EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is featured in the Winter 2026 edition of The Tartan magazine. Read more from The Tartan at alma.edu/tartan.

At Alma College, being a Scot doesn’t end at graduation — it’s a lifelong connection. Whether through teaching, coaching, mentoring, or celebrating student achievements, we’ve both seen how Alma’s spirit stays with you long after leaving campus. And now, in our roles with the Alumni Association, we get to help alumni and families continue that story.

For Sarah Dehring, Alma has been home for well over a decade. She first joined the college as head volleyball coach and later served as Vice President of Athletics. Along the way, she’s seen countless students grow, alumni give back, and families become part of the larger Alma community. Abbie Wasson graduated just this past spring, earning her degree in Business Administration with a focus in Sports Management and a minor in Communication, all while dancing as a member of Alma’s 11-time national champion dance team. Her experience as a student and now as a young alum gives her a fresh perspective on how deeply students and alumni care about this place.

Alumni engagement is about more than events — it’s about connections, shared experiences, and ongoing support for Alma’s mission. Our office works to create opportunities for alumni, families, and friends to reconnect, celebrate, and contribute to the college in ways that are meaningful to them.

From Homecoming and Alma Day to regional events and virtual programs, we see the energy and enthusiasm that alumni bring to each gathering. We also collaborate with departments across campus to connect students with alumni mentors, help with career exploration, and recognize alumni achievements — all while strengthening the bonds that unite our community.

Engagement can look different for everyone, but we like to frame it around three simple ways to get involved: Time, Talent, and Treasure. There are so many opportunities to contribute your Time — attending college fairs or alumni dinners with prospective students, writing a note to an accepted or recent graduate, joining networking events or alumni-student mixers, or even representing your employer at career fairs to connect Alma students with jobs and internships.

Your Talent is invaluable, too — you can present about Alma in high schools, participate in career panels, guest lecture in your area of expertise, or mentor a student exploring the same field as you. And, of course, your Treasure makes a lasting impact: donations to initiatives like the Alma College Career Closet or gifts to the college help ensure that future generations of Scots have the resources and support they need. Every contribution, whether big or small, strengthens the network that connects alumni, students, and the Alma community.

As we continue to build connections, our goal is to make every Scot — no matter when they graduated, where they live, or how they want to participate — feel welcome and included.

Alma’s story is written not only by students on campus but by alumni everywhere who carry the college’s values into their families, careers, and communities. We are honored to help foster these connections and to celebrate the incredible people who make Alma College what it is today. Wherever life takes you, you will always have a home here — and we can’t wait to see the many ways you choose to stay involved.

Go Scots!

Stay engaged on social media!