Greetings!

 

Happy September!

I hope you had a wonderful summer of rest and relaxation! It's time to get revved up for the fast approaching AAP recruitment season, and the admissions office looks to you, our valued members, to help surpass the great recruitment success of 2007-08. We recruited one of the largest and most diverse freshmen classes in SMC's history, which would not have been possible without all of our AAP members actively engaging students and families.

 

Looking ahead to the 2008-09 recruiting season, it is the goal of the admissions office to reach 5,000 applications for admission - a goal impossible to attain without the support of our wonderful AAP Gaels. This year, we can extend our reach
by attending additional college fairs (let's go for 70!), contacting greater numbers of admitted students and attracting international students. I look forward to working with you over the course of this academic year and welcoming yet another class to Saint Mary's and its proud traditions.

Yours for Saint Mary's,

Linde Waite '05

 

College Fairs are Up and Ready
This year we have nearly 300 fairs needing coverage by AAP members. Check out the college fair schedule online to sign up for fairs in your area, including those located out-of-state and around the globe.

 

Two New AAP Groups
The 2008-09 academic year brings a new emphasis to the program: recruiting academically talented and diverse students of color from the United States and abroad. We are proud to announce the creation of the Minority Alumni Admissions Program (MAAP) and the International Alumni-Admissions Program (IAAP). In a message to the Saint Mary's Community on March 25, Brother President Ronald Gallagher stressed the importance of our student body reflecting the diversity of the West Coast: "The changing nature of our students and the experiences they bring with them has changed our learning environment, creating the opportunity for Saint Mary's to be known  as a leader in inclusive, collaborative learning."
 

We look to our alumni living abroad and from underrepresented minority groups to join in on the ground level, working directly with the coordinators of international and minority student recruitment in targeted college fairs and receptions. Please contact Linde Waite (925) 631-4930 or lwaite@stmarys-ca.edu if you are interested in participating.

 

New Web Link and Content
The website has a new link (that is easier to remember!): www.stmarys-ca.edu/aap. There is now an updated online handbook and a self-administered pop quiz available on the website. In addition, check out our new features and programs, such as the International and Minority Recruitment Programs (IAAP and MAAP), as well as "Poll of the Week" and our new membership directory.

 

Member Spotlight - Toussaint Bailey '02
This season the Admissions Office highlights Toussaint Bailey '02. Toussaint recently joined the Alumni Admissions Program and he attended the southern California training in May. Originally from Riverside, California, and currently residing in Los Angeles with his new wife, Denise Bailey '02, Toussaint hit the ground running by signing up for four college fairs this fall and volunteering to be a part of the new Minority Alumni Admissions Program.

 

As a student, Toussaint majored in finance and minored in Economics. When asked why he originally applied to Saint Mary's, Toussaint chuckled and candidly replied "to get a job!"  He quickly fell in love with the personal attention and challenging academics. He joined the AAP to share his story and heighten the name recognition of SMC in southern California. Toussaint, who currently works as a litigation associate in Los Angeles, enjoys mentoring teenagers and participating in recreational baseball leagues.

 

Invite a Friend
Keep in touch with your classmates? Want to get them involved with AAP? On the website we now have a new "invite a friend" feature where you can send your fellow Gaels a link to learn all about AAP. Feel free to contact other alumni friends who are interested in staying connected with the College.

 

Admissions Office Moves from Filippi Hall
As part of the process to construct a Welcome Center on campus scheduled to be completed in May, 2009, the admissions office will move out of Filippi Hall in late September. The majority of admissions officers along with the student ambassador program will temporarily relocate to Brother Urban Gregory Hall (former home of the School of Education), while admissions operations and a few officers will move to the first floor of Brother Jerome West Hall.

 

Alumni Tour Guides
Think you still know your way around SMC? Would you like to show families around campus and share your experiences? We would love for you join us as an alumni tour guide for our Fall Preview Day (Oct. 11) and President's Open House (Jan. 25) this year. Interested alums may contact Linde at (925) 631-4930 to obtain the necessary information and training for this event.

 

Welcome New Ambassadors
Join us in welcoming a great group of new ambassadors to join our staff:

 

Natalie Aldajani - So. from Hercules/Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory High School
Lyawna Archie - So. from Sacramento/Christian Brothers High School
William Calderon - So. from Brentwood/Liberty High School
Teresa Del Real - So. from Brentwood/Liberty High School
Steven Espinola - Jr. from Tulare/Tulare Western High School
Karina Flores - So. from East Palo Alto/Menlo Atherton High School
Meagan Haliski - So. from Portland, OR/De La Salle North Catholic High School
Grayson Hurd - So. from San Jose/The Harker School
Eileen Larkin - Sr. from Orinda/The Orinda Academy
Dorian MacNeil - Jr. from Phelan/Serrano High School
Jordan Raya - So. from Brentwood/De La Salle High School
Drew Williams - So. from San Ramon/California High School

Welcome Back:
Alex Branch (Jr. from Colombia, MT); Mandy Lung (Sr. from Boise, ID); Brianna Merihue (Jr. from Downey); and Celine Miernicki (Sr. from San Diego).

 

New SMC Staff
We welcome Kevin Miller (pictured), former director of admissions for marketing and operations, as our new Southern California regional representative! Kevin will be a wonderful contact for those of you in Southern California who would like to attend college fairs and receptions. We also welcome Joel Sweeney, assistant director of admissions and coordinator of web 2.0 initiatives, and Wendylynn Marcajida, administrative assistant.