From students to stakeholders
Building a lifelong IU Kokomo community
By Hannah Bourne
IUAA Kokomo Region Board of Directors
Philanthropy, professional networking, and nostalgia are key elements of an engaged alumni community. However, focusing on these concepts individually may limit our understanding of how they emerge in the first place: directly from well-crafted, targeted programming.
Alumni who benefit from a connection to their alma mater are incentivized to provide philanthropic support. They want to connect with fellow alums to reminisce and build professional ties. These are natural outcomes of robust community-building efforts among alumni.
IU Kokomo’s latest Undergraduate Student Research Symposium is an excellent example of this principle in action. On March 28, seven IUK Honors Program alumni joined faculty members on a judging panel to provide critical feedback on students’ research and creative projects before gathering with alumni, students, and past program directors for food and conversation at a post-event reception.
The Student Research Symposium offered former Honors students the chance to play a key role in a powerful educational experience for current students by engaging with their academic work. Enfolding alumni into the everyday life of their institution, just like when they were students, is a powerful way to foster a sense of belonging. In addition, bringing alumni and current students into contact early and often creates a campus culture of mentorship and sustained connection.
IU Kokomo’s 2030 Strategic Plan emphasizes both increased student research and experiential learning alongside alumni participation in university events such as Kokomo Experience and You (KEY) trips. Prioritizing these opportunities is a sign of a university that values the members of its community and their contributions at every stage.
The Indiana University Alumni Association Kokomo Region and the Director of Alumni Relations are working together with campus partners to develop an expansive, community-oriented view of alumni engagement that invites former students to participate actively within university life. Mentorship, relationship, and community-building are some of IU Kokomo’s greatest strengths.
We want our alumni to feel confident that they play a vital role in facilitating the university’s mission to provide transformative educational experiences in our region. If you would like to get involved, please do not hesitate to reach out at 765-455-9595 or baliecht@iu.edu. We would love to have you as a volunteer or board member.