Young and Restless: Newly Minted Alumni Eager to Give Back

They haven't been out long, but these alumni are eager to give back.
More than 35 percent of Georgia Tech’s alumni have graduated in the past decade, meaning more than one-third of all living alumni could be considered “young.”

More than 35 percent of Georgia Tech’s alumni have graduated in the past decade, meaning more than one-third of all living alumni could be considered “young.”

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re younger than 40.

More than 35 percent of Georgia Tech’s alumni have graduated in the past decade, meaning more than one-third of all living alumni could be considered “young.”

Take a deeper look at this age bracket, and you’ll find that these alumni are different from many of their Tech predecessors, says Nicole Holubar, a 2009 management graduate and the Georgia Tech Alumni Association’s advisor to the Young Alumni Council.

“Young alumni are so diverse and have such varied interests and aspirations,” Holubar says. “We want to provide them with the opportunities they need and want to connect with Georgia Tech.” 

The Young Alumni Council is a leadership panel composed of around 30 young alumni that focuses on engaging fellow young alums with community service, social and career development opportunities.

Membership is selective and limited to graduates of the last decade. Potential members have to submit an application and are chosen for the council based on their engagement with Tech
after graduation.

Holubar says many of the council members were very involved as students at Tech. But past leadership on campus doesn’t necessarily ensure you a spot on the council. Selections are made based on many factors, including leadership potential, aspirations, and involvement with the Alumni Association.

“We’d rather see someone who has attended their local network events or volunteered for Mentor Jackets after graduation,” she says.

Brian Tyson, a 2010 electrical engineering graduate and 2015 president of the Georgia Tech Young Alumni Council, says the group has plans to make the council more active and visible in the coming year. “We’re going to hone in on the things we really think will be beneficial to young alumni,” he says.

One of the group’s priorities will be branding and reaching more alumni through social media and the Council’s online newsletter, GT GOLD, which stands for Graduates of the Last Decade.

Young alumni are traditionally harder to reach because they are so transient. After graduation, they typically move around a lot, are focused on starting their careers, and may not know how to stay involved with Tech, especially if they move away from Atlanta, Tyson says.

“A lot of young alumni will graduate and not really have a home or a network to connect with,” Tyson says. “We really feel it’s our duty to get those alumni connected with a network wherever they are.”

Of the council’s 32 members this year, 22 live in the Atlanta area, with the other 10 spread around the country.

Because so many Tech alumni stay in Atlanta after graduation, Tyson says they try to have lots of events and service projects in the Atlanta area.

One of the Council’s biggest events is the annual “To Hell With Georgia Party” held just in time to drum up some clean old fashioned hate before the Yellow Jackets take on a certain in-state rival.

In the coming year, the Young Alumni Council plans to host one community service project a month, up from the three service projects a year they’ve held in the past.

“We’ve seen a strong push from fellow young alumni that they want to get involved both on campus and around the community,” Tyson said.

Tyson says one thing that seems to set young alumni apart is their strong interest in service.

“We used to “Get Out” of Tech. I think more so we’re changing that mindset to not only get out , but give back,” Tyson says. “I think that’s why it’s important we show students that once you get out, there’s still students behind you that need that help. And it doesn’t have to be financial. Hosting a Dinner Jackets event or getting involved in Mentor Jackets helps tremendously as well.”

This article originally appeared in Vol. 91, No. 1 of the Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine.

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