Elizabeth Lenzen, Engagement Manager
3 May 2024
Alumni /əˈlʌmnaɪ/
plural noun
- a graduate or former student of a particular school, college, or university
There is something powerful in one specific connection that all of us who have graduated from a school, have had children graduate from an institution, or have been employed at a school or organisation share. We are all members of a special group, or club, if you will.
We are all alumni.
Oxford Languages defines the noun ‘alumni’ as “a graduate or former student of a particular school, college, or university.” This definition only scratches the surface of the present-day understanding and purpose of the term.
At ICS, we have been working to develop our connection with our alumni. As an international school of almost 65 years, we have alumni spread all over the world. As with most institutions, we have an Alumni Association.
But, what is really meant by this? What is its purpose?
Let’s take the term ‘alumni’ as a ‘former student’ as an example.
We earned our education, we graduated, and have perhaps asked ourselves, “now what?” We are not alone. And our Alumni Association is here to prove that we do not stand alone.
As we all know, our school has the word ‘community’ in it. This is a perfect word, as it transcends time. It not only blends together current students, families, and staff, but also our alumni.
We have an incredible community network available to each and every one of us that can help support and build the life that we want.
Most schools now have an Alumni Association; entire teams devoted to working alongside and supporting their graduates as well as their current students. They organise events, support alumni in sharing their stories, help support school career fairs, act as intermediaries between University counsellors and current students by supporting internships with alumni, and keeping up-to-date with best practices, and alumni department colleagues around the world.
The Alumni Association offers opportunities to contribute to the sustainability of our school community, to give back, and to support those students who look up to their fellow graduates, parents, and staff who are all connected to ICS.
The ICS Engagement Team is working on curating our strategy in this space, in order to best connect with our alumni, and keep the two-way ‘street’ active and strong.
On Saturday 27 April, Ms Lucy Gowdie, our Head of School, Mr James Penstone, our Secondary Principal, Mr Nathaniel Atherton, our Primary Principal, Mr Cristian Garcia, our Chief Financial Officer and I hosted our first alumni event in London since 2019!
It was a wonderful evening of connections, networking, introductions, community-building, and reminiscing. We even had our own ICS pub-quiz, complete with prizes! It was quite a remarkable evening, getting to know alumni students and graduates from 1984 through to 2021. We learned about what these wonderful people were doing with their lives, living out the ICS mission. Secondary Principal, Mr James Penstone noted that there was something special that our ICS alumni in particular share. They connect with so many types of people of differing ages and backgrounds. From business professionals, to doctors, to IT strategists to PhD candidates, to film students and professionals, the stories they told and memories they shared were fascinating. We all could not wait for the next reunion!
A special connection was re-established with former ICS teacher from 1973-1987, Ms Helen Howat, who took two trains and a bus to attend our event. Helen particularly made an impression on all of us, especially our Head of School, Ms Lucy Gowdie, as Helen brought with her and showed us old ICS magazines typed on a typewriter, the oldest one from 1981.
We look forward to welcoming our alumni near Zurich at the Alumni Booth at the International Festival, on Sunday 26 May with many fun activities and games planned. Please do feel free to stop by and say hello, walk down memory lane with us, and have a chance to win some alumni prizes!
The Engagement Team is working on several alumni events for the 2024-2025 academic year, which we will soon share.
Our Alumni Association is working to walk on the journey with all of our alumni, and keep the shared connections active and purposeful. Let’s build the life we want with its support.
Kind regards,
Elizabeth Lenzen
Engagement Manager