The Bonner Alumni Network

Welcome to the home of the Bonner Alumni Network! This space is designed for alumni of the BSP to gather information about other alumni, service opportunities, reunion events, and jobs.

Mission

The mission is to mobilize and empower Bonner alumni to use their talents, energy, expertise, and experience to change the world through service. The network will:

• Encourage and support Bonner graduates in their commitment to lifelong service.
• Nurture communication between Bonner Scholar alumni, the Bonner Foundation, and the 27 Bonner Scholar Programs.
• Inform Bonner graduates of issues and events in the Bonner Program and the service community.
• Aid Bonner graduates in their professional as well as personal development in the nonprofit world.
• Mobilize Bonner graduates to inform others, especially prospective Bonners, of the Bonner Program.

There is much pride in belonging to a group that is committed to service and social justice. As Bonners, you were able to gain many experiences, opportunities, and benefits. Through the Alumni Network, we can help support current Bonner and continue to work together for positive social change.

Background: So...why are we doing this?

Today there are more Bonner Scholar alumni (2600) than there are current Bonner Scholars (1460).

Employers spot the scholarship on résumés, and alumni make connections at churches, in businesses, and in the community. An informal Bonner Alumni network will, therefore, develop on its own. A completely informal network, however, will fail to capture the energies and commitments that are waiting to be tapped.

In the past, a number of Bonners have worked together to form a planning committee for an alumni network. This student initiative has been inspiring and has demonstrated the interest and the value of an alumni network. The idea of the network has reached a point where it needs additional support in order to move beyond the discussion and planning stage.

The value of an alumni network will greatly benefit the BSP and the commitment to lifelong service, especially in these specific areas:

• Recruitment: With recruiting materials provided by the Foundation, Bonner alumni can encourage students from their communities, churches, and high schools to consider the Bonner Scholars Program at any of the program's colleges.

• Networking: The Bonner Scholar alumni can serve as mentors and role models for current students. They can also help current Bonner Scholars find internships during the summer and jobs upon graduation.

• Service: Alumni are encouraged to work together to establish service projects that will draw on members of the Bonner community, as well as people from the general public. Examples of service projects might include a city-wide service day, a short-term mission project overseas, or a new holiday season community initiative.

On August 25, 1998, at Wofford College, the Bonner Foundation and Alumni Directors and associates from Davidson, Emory & Henry, Guilford, Hood, Rhodes, Union, and Wofford met to discuss the development of the Bonner Alumni Network. They talked about the many benefits of a Bonner Alumni Network, the obstacles that it faces, and the structure in which it should function. The Foundation has asked the alumni offices at all the colleges in the Bonner Program to work in partnership with them, especially in regards to the database. Since the alumni office already has a system of updating current addresses, the Foundation requested that each alumni office send us their updated contact information for Bonner alumni.

Code and track Bonner Scholars

Currently, a number of colleges track Bonners through their alumni records. Most colleges have a survey in which graduating seniors inform the college of all their activities, scholarships, and awards during their years at the college. Each alumni office was asked to track Bonners by entering Bonners as a checkbox during these types of surveys. Another method suggested was to work in conjunction with the Bonner Coordinator by requesting a list of graduating and transferring Bonners each year.

Exploring Service Activities with Alumni

During the meeting many participants agreed that having alumni events centered around service is both beneficial and worthwhile. The Foundation encouraged the alumni offices to explore ways of integrating community service into alumni activities. Please contact your alumni office if you can help with this endeavor.

The success of the communication channels for the Bonner Alumni Network is dependent upon the relationship between the alumni office and the Foundation. It is also dependent upon alumni informing their colleges of their updated addresses. The list of addresses will not be distributed. Its sole use will be to maintain the Alumni Network of Bonners.

The Bonner Alumni Network's main mission is to support a Bonner in their lifelong commitment to service. Please aid your alumni office in this effort in any way possible. With their help and yours, the Bonner Alumni Network will be well sustained for a long lifetime.