ECPI University's Charleston campus was pleased to welcome back graduates (going back nearly 10 years!) for an Alumni reunion last month. (See photos from the event)
The idea for the reunion gathered steam once alumni, attending as student speakers at a 2023 Charleston Open House, made the request. “They expressed a desire for networking and to bring folks together,” said Director of Career Services Taylor Cook. "We knew we wanted to make it happen."
With the success of reunions at other ECPI campuses and the encouragement of Campus President James Weaver, a committee of Charleston staff began planning for the reunion just before the end of 2023.
Their planning paid off. The campus had a healthy mix of MA, CIS, EET, and nursing graduates attend the reunion. They enjoyed refreshments, a presentation, networking, and an icebreaking game of human bingo (create your own!). It was the first time for some graduates to see the new location, and alumni were thrilled to see how the Charleston campus has grown. Two student speakers spoke about their journeys at ECPI and their current career, then select staff shared updates and how to stay in touch with the alumni network.
In addition to a well-paced agenda, Cook’s team outdid themselves in decorations. “I joke that I was a party planner in a past life,” she laughed. Cook's charcuterie trays were fashioned inside ECPI letters, and did you see the impressive balloon arch created in the university’s signature colors? “We were intentional with the décor and overall ambiance for the event. We wanted it to look and feel special.”
According to Alumni Engagement Specialist Sarah Campo, now that the pandemic is a thing of the past, ECPI reunions are happening on a more regular basis. Over the last year, reunions have sprouted up at campuses in Columbia, SC, Greenville, SC, Greensboro, NC and in Hampton Roads (a Virginia Beach/Newport News/Online combination reunion). The next one will be held in Charlotte, NC this month!
“At ECPI we have a students-first mindset, and that doesn’t halt when they graduate,” said Campo. “By inviting our graduates back on campus, we get to celebrate their accomplishments and foster networking opportunities, but it also allows us the ability to hear and share alumni testimonials and coordinate alumni-student mentoring. It’s a win-win for the University.”