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^{Scholars Academy group at 2019 Banff Retreat. Photo by Scholars Academy.
Graduating Scholars at the 2019 Scholars Academy year-end celebration. Photo by Scholars Academy.}

There’s no doubt that Alyssa Carruthers has made a significant impact as a registered nurse during the pandemic, but she has also changed the shape of the alumni community with the passion project she spearheaded after she graduated from her second undergraduate degree in the urban studies program at UCalgary.

“The purpose of the Scholars Academy UCalgary Alumni Network [SAUAN] is to create a lifelong network for members of the Scholars Academy program,” she says. “In addition to fostering intergenerational connections, it provides opportunities for social and professional networking, and fosters spirit and pride among Scholars Academy alumni.”

During her final year in urban studies, Carruthers joined Scholars Academy, where she found a high-achieving network of peers from a variety of faculties that challenged and inspired her, and ultimately transformed her undergrad experience.

The idea for creating the network was proposed by the eighth cohort, which Carruthers is a part of. The graduates agreed they wanted to continue the connection with Scholars Academy even after graduation. Carruthers volunteered to lead the project in spring 2019, and after conferring with the Scholars Academy 2018-19 interim coordinator, Jasmine Mian, applied to the UCalgary Alumni Association for affinity group status.

The first event held in 2019 did not produce the turnout SAUAN organizers had expected.

“We were connecting with members mainly through word-of-mouth, and we needed to devise a different plan,” Carruthers says.

The board needed a communication strategy including data on past Scholars. Carruthers reached out to the Scholars Academy coordinator, Jessica Cohen, and assistant, Stephanie Lee. Cohen suggested Carruthers and the SAUAN submit a proposal to the Scholars Academy’s service project program.

A main focus for Scholars is the yearly volunteer service projects, which bring a small group of Scholars together to support different community organizations. Originally designed to accommodate one new community project per year, the recently revamped service project program is able to accept more proposals and serve a greater number of organizations.

The SAUAN proposal was accepted for the 2019-2020 academic year, and a group of volunteer Scholars set to work, reaching out to all Scholars Academy alumni to update contact information and confirm their interest in joining SAUAN. Since this initiative, Carruthers reports that SAUAN has grown to over 60 members. The volunteer Scholars group also searched out distinguished Scholars Academy alumni to include articles about their stories in the annual magazine.

SAUAN hosted their first 2020 event on May 14, an interactive Zoom meeting that was originally planned as a funded, in-person meet-and-greet at the downtown campus. The event featured a workshop by Dr. Stephanie Warner titled “Building Your Professional Network Through LinkedIn.” Twenty-three alumni, students and Scholars Academy staff attended the digital mixer.

Making connections

For many Scholars, the community they build is the essence of Scholars Academy. Students from all faculties connect and engage while participating in workshops, seminars and retreats, geared towards academic and career development. Many Scholars report that the personal gains they have made in Scholars Academy have been more influential than they ever would have imagined. These diverse individuals push boundaries, brainstorm, and inspire each other to reach the heights of interdisciplinary cooperation. With the initiation of SAUAN, graduating Scholars can continue to collaborate and carry on this spirit of community wherever they end up.

The board of the SAUAN looks forward to working with Scholars Academy to develop the alumni group since their goal is to provide similar high-quality programming offered by Scholars Academy, continue the connections made in the program and stay connected to graduating Scholars.

“We’d love to have a current Scholar on the [SAUAN] board to tailor programming to the next set of Scholars Academy alumni,” says Carruthers.

As the board gets bigger and more volunteers join the ranks, “the sky’s the limit,” when it comes to the future of SAUAN, says Carruthers. She says she is proud to be contributing to the larger UCalgary campus even after graduation.

“We have so many amazing alumni, some of whom are completing international graduate programs, and I want to bring these people together in one space to continue the bonds we made in Scholars Academy and empower members to connect and share their learnings and achievements.”

Find out more at ucalgary.ca/student-services/scholars-academy.

Scholars Academy alumni are encouraged to contact the SAUAN and provide an update on their current endeavors (e.g., awards, organizations, fundraising). Contact them .