4 minute read
Message from the Vice President for Institutional Advancement
We asked, you answered
By MATTHEW STINSON Vice President for Institutional Advancement
This time last year, I discussed how you could help our e orts to recruit new Titans, establish professional ties with our students, and help advance the mission of Westminster through your time, talent, and treasure. The response has been overwhelming, and every aspect of our growth and advancement can be traced back to our alumni and friends.
1. Extension of our admissions team
This fall, we welcomed almost 400 new students to campus—an 18% increase over last year’s numbers. While there are myriad reasons for the boost in enrollment this year, Dr. Thomas Stein, our vice president for enrollment and marketing, specifically cites new curriculum, targeted marketing e orts, and strong alumni engagement as key factors.
When Dr. Stein polled students about their reasons to consider and ultimately select Westminster, “alumni and friends of the College” was the number one response. Your personal influence is the best marketing tool we have in terms of introducing potential students to Westminster, and we hope you continue this practice. Educate students and parents alike about the benefits of a liberal arts education and Westminster. Bring a prospective student to campus for a visit or to attend an event. Nominate a high schooler for one of our awards such as the Jerb Miller Scholarship. Keep Westminster College in the dialogue.
2. Extension of our alumni and Career Center teams
Our alumni and friends continually step forward when it comes to helping our students accomplish their career objectives. Through mentor programs, networking opportunities and internships, our students have a host of connections at their fingertips.
The Professional Networking Symposium continues Will Armentrout ’12 speaks to students at the to grow and the spring Professional Networking Symposium 2016 event was the largest ever comprised of 166 alumni and 158 students. Our alumni heard the call and returned to campus with the primary intent of helping students make necessary and important connections in their anticipated fields.
Many other opportunities exist throughout the year for alumni wishing to engage with our students through the Career Center. Examples include serving on topical career panels, teaching basic networking techniques and practices, reviewing resumes, and conducting mock and actual interviews. See page 28 for more on the Career Center’s student and alumni engagement.
Our O ce of Institutional Advancement works to cultivate meaningful relationships with our alumni and friends
Athletic Director Jim Dafler at the weight room dedication
that ultimately result in some level of philanthropic investment in Mother Fair. Did you know that your participation, regardless of size, can assist the College in strengthening our position in some of the national rankings? Did you know that collectively your gifts, regardless of size, have a true impact on our students? Every gift of every size helps provide our students with the best possible education and ensures the future of Westminster College.
Over the course of the past year, your gifts have supported key initiatives through the Westminster Fund and the Student Emergency Fund, o ering vital financial support for our students. Other projects that were completed this past year thanks to giving from alumni and friends include the Bill Rankin Golf Center, the TTO weight room renovation, the IM Gym Floor, and updates to the Hoyt Science Center. If you made a contribution to the College, or volunteered your time or talents during the 2015-2016 fiscal year, your support is noted in the enclosed Honor Roll of Giving. We are so grateful to the generosity of each and every person listed.
During the week of the President’s Inauguration we celebrated the WE in Westminster. President Richardson during her first year is noticing a strong attribute of the College that was apparent during my first year as well. There is a spirited desire by our alumni and friends to help advance the mission of Mother Fair. There is an unusually robust connectedness amongst our alumni, students, faculty, coaches, and sta .
There are countless examples of the WE throughout this magazine and WE could not do what we do without you. Thank you!
PUTTING FACES TO NAMES
Representatives of our O ce of Institutional Advancement enjoy traveling across the country to meet with our many alumni. If you’d like to schedule a visit with one of Westminster’s o cers, see the territory map and reach out to the designated o cer for your region.
ANDREW YOUTZ
724-946-7009 youtzaj@westminster.edu KELLI MCKEE
724-946-7673 mckeekj@westminster.edu ROB KLAMUT
724-946-7018 klamutrg@westminster.edu
• Pennsylvania & Ohio are shared territories.
