5 minute read
Alumni Academy brings energy and expertise together
Cardinal First continues to further its reputation for innovation, networking and support for first generation students by holding a first-ever Alumni Academy on campus in March. The professional conference brought together 50 firstgeneration North Central alumni who served as presenters, panelists and mentors for the 115 first-generation students in attendance. The event resulted from a $100,000 grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (AVDF). Students participated in seminars on a variety of subjects related to navigating the professional realm, received etiquette training at a networking dinner, met with alumni for question-and-answer sessions, and concluded the evening practicing their professional interaction with the alumni over dessert. Dean Devert ’86, chief of staff for the Illinois Auditor General's Office, gave the keynote address.
The event was delayed three times due to COVID-19 and the initial plan was for approximately 20 North Central firstgeneration alumni to facilitate workshops and presentations related to their career fields. More than twice that many attended.
“Our current first-gen students benefit from networking with, and learning from, first-gen alumni because they are following in their footsteps—navigating the same journey to a college degree,” said Julie Carballo, assistant dean for first-generation, transfer and veteran initiatives. “The alumni know the possible roadblocks or detours and how to keep moving toward the goal of earning a college degree; they also can share their lived experience as first-gen professionals and can leverage their own networks to benefit our current students.”
Julie Carballo
assistant dean for first-generation, transfer and veteran initiatives
During the dessert hour, tables were set with specific discussion topics to promote networking between alumni and students.
Students learned about soft skills for engineers, working in intercollegiate athletics, counseling careers for psychology majors, pathways to law school, and many others. Professional guests represented high schools and colleges from throughout the region, governmental and non-profit organizations, and well-known companies such as Travelers Insurance, Northern Trust, Kraft Heinz Co., Automatic Data Processing, and Baxter International.
In August 2020, North Central College earned the AVDF grant to fund a series of first-generation initiatives, including expanded leadership development for Cardinal First Ambassadors (student leaders in the program); outreach to future first-generation college students at 10 Illinois high schools; educational webinars designed for parents; further development of first-gen students by faculty in discipline-specific groups; and the Cardinal First Alumni Academy. Cardinal First will be holding a series of virtual versions of the Alumni Academy this spring, and Carballo hopes to host another Alumni Academy event in person in 2024. You can contact her at jmcarballo@noctrl.edu for more information.
“I hope the first-gen students found inspiration, information and reassurance from the network of first-gen alumni who are living examples of first-gen (Cardinal) success,” said Carballo. If you are a first-generation college student who graduated from North Central prior to 2015, you can visit northcentralcollege.edu/first-genalumni-network to add your name to the First-Gen Alumni database.
Cardinal First asked students and alumni who participated in the Alumni Academy to share their feedback on the event, and the results were overwhelmingly positive. Here is a sample:
Dean Devert ’86, chief of staff, Illinois Auditor General's Office (keynote speaker)
“The Alumni Academy event was a great opportunity to connect graduates with undergraduates to help them navigate the world once they graduate. The first-generation students were informed, inquisitive, and excited about the future. The event served as a way to support their confidence to go and make a positive contribution to society.”
Veronica Wagner ’19, cytotechnologist, NorthShore University Health Systems
“I have had many students approach me with questions related to STEM careers. In many cases, they needed words to confirm that they do belong. Since the event, I believe many students have gained the confidence and direction for the ‘What now?’ question that they’ve been avoiding … once graduation approaches.”
Hattie Holland ’16, psychotherapist, CFC Therapy Group
“Events like the Cardinal First Alumni Academy are exactly what firstgeneration college students need to feel prepared, supported, and celebrated during their undergraduate years. These types of events are going to be integral to the students' success and confidence in navigating college and beyond. It was an honor to be a part of this event, and I can't wait to do it again.”
Lauren Edmunds ’17, associate attorney, Meyers & Flowers
“As a presenter, I highly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with current and former first-gen students and to share my law school experience with them. The students were very receptive and it was clear that my presentation offered the first-gen students new insights into the legal field. I know what it feels like to want to get somewhere but have no parents or family to ask for help.”
TaCoya S. Harris ’22, computer science major and philosophy & religious studies minor
“I was able to connect with an alumna, working in the STEM field, and she reassured me of the concerns I had about starting my career. We also connected on LinkedIn. Overall, it was both an insightful and enjoyable event.”
Ivan Bohorquez '19 and Samantha Sotelo '18 present "How to maximize your business degree from North Central" during the evening's seminars.
