ALUMNI MESSAGE

How Carthage helped alumni find purpose

In my role as president of the Alumni Council, I have had the great privilege to connect with a wide range of alumni across class years, majors, and careers.

From this vantage point, I am consistently inspired by the number of alumni undertaking interesting and important work. While their paths are distinct, Carthage serves as a common throughline.

I recently caught up with some of our alumni to learn how Carthage helped them identify their purpose in life.

Tim Yanacheck ’69 had to wait to apply his Carthage degree. First, he had a duty to his country.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Mr. Yanacheck began a distinguished 42-year law career. Looking back, he recognizes that his education helped him analyze current world events, empathize with others, and confidently venture across cultural boundaries.

“Perhaps the most valuable and enriching lesson I learned at Carthage was to love learning,” he shares. “The pleasurable process of continuing to learn new stuff every day of my life.”

Jaime Fluker ’03 greatly valued the close-knit community she found at Carthage. The College helped her prepare for a career centered on promoting community well-being.

“All the diverse experiences — from serving as a resident assistant, a student-athlete, a member of the Gospel Messengers choir, a member of Greek life and many other student organizations — prepared me for my current occupation as scholar, clergy, and community organizer,” Ms. Fluker explains.

Sharbel Maalouf ’11 is president of Medline Industries. He has had an impressive career

trajectory since graduating from Carthage with a degree in business administration.

“I’ve always thought that an important leadership trait is agility and open-mindedness,” Mr. Maalouf explains. “Carthage, which at its heart is a liberal arts college that encourages students to explore and try new disciplines, helped me become well-rounded, while ingraining a desire to constantly learn new things and challenge myself with unique opportunities.”

Natalie Lall ’22, one of Carthage’s newest alumni, moved to Los Angeles shortly after delivering the senior class address. At Carthage, Ms. Lall had plenty of chances to assess her strengths and connect them to career options.

“I feel the most alive when I’m performing — the most ‘me,’” she says. “Now that I’m in the global hub for film and television, I am confident that I’ll be able to make my mark using everything Carthage has given me.”

She came to recognize the importance of telling everyone’s story.

“It is a really exciting time in the industry, because the diversity of stories being told is unparalleled in Hollywood history,” Ms. Lall explains. “I want to add my voice to the conversations being had behind the screen to help create innovative and inspiring stories to meet our present moment.”

Soon, hundreds of new students will make their way to campus to begin their own search for purpose. I cannot wait to see how they add to the rich tapestry that thousands of Carthage alumni have weaved.

Aaron Tinjum ’09 is president of the Alumni Council. He can be reached at atinjum@ carthage.edu.