From finance to government and medicine to law, 60 alumni representing nearly two dozen career fields gathered in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom on Nov. 2 as part of the annual Student Alumni Networking Reception. The more than 200 students who showed up overflowed out of the ballroom into the lounge ready to witness first-hand the loyal alumni network they had long been hearing about.
Hosted by the Holy Cross Alumni Association and the Career Planning Center, students arrived wearing business attire and buzzing with excitement. "I heard there were some lawyers and judges attending," said Travis LaCouter '13, a self-designed Catholic studies and political science major. "I want to know more about career paths and possible positions."
For many years, this reception has afforded students the unique opportunity to strike up a conversation with alumni willing to share their career experiences. Many alumni, known for their fierce loyalty to alma mater, drive from hours away to make it to the event. This year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Holy Cross No. 9 among “Alumni’s Top 10 Most Loved Schools.” In addition, more than 55 percent of alumni made a gift to the College in the past year, placing Holy Cross among the top 10 colleges in the country in terms of alumni engagement.
In attending the networking event, even sophomores and juniors are able to get a head start and make contacts.
"I was nervous to do anything like this as a freshman," said Alexander Marino '14, a premed biology major. "But as a sophomore, I am starting to come out of my shell."
Students gather around tables designated by field, and ask enthusiastic alumni questions about their profession. When asked to describe a typical day on the job, Greg Comcowich '92, special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was happy to give a broad overview of his workday. Comcowich served as spokesman for the FBI following the arrest of fugitive Massachusetts mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger earlier this year.
In addition to sharing general knowledge about a particular field, alumni also give students guidance about choosing a career. “The best advice that I can give to any student,” says Al Correia ’78, executive vice president of Cambridge Biomedical, “is to follow your passion.”
Correia certainly shares this advice with his daughter, Emily Correia ’14 who has been tagging along with him to the Student Alumni Networking Reception since she was 14.
“The dedication of alumni to come to this event year after year is a testimony to the camaraderie among Crusaders even after graduation,” says Bob Wally ’68, assistant director of Alumni Career Services.
Amy Murphy, director of the Career Planning Center, was equally thrilled with the success of the networking event.
"It was a huge success," she says, adding that students repeatedly remarked to her how helpful and approachable the alumni were. "Alumni told me over and over how impressive the students were as well. The commitment of our alumni to pay it forward and assist each new class of Holy Cross students and the willingness of our students to accept that help is what makes this job market a very different experience for Holy Cross students than it is for their peers at other institutions," Murphy says.
Erin Brophy ’04, a buyer for TJX Companies, has volunteered at this event for seven years — that is, every year since she has graduated. “This is my chance to pay it forward,” says Brophy, who took full advantage of the alumni resources at Holy Cross when she was a student.
Many alumni hand out their business cards at the event, allowing for continued correspondence.
“Our students are the best and the brightest,” says Charles Abdella ’64, former first justice of the District Court.
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