Student Alumni Group Honored

The Alumni Association Student Ambassador Program, or AASAP, received two awards Sunday at a conference for the southeast region of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. CASE is an international association of college and university advancement professionals.

NC State’s 125th Homecoming, which was planned and executed by AASAP in collaboration with campus organizations and colleges, received the “Tried and True Award,” given annually to a signature program reflecting a group’s mission while yielding tangible results for the university. Events must prove annual growth in attendance, dollars raised and additional programming.

NC State’s Homecoming is one of the largest student-run events in the nation. The award represents the culmination of a 14-year attempt by the Alumni Association to revitalize the campus tradition.

“Receiving the award is one of the highest honors for our program,” said AASAP President Amanda J. Young. “We worked with the university for 12 months planning the 125th Homecoming and successfully executed more than 30 events with other campus entities last fall.”

Also at the conference, Jim Gresham, coordinator of student programs for the Alumni Association, received the “Outstanding Advisor” award for revitalizing AASAP. In less than two years, Gresham moved the ambassadors to a student leadership development model and more than doubled membership in the Student Alumni Association while executing NC State’s 125th Homecoming.

NC State now automatically advances to compete on the national level.