The Student Alumni Council is an on-campus organization sponsored by the Ole Miss Alumni Association. The SAC and its 80 members meet the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:15 p.m. New members are hand selected through an application and interview process held in April of each year.
“Our mission is to foster the relationship and bridge the gap between students and alumni,” SAC President Rob Pyron said.
Main goals of the SAC also include motivating students to want to give back to both the community of Oxford and The University of Mississippi and making members aware of their importance once they are alumni.
Monthly meetings allow members to hear from both university representatives and distinguished alumni about what’s going on within the university to relay to students.
“It’s been a great way to network,” business senior Virginia Tracy said. “I’ve had the chance to meet so many alumni that are invested in the success of the students involved.”
Through various programs and activities, the SAC serves as a direct link between Ole Miss students and alumni.
Bridging the Gap is the SAC’s main event this year and will be held Nov. 8. Distinguished alumni serve on a panel to answer students’ questions, give advice and share life experiences.
This event is open to all students as a way to give more people a chance to learn about the OMAA, SAC and the alumni themselves.
“It’s just a time for students to see what Ole Miss alumni are doing, what they have done and the success that they have had and how Ole Miss has shaped them for that success,” Pyron said.
In the spring, SAC sponsors a Mentor Program in which members are matched with designated alumni within the same career field. Through the Mentor Program, SAC members are given the chance to reach out to alumni for potential job opportunities and professional or personal advice.
The SAC also sells t-shirts at football games and hosts community service events.
“I want for students to have a sense of pride about our university and about the alumni that makes up this university,” Pyron said. “When you combine the two, I think you have a better overall university atmosphere.”
