Building Austin Alumni Connections

When Stephanie Bazan ’02, returned to Austin after attending graduate school at the University of Leeds in Britain, St. Edward's was one of the first places she visited. “I wanted to take a walk around campus,” she says. “It was one of the places I missed most.”

Now president of the Austin Alumni Chapter, Stephanie spends a lot of time on campus — though these days she’s doing more talking than walking. “I’m working with other chapter presidents to open lines of communication,” she notes. “We want to keep each other informed about the success of local events, which will allow us to learn from each other's experiences as chapter leaders. ”

The Austin Alumni Chapter’s events are always full of opportunities to network and connect, though Stephanie notes that the service projects almost always draw the biggest crowds. “Our alumni continue to look for ways to help others,” she says. “And, they want to get their hands dirty.” Given this, chapter members can anticipate more events that benefit the community.

This past year, members of the Austin chapter volunteered at Caritas of
Austin — Travis County’s largest non-governmental source of assistance — and participated in The Big Event, an annual project that sends alumni, students, and faculty and staff members out into the community to make small repairs for neighbors.

Living the Mission
While an undergraduate majoring in English Writing & Rhetoric, Stephanie was a student orientation coordinator and a Freshman Studies intern. She also participated in several campus service projects, including the Mexico Immersion Experience. For these efforts, Stephanie received the St. Edward’s University Presidential Fellowship for leadership, scholarship and service.

Today, Stephanie also gives back to her community through her work. As director of marketing for LifeWorks, an Austin nonprofit that serves youth and families in crisis, she is well aware of the impact alumni service events can have on the community. And, she recognizes that the education she received at St. Edward’s had a lot to do with her decision to work for a nonprofit. “I knew I wanted to live out the mission in my life and in my work.”

 

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