups with more programs and communications, and more chances to interact with us and each other. Affinity group leaders plan reunions and anniversary events, assemble group newsletters, and generally provide a way for alums to reconnect individually, with one another, and with UD. Dozens of groups have set up affinities. Why not make your group next? Contact Sandy Tilford tilford@udel.edu or 302.831.3125.
Senior Class Gift Committee
Uniting their class during senior year to express their appreciation to UD with a campus gift is the role of the Senior Class Gift Committee. With 3,500 members in each class, the committee represents the breadth and scope of the campus with Blue Hen pride.
Our Senior Class Gifts are gaining great momentum. The Class of 2006 had 4% donor participation and raised $15,000, the Class of 2007 achieved 10% participation and $25,000, and the Class of 2008 marked 25% participation and $50,000.
Committee membership is a résumé builder, providing a reference for the next career step, while developing the skills of volunteerism and learning the value of giving back to UD. For information contact Nina Bonano at ncbonano@udel.edu or 302.831.2104.
UD Alumni Association Board of Directors
The UDAA Board of Directors represents the general body of alumni from all seven colleges in Engineering, Arts and Sciences, Health Sciences, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Education and Public Policy, Earth, Ocean, and Environment, and The Lerner College of Business & Economics. Members are either nominated by other alumni or appointed by their individual schools. The business of the board is to keep apprised of and be advisors on the programs and services offered by the University’s Alumni Relations. Contact Cindy Campanella at ccampanella@udel.edu or 302.831.3125.
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