By Carrie Howard
The Student Organization for Alumni Relations is an integral part of he University of Louisville’s Alumni Association. SOAR was founded in 1985 to provide opportunities for interaction between current U of L students and alumni. Emily Coleman, a graduate assistant for the program, said, “We are making a connection between alumni and current students so they can share with each other.”
The requirements for membership include maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA, participating in a specific number of designated events each semester, and attending monthly meetings.
Being a SOAR member has many benefits. SOAR members may receive free tickets to special events and alumni functions, attain valuable networking and mentoring opportunities, and may get a chance to travel across the United States. Along with these benefits, SOAR members may also be able to participate in valuable volunteer activities, develop strong leadership skills, and participate in summer internship programs.
This semester, SOAR will be highly involved in the homecoming activities. There will be many opportunities for alumni and current students to mingle, share and have fun. SOAR will be cosponsoring the annual homecoming bonfire and will also sponsor the Wild Wednesday cookout.
In November, the SOAR program will be traveling to Western Kentucky University for a state conference, where other alumni organizations will meet.
Not only does SOAR offer a lot of benefits and valuable experience, but the program also assists students financially by offering up a $1,000 scholarship to one U of L undergraduate. The Alumni Association’s Board of Directors chooses the student on the basis of his or her application.
Around 100 students are currently members of the organization, but Coleman would like to see more. Coleman said, “I feel that the SOAR program is a really neat untapped resource. There are so many opportunities for networking… it’s really a positive experience.”
For more information about SOAR, please contact Coleman or director Jonathan Israel at the Alumni Association at 852-6816 or 1-800-813-8635. If you would like to talk to one of them in person, visit the SOAR office on the second floor of the University Club and Alumni Center.
