Celebrating One Year with LSS Alumni Connect: Part 2

By Alyssa Polakowski, College & Alumni Relations Manager

With the upcoming academic year on the horizon, the Laurel Springs Alumni Association is gearing up for an exciting year ahead. As mentioned in Part 1 of this blog, moving forward, the goal of the alumni association is to increase registration on LSS Alumni Connect—in which registered members enjoy exclusive access to opportunities, benefits, and perks. As the official tool for graduates to connect and engage, alumni are required to sign up on LSS Alumni Connect in order to participate in organized programs, virtual and in-person events, giveaways, and more. With nearly 400 registered users after year one, membership on the platform is projected to increase and reach new levels of engagement in this second year, thanks to a variety of exciting planned programming and promotions.  

Join LSS Alumni Connect to Perk Up Your Network

As an alum of Laurel Springs, when you join Alumni Connect, you gain access to a network of Laurel Springs graduates located across the U.S. and in more than 20 different countries. This year, the Alumni Association invites you to “Perk Up Your Network” by participating in various networking, mentorship, and career/professional development opportunities designed exclusively for alumni who are registered members on the LSS Alumni Connect platform.

Beginning now and taking place throughout the year, perk up your network by connecting with a mentor or mentee virtually or in-person for a coffee chat! To make your meetings more exciting, we’ve even created special limited edition coffee mugs to go along with the theme!  

Sign up and claim your official alumni association “Perk Up Your Network” coffee mug by submitting your name and current mailing address. Then, take photos during your coffee chats and share them on LSS Alumni Connect and/or on your social media channels using our hashtags, #PerkUpYourNetwork and #LSSAlumniConnect to be entered into a raffle to win additional alumni swag valued at more than $200! 

As a bonus, if you join LSS Alumni Connect or update your profile before Sept. 30, you’ll be entered into a raffle to win one of three $100 Visa gift cards!

Unique Event Opportunities Ahead

Members registered on Alumni Connect can anticipate a number of unique event opportunities this year. 

Kicking off the fall semester, the alumni association is thrilled to welcome The LinkedIn Guys, with a valuable and interactive webinar for alumni, titled “How to Use LinkedIn to Accelerate Your Career”, on Tuesday, Oct. 5. During this session, participants receive a crash course on LinkedIn’s essential and most advanced networking techniques, delivered directly from a former LinkedIn education marketing employee.

And, that’s not all! LSS Alumni Connect members receive free access to the only LinkedIn training designed by insiders! LinkedIn is one of the most critical parts of any job search; it’s where recruiters look for top talent, it’s the best way to get a referral, and it’s even where you can prepare for interview success. The only challenge is that it can be hard to know where to focus on the site. That’s why we’ve partnered with The LinkedIn Guys to get our alumni lifetime access to their online masterclass. While it’s normally $99, it’s free just for being a member of LSS Alumni Connect. 

Alumnus, Spencer Bozsik, LSS ‘17, has completed the online masterclass and can vouch for the program’s effectiveness: “LinkedIn is a powerful tool but it can be draining and daunting at times. The webinar and online course that Jeremy and Omar designed simplify the whole experience in a way where it feels exciting and like you have a true sense of direction.”

In spring, members can anticipate another highly engaging and interactive expert panel hosted in coordination with Entrepreneurial Performance Labs on the topic of networking, mentorship, and developing entrepreneurial skills to help propel your career. Alumni won’t want to miss the chance to connect with industry experts and pick up on the secrets to career success. 

Alumni will also have two opportunities to network with one another this year: a mid-year virtual networking event as well as the 2nd Annual Alumni Reunion taking place in person in Anaheim, CA next June. Alumni Council member, Hannah Grunow, LSS ‘19, shares, “Our first alumni reunion was a wonderful opportunity both to reconnect with old friends and to help advise each other in our continuing education and careers. I cannot wait to meet up again at our next reunion to speak with people I knew at LSS, and also to meet new alumni!”

Choose Your Level of Members Only Exclusive Benefits

The LSS Alumni Association aims to support our alumni in their career and professional endeavors after graduation and we invite all alumni to take advantage of the benefits offered through Alumni Connect. Registration is easy and membership is risk-free in this digital space where graduates can choose their own level of involvement with the platform:

• Explore: the Observer Level—register and look at content without the obligation of posting or connecting
• Engage: the Contributor Level—use connectivity features to comment on content at your own leisure, participate in events, and engage at your leisure 
• Expand: the Networker Level—use the Member Directory or Jobs Board to find mentorship or job opportunities, or become a more active member on the platform by sharing content regularly, participating in events, chatting with peers, and looking for opportunities to support alumni on or off the platform

It’s our hope as many Laurel Springs alumni as possible will become members and unlock these exclusive member benefits at the level of their choice!

Already convinced? Then register on LSS Alumni Connect or update your profile before Sept. 30 to be entered into a raffle to win one of three $100 Visa gift cards!