Valdosta State University Connects Alumni in Washington, D.C., area

VALDOSTA—Valdosta State University hosted a reception in the Washington, D.C., metro area June 23 for alumni to network and meet President William J. McKinney.
 
"It gave us all a great sense of Blazer pride to see so many enthusiastic and successful Valdosta State alumni in Washington,” said McKinney. “This will not be our last visit to our nation's capital, and I am hopeful that this event will become the template for similar events with VSU alumni nationwide."
    
The reception provided an opportunity for alumni to reconnect and learn the latest news regarding the university’s growth and future advancement.
 
“I very much enjoyed the alumni event, especially since it was my first day working here on Capitol Hill, and it was great to see some familiar faces,” said Maggie Maynard, who graduated May 2014 and is completing an internship with Republican U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia’s 3^rd District. “I do believe it is important to stay connected to one’s alma mater and attend any alumni events if possible. I will certainly try to attend more in the future.”
 
The alumni association hosts a wide variety of events, both on and off campus, each designed to engage the university’s more than 50,000 alumni.
 
“With the success of this event, we anticipate planning more events in this area, as well as other cities across the nation,” said Heather Proctor, alumni director. “We couldn’t be more encouraged in our efforts to reach out to our constituency in the cities and towns where they reside.”
    
The Capitol Hill event included approximately 40 alumni, along with university faculty and administrators.
    
“It is always great to see the VSU banner being flown by our alumni,” said John Crawford, vice president for advancement. “The group in Washington was fantastic and very enthusiastic about their alma mater. The support of our graduates and friends is critical as we continue to more our university forward.”
 
VSU alumni and friends are invited to attend the Atlanta Braves vs. Miami Marlins baseball game Thursday, July 24, at Turner Field in Atlanta. For more information, call the Office of Alumni Relations at 229-333-5797 or visit www.valdostastate.org.