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The Alumni Letter Project
THE ALUMNI LETTER PROJECT
As the Coronavirus impacted school year came to a close in May, students, faculty, and staff of Ave Maria University immediately began to look forward to the fall semester when classrooms, chapels, and the entire campus would once again buzz with newness of life. In a particular way, Paula Shute, program manager for Alumni Relations, had a desire to give incoming freshman a warm welcome to their new home for the next four years. As an AMU alumna, Shute knows all too well the joys and fears, victories and losses, freshman encounter in just the first few weeks on campus. Her desire to provide this comfort and reassurance that attending Ave Maria University will be one of the best decisions of their life, turned into a campaign - Welcome Them Home: The Alumni Letter Project.
During the summer, Shute reached out to AMU’s alumni, asking them to write a letter to their freshmen-selves. The seasoned Gyrenes were implored to offer wit and wisdom, encouragement and advice, on the trials and joys ahead. Alumni from every class were asked to promote the project and encourage classmates to mail in letters. As the letters came trickling in with messages of encouragement, jokes, and wisdom, it was clear our alumni all received the same thing during their time at Ave Maria University: a phenomenal education, a vibrant community, and, most importantly, a resilient Catholic faith.
The letters were collected, transcribed, and will be published in a small book. Each member of the class of 2024 will be given a copy of this book upon their arrival. The alumni who contributed letters to the project will also be mailed a copy. Here are just a few samples:
