Aggies Making a Difference
Big and Small Volunteer Opportunities at UC Davis By Ashley Han
From mentoring students to reading scholarship applications, UC Davis alumni volunteer in countless ways that enrich the university and their lives while benefiting students.
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atrick Sherwood ’86, this year’s Cal Aggie Alumni Association (CAAA) Jerry W. Fielder Memorial Award recipient, has been a longtime volunteer, including initially serving as the chair of finance on the CAAA board of directors, and eventually as president of the association from 2010-2012. “Volunteering gives you different opportunities to expand your skills and experience outside of what you are building in your current career, all while having the additional benefit of giving back to UC Davis and making a meaningful difference in students’ lives,” said Sherwood, a CAAA Life Member, donor to the university and member of the UC Davis Foundation board of trustees. This article will give UC Davis alumni and affiliates ideas about how they can get more involved.
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Become a network leader Alumni looking for managerial skills can volunteer to be a network leader, helping to organize alumni programming in your area. Annie Ly MBA ’09 was the network leader in New York for four years and is now the San Francisco network leader after moving back to the Bay Area. “I became a network leader in New York because it was an opportunity for me to connect with fellow Californians and Aggies thousands of miles away from home,” Ly said. “Connecting with alumni has created lifelong friendships for me, and I want to create those opportunities for other people, too.”
Volunteer on a committee Any Aggie can become a network leader and volunteer for a committee by first being a CAAA member. The committees are involved with auditing, alumni programming, finance, scholarship, careers taskforce and more. Kyle Trinosky ’05 MBA
’12 currently serves on the career taskforce at CAAA after serving on the board for several years. “I’ve always volunteered quite a bit because I felt that the university as a whole gave me a lot and added a lot of value to my life,” Trinosky said. “I’ve also volunteered at Interview with an Aggie for about four years now because I’m able to interact with students and provide career advice.”
Mentor students Interview with an Aggie allows alumni to help Aggies by conducting mock interviews, assisting with resumes and giving advice about possible career paths. Similar careerrelated events include Aggie Dinner. Aggie Dinner connects students with alumni over dinner in a professional setting. “One of the things I think is really important in terms of my relationship with UC Davis and giving back is I’ve always been focused on what I can