While many alumni are getting reacquainted with the campus this week, a new organization is pushing for current students to become active in alumni affairs before they even graduate.
With the support of Alumni Relations, the university community recently developed the Pre-Alumni Council (PAC). The PAC’s plans for Homecoming include a competition among classes to see who can raise the most money. Proceeds will be collected and added to the University Fund.
The PAC was founded by Harold E. Thompson Jr., assistant director of alumni relations. He created this pre-alumni council to prepare students in the university community for the responsibilities that they will assume upon becoming alumni.
“Students need to understand that not everyone has an easy transition into college financially, and if we come together collectively we can develop ways to assist students who may run into those problems,” Thompson said.
The PAC’s mission is to expand alumni participation and involvement by means of establishing awareness among current students. The council plans to do this by organizing programs, hosting events and holding meetings.
Requirements to become a member of the Pre- Alumni Council include: being enrolled as a student, having an active alumni interaction, and an interest in the expansion of the university. Lifetime dues for the organization are $18.92. This amount symbolizes theyear in which Slater Industrial Academy was founded. Slater is the original name of WSSU.
Alumni Relations, which also plays a role in fundraising for WSSU, maintains a database of all students who have attended the university. The database currently contains about 17,000 names. Winston-Salem State is continually developing new methods to enhance alumni relations. The Office of Alumni Relations provides services for alumni and, as such, serves as liaison between the National Alumni Association-WSSU and the university community.
The president of the Pre- Alumni Council, Samuel Haileselassie (Class of ‘0?) wants to get students involved in the future of their university. Students do not have to be alumni to do their part, he said. About 15 students are currently involved in the PAC. Thompson and Haileselassie say they plan to recruit more members and make this organization a fixed entity on campus.
“This is a pivotal year for the council,” Haileselassie said. “We are building a foundation for students to take on the duty of being responsible for giving back to their university.”