From the RDC Alumni Association Chair

On behalf of the RDC Alumni Association Board of Directors, I would like to take a moment to connect with all of you, and talk a bit about where we fit in to all the excitement surrounding the College. If you are a new alum – congratulations! And welcome to a very elite club. If you have been rocking the alumni status for more than a year, thanks for staying engaged! And remember, we’re always looking for fresh faces on the Board.

Our primary focus has always been to instill in our alumni a sense of pride and connection with RDC. Recently, we discussed whether or not our current alumni will identify with RDC when it becomes a university. Will we get lost in it all? It’s an interesting situation for the Association as we figure out where and how we fit in.

I graduated in 2007 from the Hospitality program, and my relationship with the College now far outweighs the one I had 10+ years ago. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to look at the value of a post-secondary institution from a much more global perspective. In RDC’s quest for university status, we’ve learned when students move away to attend university, they often establish roots there and don’t return. Losing students to other cities directly affects Red Deer’s ability to grow and prosper. University status in Red Deer is a big deal. Huge. I truly believe this.

So this is an important opportunity for the RDC Alumni Association to self-evaluate. As a Board, we’re working on two important goals right now:

First, to strengthen the relationship between us and the College. Ahem, I mean, University. The program I took is no longer offered, but that doesn’t mean my alumni status changed, and even though our College is changing, we’re still a part of it. RDC and Red Deer University alumni will be part of the same group.

And second, to increase engagement. I’m happy to ride the coattails of the attention our institution is getting right now! This is an opportunity for the Alumni Association to get out there and remind you all of what you came from and what you helped create! Red Deer University is going to bring so much value to Red Deer and central Alberta as whole.

Thank you all for this opportunity to serve you over the next year. I’m truly excited for the future and can’t wait to see what all of this brings. I leave you with one ask, in hopes you can contribute to the prosperity of the Alumni Association: ask a friend how they are connected to the College. You might be surprised how many of them are alumni but don’t consider it part of their identity. Can you help us change that?

Kind Regards,

Amanda Hadland

Amanda Hadland – Chair

Lindsey Sheppard – Vice Chair

Evan Staal – Secretary – Treasurer

Scott Hucal – Past Chair/Director

Michelle Colby – Director

Barb Dixon – Director

Dr. Robert Kurio – Director

Amanda Blair – Director

Reg Warkentin – Director

Jillian Kuzina – Director, FARDC Rep

Brittany Lausen– Director, SARDC Rep

Joel Ward – President & CEO, RDC

Janice Wing – Director, Community Relations