Hundreds of Recent Graduates Reconnect at Inaugural Young Alumni Reunion

Malinda Danziger | March 02, 2009

“I would like to let you to know how glad and appreciative I am that you set up this UCSD Alumni networking reunion. ...I can sincerely conclude that the ‘total good’ that students receive in return for their tuition is not only a degree from one of the best universities in the U.S., but also the ongoing support, activities and networking opportunities that allow us to utilize our degrees most effectively.”
--Fanny Fridlander '08

Alumni enjoy the festivities at the annual skybox party at RIMAC. From left: Brandon Freeman, ’04, Chris Madril, Stefani Martinez Madril, ’04, Mark Stickel, ’02, Rachel Corell, ’06, Jordan Cross, ’04, and Laura Ginn, ’02.

The note above represents just one of the many enthusiastic emails received by the UCSD Alumni Association in response to its inaugural Young Alumni Reunion that took place Feb. 19-22. The new program will be offered annually, providing UC San Diego graduates from the last decade an opportunity to reconnect with friends and explore new spaces on campus.

The 2009 Young Alumni Reunion began Thursday evening with an alumni leadership dinner for Alumni Association board members, past presidents and alumni donors at the Atkinson Pavilion. Afterwards, guests enjoyed a brief program with Jeff Elman, dean of the Division of Social Sciences. This was followed by a conversation with Thad Kousser, political science professor, and Joe Leventhal, ’99, former deputy assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney, discussing presidential transitions and the first month of the Obama administration.

Alumni and students enjoy a presentation at Saturday’s “Power Up Your Triton Network” hosted at The Loft.

On Friday, more than 750 alumni, students and guests came back to campus to participate in a multitude of activities, beginning with a special skybox reception at RIMAC during an exciting basketball double-header, at which both men's and women's teams won in the waning seconds of their games. After the games, alumni met up at one of UCSD’s hottest new spaces, The Loft, for a concert featuring the alumni bands Secret Apollo and The Modlins.

Saturday’s “Power Up Your Triton Network” event was a huge hit, offering a hands-on career development and networking program highlighted by speaker Bart Meltzer, ’90, lead inventor of Web Services and a pioneer in XML Technology, who offered his top10 strategies for owning, managing and sustaining your social and professional networks. Afterwards Ron Nash, author of How to Find Your Dream Job Even During a Recession, gave an inspirational talk about practical ways to utilize those networks. Later that day, alumni stopped by a fun Happy Hour gathering at Porter’s Pub before heading off to a co-sponsored event with Chancellors Associates showcasing a screening of the popular independent film Bottle Shock along with a discussion with its alumni producers Robert Baizer, ’87 and Diane Jacobs, ’86. On Sunday, alumni could be found back at The Loft for a relaxing brunch to cap off the weekend. 

Bart Meltzer, ’90, was the featured presenter at “Power Up Your Triton Network” where he offered alumni and students his top 10 strategies for owning, managing and sustaining your social and professional networks at “Power Up Your Triton Network.”

The event also brought together alumni from several academic divisions and campus groups with their own smaller reunions throughout the weekend, including cognitive science, environmental systems, physical sciences, Greek alumni, Alternative Breaks alumni and Student Foundation alumni.  

“This new signature program gave us a chance to reach out to our younger alumni, who comprise nearly 50 percent of UC San Diego’s entire alumni base,” said Armin Afsahi, ’90 assistant vice chancellor of Alumni Affairs. “These graduates have had a unique experience during the last 10 years of unprecedented growth at the University, and while all alumni are always welcome, we designed a weekend of activities geared toward helping recent graduates reconnect with campus and tap into the larger, very powerful Triton alumni network.”

The Alumni Association will be welcoming back alumni of all ages in June for its annual Alumni Weekend, which will include a full slate of family activities, educational events and the annual Awards for Excellence ceremony. Please visit the UCSD Alumni website for more details.