College Student Affairs Leadership
CSAL Reunion 2002
The first CSAL Reunion was held July 5th & 6th, 2002. About 20 alums plus their guests, faculty and staff attended and participated in a variety of events including the Friday night social hour, golf on Friday, Saturday (and some even on Sunday!), a Saturday Roundtable Brunch, a trip on the D.J. Angus and Saturday evening dinner. Alums returned to Allendale from around Michigan, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio and Texas.
The Saturday evening event included a dinner and fun (and brief!) program emceed by Dave Crafts, Class of 2000 and Vice President and Social Chair of the CSAL Alumni Chapter. Two members of the first graduating class (Chad Garland and Bonnie Rue Schneider) attended and received their CSAL pins. These pins have been presented to members of each graduating CSAL class since 1998. Tom Butcher, University Counsel and Adjunct Faculty in the CSAL program also attended and received a pin. Remarks were made to the group by Bart Merkle, Vice Provost and Dean of Students, Tom Butcher, and several alums.
The discussion at the Roundtable Brunch included reflections on experiences as grad students that have been most helpful in professional positions and ways for alums to stay connected with the CSAL program and Grand Valley. Some ways alums can stay connected and "give back" are through involvement with the CSAL Alumni Chapter, by mentoring current CSAL students, networking and helping with the recruitment of candidates for graduate assistantships.
Another way is financially, by contributing to the CSAL Development Fund. The CSAL Development fund was started several years ago with faculty and staff contributions. The fund has helped cover the cost of faculty professional development and alumni functions at professional conferences. At the roundtable, Dani Hiar (Class of 98) initiated a challenge to CSAL faculty and staff to match alumni donations. She started the challenge with $20.00 on the spot, which has grown to $45 with two additional contributions. Watch for more information about the challenge.
No date has been set for the next CSAL Reunion, but the general consensus seemed to be that a reunion should be held every three to five years.
Reunion Pictures
Page last modified September 20, 2010
