志愿者在行动
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You Take It With You
Explore Morgan's StoryWhen 摩根·库尔茨，18岁 graduated, she was sad about leaving UD behind. But a text from her mom helped her see that part of UD goes with you when you graduate. Morgan has continued to be active with the University and currently serves on the Day10 Executive Committee.
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Connecting 父母 Through 志愿者ing
Sending your child off to college can be tough, especially when their new school is hundreds of miles away. But out-of-state parents Monique Colter and Dodie Swift are overcoming that distance and are as engaged and connected as ever.
As their students became Flyers, Colter and Swift were curious about what opportunities existed for parents to get involved. Through the Parent 引领ership Council, they found the perfect way to get connected at UD.
The PLC is an active network of parents and family members who work closely with President Eric F. Spina to advocate for students and increase awareness of UD resources through leadership, philanthropy and volunteerism. Members are encouraged to contribute to the PLC by leveraging their personal skills and strengths. For Colter and Swift, this meant participation in a panel event that allowed them to share professional insights and expertise.
During Family Weekend this fall, the PLC and Career Services co-hosted a panel called Work Experience During College: An Employer Perspective. Colter, who works as the Assistant Inspector General for Audit at AmeriCorps, and Swift, who works as Director of Client Services, Health at Spotify, sat alongside Joshua Biris ’19 from GE Aerospace and Jason Jones from Premier Health. The panel discussion educated students and their families on gaining work experience during college, the employment process, the availability of co-ops and internship experiences, as well as offering resume and interviewing tips, and general career advice.
In addition to on-campus events like these, PLC members provide feedback and engage in discussion on University priorities, attend and host UD events in their local communities, facilitate communication among parents in their networks, and encourage others to participate in One Day, One Dayton (UD’s annual giving day).
For Colter, who lives in Virginia, joining the PLC was a way to foster a deeper connection with the University. She wanted a better understanding of the resources available on campus after her son was recruited by the football program.
“I didn’t know anything about the University of 代顿市” shared Colter. “I thought the PLC would be a great opportunity to learn what resources are offered at Dayton.”
Swift, who lives in Illinois, felt called to become more engaged in the Flyer family after her son’s first year.
“My husband and I wanted to get more involved after our son’s first year at Dayton because it was just such a positive experience for him,” said Swift. “Knowing that it would also be a gateway to having some service opportunities, particularly in the career guidance space, was also appealing to me.”
Now, two years later, both Colter and Swift have found a supportive network where they can serve others using their unique talents and strengths, keep apprised of campus resources, ask and answer questions, and most importantly, stay connected and involved with their Flyers.
“I would recommend parents to join,” said Colter. “It gives a good opportunity to connect. Especially when you live far away — we live eight hours away — it helps us to get a better feel for where Mitchell is and understand the resources. It helps us to guide him as he gets through his matriculation here.”
关于 2,400 alumni, parents and friends serve in volunteer roles for UD. Through UD’s 正规买球网站平台飞翔 campaign — the first comprehensive fundraising campaign in over 20 years — the University is looking to grow that number to at least 2,800. Participating in the PLC is just one way parents can get involved in building a culture that will sustain UD’s bright future.
“Definitely take any opportunity to get involved, because you can shape it in any way that works for you and your schedule,” shared Swift. “It's another point of connection to the University, and I really appreciate that.”
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A Champion for UD
Kaitlyn Redmond ’15 isn’t shy about her love for the University of Dayton — and it’s that unwavering love for UD that makes Redmond an ideal Flyer Champion.Read the Story -
Forever a Flyer
Explore Khristian's StoryKhristian Santiago '16 is making an impact at UD in multiple ways. He currently serves on UD's Board of Trustees as one of the inaugural recent alumni trustees. -
The lesson in getting lost
Stacy Ziarko ’03 knew she was at the right place when she and her family were lost touring UD, and a student heading to class stopped to offer directions.Read the Story -
Peers With Purpose
Read the StoryThere are lots of ways to measure success. For Steve Clark ’88, it’s about more than the job title or the amount of money you earn. When he defines success, he includes the ability to give back to the people and places you love.
“I love to volunteer,” said Steve, a peer-to-peer ambassador and Reunion Weekend volunteer for the University of Dayton. “Whether I’m volunteering with UD or one of the nonprofits in my town, that sense of giving back — or serving — has always been an important part of my life.”
He credits his parents and his time at UD for instilling the value of service in his life, and he’s passed that value down to his daughter, Erin Clark ’18. Erin has joined her father in volunteering with UD after graduation.
“Seeing students thrive. Seeing the diversity thrive at UD compared to when I was there. Those are goals of the University that I hold in my heart,” said Steve. “When the University succeeds in advancing these goals, it’s a success for me.”
As a peer-to-peer ambassador, he helps the University raise funds to advance all of its goals. And he says UD makes it easy, pointing out that he’s not making cold calls to people he doesn’t know. He receives a contact list and can modify it with friends and classmates he went to school with or has met post-graduation; the peer-to-peer program then provides him with an email template that can be easily personalized and sent.
“When a new template comes out, maybe quarterly, I add a few sentences like, ‘Hey, I was just down in Dayton for a basketball game,’ or ‘I was back on campus last week for Family Weekend, and you should see this’ … you just add something personal,” explained Steve. “It takes five, maybe 10 minutes tops. It’s not difficult, but it’s impactful.”
“It takes five, maybe 10 minutes tops. It’s not difficult, but it’s impactful.”
According to UD’s assistant director of annual giving, Alyssa Samborsky ’22, the emails sent by peer-to-peer ambassadors and other volunteers are opened by recipients nearly 63% of the time. National averages for email open rates from colleges and universities is between 17% and 24%.
Flyers respond to fellow Flyers. It’s a community thing, and it keeps everyone positive.
“I’ve never met another alum who doesn’t care about the University,” he said. “And I’ve never had someone ask to be removed from the mailing list. What happens is I’ll see people I’ve emailed at Reunion or a basketball game or something, and they’ll tell me they saw my update, and it starts a conversation.”
Everyone wants to make a difference, and when they see fellow alumni and friends participating, they join in the community. That’s how the University is working toward its $400 million comprehensive campaign goal during 正规买球网站平台飞翔.
正规买球网站平台飞翔 is bigger than a fundraising campaign. It also includes goals for engagement (the number of people who actively volunteer with the University) as well as a participation goal (the number of members in the University’s Front Porch Society — a giving society that recognizes people who make a gift of any amount to UD during three or more consecutive fiscal years).
Steve understands that these campaign goals are designed to help the University, its students, and the entire community thrive for generations, and he’s excited to be a part of it.
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She chose to be a Flyer
With full-ride scholarship offers, she could have gone anywhere. Destiny Watson ’20 chose to be a Flyer, and she’s giving back to the University she loves by volunteering and attracting the next generation of Flyers.Read the Story
作为校友的志愿服务让我觉得自己和特拉华大学社区的联系就像我在校园里一样紧密.
摩根·库尔茨，18岁
