The future alumni of CSULB

         Students anxiously wait for the end of their last semester of college, as graduation grows nearer they get ready to celebrate, ready to conquer the world, ready to…join the Alumni Association?

     Sasha Leonardo, the coordinator of student and recent alumni events at California State University, Long Beach, has the difficult job of trying to recruit graduating seniors into the Alumni Association. Leonardo said, “It can be a challenging job, and trying to get seniors to even consider joining the Alumni Association can be the hardest part.” 

     Leonardo is a proud CSULB alumni, she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts and her Master of Arts from CSULB in 2004.  She knew right after she graduated that she wanted to be a part of the Alumni Association, and it is now her job to convince others to do the same.  She wants students to be excited and proud to be a graduate of Cal State Long Beach with the hopes that they will want to stay involved with the university.

Recent Alumni having drinks at an event.

        With a small $49 fee, students become lifetime members of the Alumni Association and receive a CSULB alumni license plate frame.  Leonardo said, “Sometimes we can get students to join for the free license plate frame alone.”  The cost of joining is not rough, but getting students to join can be.  As a graduating senior the last thing on any students mind is about how they are going to stay involved with their university after they have left. 

     Many students wonder what joining the Alumni Association will do for them.  Joining the association is a way to make great connections with other alumni, it allows members to stay involved with school and it gives all members access to any of the benefits that students get from having an ID card, like discounts, access to the library and research materials, sporting events, and much more.

       Leonardo said, “We try to pump up senior year to make it something to celebrate and show them a good time, so that they are sure to come back and stay involved in the school.”