Rose-Hulman’s Young Alumni Council (YAC), now finishing its third year of existence, continues to grow in organizational structure and in the number of activities offered.  For the record, young alumni are defined as having graduated from Rose-Hulman during the last 10 years.  More than 37 percent of our alumni have graduated in that time frame.

The goal of the YAC is to involve young alumni in the life of Rose-Hulman.  This is done through various special events, including social events and trips.  Major events during the past year included the Young Alumni Homecoming party, a pub tour of Ireland and a “Bump Day” party that drew more than 200 to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway qualifications.  Future activities in the works include a trip to Spain in 2004.

Not all of the group’s activities are of a social nature.  Philanthropic events in different regions of the country are being planned.  For example, a group in a city may adopt a project such as Habitat for Humanity and work on it as a group of Rose-Hulman alumni.

City events have been or will be conducted in Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit and Washington, D.C.

“The Young Alumni Council is a way to keep our young alumni involved in the life of Rose-Hulman,” said Bunny Nash, assistant director of alumni affairs and special events and YAC liaison.  “At many colleges, young alumni are a neglected group, but we want them to feel as much a part of Rose-Hulman as older alumni do.”

Five committees have been established to focus council activities.  They are:  homecoming, philanthropy, city events, trips and communications. Committee members are Jill Riley (’99), Jamie Funk (’00), Becky Smith (’99), Erica Snyder (’02), Amanda Burch ( ’99), Carlos McGowan (’00), Chris Inman (’00), Erik Hayes (’97), Sharon Foltz (’00), Breck Schmidlkofer (’95), Brian Meents (’00), Dan & Anellia Hohne (both ’99), Leo Morand (’02), Eric Haenlein (’00), and Chad Alojipan (’02).