Alums Help Welcome New Students to Smith
Smithies form new connections during orientation
Published September 18, 2024
It was a beautiful late summer day when new students and Western Mass alums convened at the Alumnae House for a fun and laid-back opportunity to connect. An alternative to more formal networking events, New Student and Alum Orientation—now in its second year—gave students and alums a chance to tour the Alumnae House, reflect on what it means to be a Smithie, and get to know one another.
The day-long series of events was attended by first-year and transfer students, alongside alums from classes spanning five decades.
Each session began with a warm welcome and introductions from Alumnae Relations staff and the Student Philanthropy team, a group of students who engage their peers in the college’s fundraising efforts. Students and alums were then taken on a tour of the recently renovated Alumnae House. The tour included a history of the building and an overview of its various amenities, including the light-filled Welcome Center, a new space on the ground floor where Smithies can gather and relax. The whimsically painted basement lockers, which date to the 1900s and hold reunion keepsakes and memorabilia for each class, were a highlight for many attendees.
“Connecting with the current and new students gives me hope for the future.”
After the tour, everyone assembled in the Conference Hall for a reflective crafting activity. Using old Smith yearbooks that had been destined for the recycling bin, students and alums created paper flowers. Students were invited to write a word or phrase on one of the flower’s petals in response to the question, “What do you hope to bring to the Smith community?” On another petal, they described how they hoped to harness the power of the Smith community and its network of 53,000 alums.
As they crafted, students and alums enjoyed discussing topics ranging from favorite study spots on campus to career advice and tips for navigating grad school. Reflecting on her experience connecting with students, Tara Gadoury ’23 shared, “It’s amazing to see a new generation of Smithies who are inspired, curious, and excited to be on this journey we all share.”
Molly Maturo ’16 described the gathering as, “So fun!” She continued, “I loved meeting new and current students and was able to connect to a few students who were even interested in my career field. They were so interesting and engaged and lovely. It’s an absolutely great feeling to be connected.”
Learn more about the Student Philanthropy Team on Instagram.