McCombs Alumni Network News

This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of online executive mba programs. Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions.

It’s no exaggeration when I say that nine out of ten people are nostalgic about the time they spent in school and/or college. They tend to call them “the best days of their lives.” That’s not to say that their current situation is bad; it only goes to prove that those days when you had no real responsibilities other than to make good grades and stay out of trouble are evergreen in your mind because you were young, carefree and ready to embrace life with a passion. We gain so much more than just an education from our school and college, so it is imperative that we try to give as much back. The term alma mater is reason enough, but if you need further motivation to give back to your school or college, read on:

• Alumni play a large role in determining the future and continued development of an institution.
• Your donations go a long way to support scholarships for deserving students who are short of funds.
• You are giving back to more than just your alma mater in this case; you are also helping someone gain a valuable asset, a quality education.
• Your regular contributions make a big difference to the operating budget of your alma mater and this helps sustain regular programs and initiatives.
• Your money could also be used to fund and sustain innovative programs that help improve the quality of the education offered at your alma mater.
• If you are short of money, volunteering your time also benefits your college and school.
• When your alma mater continues to remain a popular and prestigious institution, the value of your degree increases as well.
• When alumni contribute openly to their alma mater, it is easier to procure funds from outsiders and other organizations and philanthropists as well.
• You can give back to your alma mater much more than money – one alumnus helped build a nature trail on the 8 acre spread of his former institution so that nature lovers could enjoy the serenity and beauty of the campus.
• Contributing to your alma mater in a significant manner gives you and your business good publicity, and publicity never hurt anyone even if it’s not your original aim.

So if you’ve been neglecting your alma mater, rectify the situation and start giving back in any way you can, today.