CU is set to welcome a new group of alumni

Spring graduation is fast approaching and after students receive their diplomas, CU graduates become part of the university’s family of alumni. It will be a very exciting time for Heather Graves, who will be graduating in May. She is not only a third generation graduate, her grandfather was also CU’s alumni director.

“I know I’m making them very proud being a CU alum and it makes me happy because I grew up my whole life wanting to be a CU alum,” said Graves.

The new program called Forever Buffs means that students don’t have to wait until they graduate to take advantage of alumni status. In fall 2008, the alumni association launched the new organization that welcomes all students and alumni into the Forever Buffs family.

Thanks to the new program, the alumni association partners with the CU fundraising branch to help raise money for the university and to provide networking opportunities for graduates to help them succeed after college.

“We have networking events that get students and alums together to meet up and compare notes. And we also have the Forever Buffs network which is an online community, which allows students to search for alums based on geography,” said Director of Alumni Communications, Tori Peglar.

The Forever Buffs population is nearly 300,000 strong. There are 240,000 alumni and 30 thousand current students that make up the group.

As for Graves, she hopes that being a Forever Buff will be a stepping stone to launch her career after she finishes school.

“Hopefully CU will help after I graduate to keep connections and maybe help getting a job,” said Graves. “Going to a big university like CU, that is a hope that you’re going to be recognized.”

After graduation, being a part of CU doesn’t end, instead it just means that you will be a Colorado Buff for a lifetime.