September 2021 Polo Players' Edition- Alumni Networking

Alumni Networking

Event Connects Former I/I Members with Local Clubs

By Ali Davidage • Photos by Pat Michaels

“I haven’t done this in eight years!” This may be the favorite comment overheard at the inaugural Alumni Networking Event held at Seneca Polo Club in Poolesville, Maryland, in July. I/I program officials were excited to hold the event, which saw graduates of both the intercollegiate and interscholastic programs playing chukkers and mingling with other alumni, some for the first time in years.

The newly-formed I/I Alumni Engagement Committee, made up of young I/I alumni from programs across the country, has worked for the last year on initiatives to bring alumni back to the sport. Chaired by Kareem Rosser, a Work to Ride and Colorado State University alumnus, the group has focused its efforts on how to best support and connect I/I alumni with clubs in their area after graduation, as well as connect alumni with each other.

The group was excited to launch one of its first initiatives, an alumni engagement event, at Seneca Polo Club. Maryland is a hotbed of I/I talent and allaround fun, skilled polo. The club’s beautiful arena, with rolling hills serving as a backdrop, provided the perfect setting to invite alumni back to the arena to mingle and network as well as tune up on some polo.

Players and coaches representing UVA, CSU, Cornell and WTR caught up with friends before the game.

The event started Friday night with ‘Back to the Game’ chukkers, which included a wide range of ages and experience, allowing players who had not been playing to dip their feet back into the game. Next came a competitive round robin of recent alumni. While chukkers were going on, alumni mixed and mingled, sharing old polo stories, discussing new jobs, catching up with friends they hadn’t seen in a while, and exchanging business cards.

Mark Gillespie, an I/I supporter and the chair of the USPA’s Armed Forces Committee, traveled from Virginia with two alumni to take part in the night of networking. Mark, who was the first to extend a warm welcome to anyone interested in playing with the crew at the Army Polo Club, said, “This was a great way to make connections and I had a lot of fun. I would encourage anyone who gets the chance to attend an alumni networking event to do so.”

Jessica Schmitt, a recent alumnus from the University of Virginia and member of the Alumni Engagement Committee, shared her excitement to continue forward with the program.

I/I Alumni in the Maryland, D.C. and Pennsylvania area came together for networking and polo fun at the first Alumni Networking Event.

“I am really excited for the future of these alumni events. I made lifelong friends in I/I and I’m hopeful we can reconnect a lot of alumni to foster more friendships and continue their ability to play postcollege. Being able to play with great friends that I haven’t been able to play with before made the Seneca event that much more special,” she said.

Like many adults that played varsity or club sports in college, graduating and finding their way in the work force can take up any spare time and often leave former collegiate players without a way to continue in their favorite sport of polo. However, just because you must take a break, does not mean you cannot come back!

After the success and fun had at the networking event at Seneca, the committee worked on putting together an alumni networking toolkit—a how-to clubs can utilize to put on an event of their own. The toolkit includes a basic format of the event, ideas on how to engage the local alumni and informational handouts. Additionally, USPA support will include reimbursement towards food, personalized postcards sent to alumni in the area about the event and staff support on how to maximize alumni involvement in the club.

Along with the alumni networking toolkit, the committee is working on several other projects, including the Polo Alumni Network on LinkedIn, alumni contacts at all schools, and other ways to stay in touch as players find their way after college.

Just like the good old days, players competed against old teammates and competitors.

Rosser said, “The first alumni engagement event was a great success. I enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and getting back in the saddle. I am looking forward to working with my fellow committee members on ways to expand our networking events across the USPA.”

If you or your club are interested in learning more about attending or hosting an I/I alumni networking event, email Ali Davidge at adavidge@uspolo.org. For more information on current I/I teams and alumni check out Polo Alumni Network on LinkedIn or the Intercollegiate/Interscholastic pages at uspolo.org.