By Solé Scott
Editor-in-Chief
A Century of owl pride: The Alumni Association Celebrates 100 Years- News
The Alumni Association has officially turned 100 years old, and there will be a celebration On Oct. 3, 2025, to commemorate this accomplishment.
Gregory Bernard, who graduated in 2004, became Director of Alumni Relations in 2019.
“As a Southern alumnus, I wanted to bring my experiences at other institutions back to my alma mater, transforming and modernizing our alumni relations department, and further diversifying our alumni association,” Bernard said.
The first graduating class was in 1896, and today, the university boasts over 90,000 living alumni and counting.
“The alumni network strengthens SCSU by serving as mentors, ambassadors, and advocates for our students and programs. Alumni give back through scholarships, volunteer leadership, and community partnerships that expand opportunities for current students while elevating the university’s reputation beyond campus,” Bernard said.
The Alumni Association notable accomplishments include giving out $1.8 million last year to students in need and $1.5 million in 2023.
Marketing major Anna Vilenski, a senior, will be graduating this December. She is interested in getting to know about the Alumni Association.
“I’m looking forward to graduating this December and becoming an alumni,” Vilenski said. “I haven’t heard much about the Alumni Association, so before joining, I’d like to learn more about what it is they do and what the roles are.”
Bernard shared some ways current undergraduate students can get acquainted with the alumni network.
“We provide opportunities through networking events like Alumni Professionals Day, where students can build relationships with alumni in their fields of interest,” Bernard said. “By attending events such as Homecoming, career fairs, and career panels, students gain valuable insight into professional pathways while also starting to feel a sense of pride and belonging in the alumni community.”
The special events for the anniversary will be the Alumni Awards Celebration in the Adanti Student Center on Oct. 3. In February or March there will be a networking event then in April is the Alumni Family Day that is a cookout mixed with field day.
“As an alumnus of Southern myself, I am proud of the rich history of the Alumni Association, and it has been an honor to be a part of its evolution during my tenure,” Bernard said. “Being at the helm of alumni engagement while it celebrates its centennial is pretty special, and my hope is that 100 years from now, the institution and organization are still going strong.”
