Moorpark College President Dr. Julius Sokenu solicited support to revitalize the Moorpark College Alumni Association to connect alumni with current students.
The MCAA is a newly formed group of graduates and faculty from Moorpark College and community members who joined together to collaborate, focusing on the central belief in helping students with networking in their career fields. The MCAA also helps students navigate the college lifestyle and connects students with alumni and other resources.
Moorpark College faculty member and alumni Kimberly Lewis explained how the MCAA was created on the principal question of how they can help students.
“The Moorpark College Alumni Association was founded on the idea of Moorpark College being a family; we want to make sure that students know that they will always be part of that family, even after they are no longer taking classes with us,” said Lewis. “No matter if you came for a few classes to brush up on your skills, transferred to a 4-year university or graduated with an Associate’s degree, you are a Moorpark alum.”
The MCAA workgroup is made up of members who plan and implement activities and benefits for graduates who sign up to be a part of the Alumni Association. These members meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. via Zoom to advance projects and share ideas.
The workgroup is planning an alumni mixer around an upcoming Moorpark College Performing Arts theatrical production of “Kinky Boots” in March of 2022. They are also planning a series of alumni transfer panels for students who are admitted into 4-year institutions.
At the panels, students can ask questions to help them make a final decision on where to enroll to complete their bachelor’s degrees. These panels will take place in late April or early May of 2022.
Partnerships with college programs like America’s Teaching Zoo allowed the association to support current students and programs while giving graduates opportunities to reconnect with the college. Moorpark College Student Activities Specialist Kristen Robinson shared what the MCAA provides for alumni.
“Benefits for alumni includes discounted tickets to special performances, as a way of bringing our graduates back to campus,” said Robinson. “For example, last month the MCAA supported America’s Teaching Zoo by offering discounted tickets to their Concert for the Cats fundraiser, which featured a live performance by John Ondrasik of the band Five for Fighting.”
The Alumni Association hopes to benefit current students by giving them a voice and a chance to develop their creative skills. The Association aims to help make Moorpark College an inviting place for all students.
President of the Associated Students of Moorpark College Mary Poitier talked about her experience in the association and how ASMC wanted to bring in current and past students to help bridge the gap between them.
“Being a student and an alumni has been an excellent opportunity to see the past and present changes that Moorpark College has made,” said Poitier. “I want students to know that we have an open-door policy, and they are invited to make changes by using their voices, and that the Alumni Association is there for them and will do everything we can to ensure that their experience at Moorpark College is good.”
Alumni who want to join the Alumni Association and stay informed about upcoming events and programs that are developed exclusively for them can sign up online and click on the “Let us hear from you” link at the top of the page.
Alumni who want to help coordinate events and activities as part of the MCAA workgroup can email [email protected] and commuicate their interest to receive an invitation to a future meeting.
