Welcome from the CALS Alumni Association President
Give Back
It's my honor and privilege to lead the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Alumni Association as President for 2009-2010.
As alumni of Cornell and CALS, we have great reason to be proud of our alma mater and the benefits we continue to receive through our affiliation with the College. Consider the countless times your Cornell degree earned you special recognition, landed you that initial job interview, or connected you to a new friend or colleague. Many lucky Cornellians even find love on campus. Considering all that Cornell and CALS has done for you, what have you done for Cornell?
Making a financial commitment to Cornell is critical to maintaining it's viability as a world class teaching and research institution. Especially in this economy, it's more important now than ever to consider Cornell in your annual giving, just as you would for your local food bank or church. Any monetary amount makes a difference and you can feel confident that a donation to the College's Annual Fund is used to support the college's priorities and scholarships, which enables students of all financial situations to experience the Cornell we know and love and fulfill Ezra Cornell's founding mission statement, "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study."
But not all alumni have the financial resources to contribute as much as they'd like. Fortunately, there are many other opportunities to support CALS. For example, you can join your local CALS Alumni Association leadership team or Cornell Club, interview high school applicants through the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network (CAAAN), host a winter extern or summer intern at your place of work, mentor a recent graduate, attend a local high school career fair to promote CALS, participate on an informational alumni panel, join the Alumni Career Link thru the College's Career Development Office, or volunteer to organize or host a local alumni event. Regardless how much time you have to offer, there is something for everyone. You can even benefit CALS and the University by simply mentioning Cornell in your everyday dealings. With over 50,000 CALS alumni throughout the globe, you shouldn't underestimate the networking power of your Cornell degree.
Next time you update your budget, make plans for the weekend, or strike up a conversation, be mindful of your Cornell roots and seek out ways to contribute to the College. From assuming a leadership role to a simple gesture or comment, you can make a difference in the future of Cornell and CALS – I encourage you to just give back!
Jim Alves ‘01
2009-2010CALS Alumni President
The CALS Alumni Association exists to promote fellowship and leadership among alumni and students and to advance the teaching, research, and extension functions of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
To contact us by email: ALSAA@cornell.edu