As part of his search for 15 students with "an infectious Dartmouth spirit," Rex Morey '99, the Assistant Director of Young Alumni and Student Programs, gave an informal white-on-green PowerPoint presentation discussing the yet-to-be-formed Hill Winds Society to about 40 undergraduates in Blunt Alumni Center Wednesday evening.
The Society, one of Morey's main projects since he joined the College staff a year ago, will consist of five students from each of the freshman, sophomore and junior classes.
"The main goal is to increase interaction between students and alumni," Morey said.
While some of the details are in place, Morey emphasized that he intends to allow students a strong role in determining the Society's activities. Those activities could include sitting down to meals with alumni who are visiting Hanover, traveling to alumni events in Boston or New York or having conversations with alumni leaders.
"I'm really trying to just put a framework out there," Morey said.
Nels Armstrong '71, director of Alumni Relations, also addressed the group. Armstrong spoke frankly about the generation gap that can exist between young alumni and older alumni, and between students and alumni of different generations.
"I'm a member of the great class of '71," Armstrong said. "That makes me feel like I was getting here as the dinosaurs were leaving. We need your eyes and your ears so that you can help us understand what today is all about."
Both Morey and Armstrong said that in their work at Alumni Affairs, they have seen demands for a Hill Winds Society-type organization from both current students and alumni.
"Alumni want to get to know you more than they want to do anything else," Armstrong said, "One of the things I hear from students over and over again is, 'I want to be in touch with alumni. I want to be in touch with folks who will help me find an internship, help me find a summer job.'"
The networking aspect was a draw for some students at the meeting who said they planned to apply for spots in the Society.
Annie Rittgers '09 said that her interactions with members of the class of 1959 through her involvement with class council have already proven advantageous -- one of her contacts from that activity helped set her up with a Tucker Foundation internship.
Ryan Yuk '09 cited similar attractions to the Society.
"I was thinking about what I am going to do over summer times, and I'm always thinking, 'who are the alumni who are out abroad?'" said Yuk, who wants to live overseas at some point during his Dartmouth career or directly afterwards.
Yuk, though, is also interested in becoming a more active member of the Dartmouth community.
"I get a lot of aid from the school," he said, "and I've always been very thankful towards that. I know a lot of it comes from generous alumni donations, so I want to give back."
Morey sees the Society as becoming an important campus organization, with opportunities for students to become campus leaders.
"We want it to be a really dedicated group," Morey said. "We're not just looking for students with titles right now."
