You Owe Bennett
The graduating senior class’ job does not end at Bennett College after they toss their caps in the air. The Office of Alumnae Affairs and the Pre-Alumnae Council (PAC) held a luncheon on Saturday, April 2 to celebrate the outgoing class’ accomplishments, but the groups also reminded the seniors about their next duty, joining the Alumnae Club.
Erica Woolridge,’05 delivered the reflections for the day. She challenged graduating seniors to join and support an Alumnae chapter in any region of the country.
“When you come to Bennett College, you pay for your education, the experience is free…therefore you owe Bennett.”
The afternoon was spent with members of various classes. Woolridge says that she met her best friends at Bennett and works hard now to give back to Bennett College.
“We are young, and fresh we should work now and let some weight off of our seasoned Belles shoulders.”
Danielle Williams, the community relations coordinator in the department of Institutional Advancement and 1990 graduate told students they are unofficially employed to serve the Bennett College Community.
“The Alumnae Association’s job is to support Bennett College in any way possible, to become active, engage in activities, engage in giving, and to support the students as they matriculate.”
Woolridge says there are many ways to give back to the college.
“Bennett will contact you when you leave asking for donations, give if you can, five dollars, ten dollars, 100 dollars. If you cannot give money, give your time.”
Brittanie Morgan says leaving Bennett College is bittersweet because she’s reached a milestone, but Bennett has groomed her over the past four years.
“I have really grown here. I would love to give back financially, but since I don’t have the [money] right now, I plan to give back my time.”
Morgan says that one way she has already helped give back to Bennett is by being an ambassador.
“I want to help in anyway I can, my sister graduated from Bennett also, and my niece is coming here too!” Morgan’s niece is three. “We’re grooming her early.”
Sherry Washington is a non-traditional student graduating with the class of 2011. She has been going to school since 1973.
“This moment is real, it’s exciting, and somewhat overwhelming.”
Washington says Bennett College helped her get on the right path, so she plans to do the same for others. “Giving back helps you to remember the bridge that brought you over,”
Washington says she plans to sew into the Bennett College community in more than one way. “I do intend to give back monetarily and by recruiting students to come here so that they too can find their [purpose] and their voice. Before I got here I didn’t quite have a direction. After only one year here through the nurturing and encouragement of the professors I found my voice.”
Dr. Linda Brown ‘61 who also gave a reflection at the luncheon, says that graduates of Bennett College must become ambassadors of the college because students owe that much. She made reference to The Bennett College Alma Mater : ‘…may we never smirch the good, gendered here in sisterhood…’
“For a long time I thought ‘what the heck do they mean by smirch the good?’” Dr. Brown says she knows now.
“Represent the college. Don’t go out and talk about the bad things. That’s the only thing people will remember. Be ambassadors of the college. Do not smirch all of the good that Bennett has.”
Danielle Williams says the Alumnae Association is looking to have this event annually.
“We want students to share the good news at Bennett as we educate, celebrate, and transform ladies into 21st century leaders and global thinkers!”
You can contact Audrey Franklin, the Director of Alumnae Affairs at (336) 517-2247 or email her at afranklin@bennett.edu. She can help you get in touch with the Alumnae Chapter nearest you.
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