Submitted by: Johana Fiserova
The Student Alumni Association at UCLA is guided by one chief principle: connecting students with alumni while enhancing their student life at UCLA by providing opportunities that strengthen their lifelong loyalty to the university. The Student Alumni Association is a student-run organization that works on behalf of the UCLA Alumni Association.
It provides a multitude of events for all Bruins to participate in, from campus-based traditions to social, career and networking events that all enhance the student experience. SAA also provides unique opportunities for its 100 executive members who are able to develop themselves socially and professionally through leadership development programs.
SAA is a nationally recognized organization for its ability to plan and execute great UCLA traditions such as the Beat ‘SC Parade, Bonfire and Rally, Dinners for 12 Strangers and Spring Sing. We serve UCLA students’ need to explore career options with events such as Interview With a Bruin and Entertainment Networking Night.
This year, the Beat ‘SC Parade, Bonfire and Rally starts off the fall quarter with activities that strengthen Bruin pride and bring the entire campus together. The exciting evening of the Beat ‘SC Parade, Bonfire and Rally will be taking place in Wilson Plaza on Monday, Nov. 23 at 9:30 p.m. Every year the students and alumni of UCLA have a great time participating in this legendary and fun-filled event.
Events like Interview With a Bruin and Entertainment Networking Night provide students with skills and experiences that are necessary in the professional world. Interview With a Bruin is an event where students have the opportunity to have one-on-one mock interviews with UCLA alumni professionals from a variety of fields and receive feedback on their resumes and career options.
This year, SAA is introducing LeaderShape to the UCLA community. A nationally known leadership development program offers an alternative spring break at Lake Arrowhead for UCLA students to receive training from alumni and professionals and to become dynamic leaders on campus to build up upon their leadership skills.
Spring Sing and Dinners for 12 Strangers are the most well-known SAA events that provide students with entertainment and casual opportunities to network and interact with alumni.
As illustrated by the above events, SAA is a multifaceted organization that provides many ways for students to be involved with the UCLA campus. Since the work of SAA is focused on many UCLA traditions, the members do a lot of work in event planning along with professional and career development.
However, being a member of SAA offers much more than that due to the engagement in marketing and outreach efforts, excellent opportunities to interact with a variety of professionals, and the ability to connect with UCLA alumni throughout the year.
For those interested in becoming a part of this close-knit family, informational meetings are being held Sept. 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. in the James West Alumni Center, between Ackerman Union and Pauley Pavilion. There is an application and interview process that will prove to be worth your while, since SAA is made up of some of the most well-rounded and enthusiastic students on campus.
Pride, camaraderie and love for UCLA, as well as the drive for professional and leadership development, bonds all SAA volunteers in a common cause to provide beneficial and exciting experiences for all Bruins.
We are enthused and excited to meet students interested in becoming SAA volunteers and we hope to see you at our fall welcome meetings on Sept. 29 and 30. Beat ‘SC and go Bruins!
Fiserova is the 2009-2010 president of SAA.