The King's Connection Magazine Volume 23 Number 2//Fall 2012 | Page 17

alumni news Alumni By Josh Noble, Alumni Relations Manager K ing’s is pleased to welcome recent graduate (’10 BA Psychology) and former admissions counsellor, Josh Noble as Alumni Relations Manager. Josh wanted to welcome alumni in his own words. Below is his message. King’s has never had a full-time Alumni Relations Manager, ever. That is why when I took the position at King’s, I began by finding a stack of alumni magazines from other universities to search through the pages for information on fun events, meaningful programs, alumni rewards and general best practice info. In my search I found a few very interesting possibilities for the future of alumni relations at King’s. However, what was most interesting to me was a seemingly endless barrage of colorful pages boasting “alumni pride”. Alumni pride in all these magazines is presented as the pride that alumni have for their institution – the prestige of campus colors, the tradition of the home-opening games, the little puffy hats and gowns with silver buttons. However, at King’s there is a twist in the story. While our alumni are a notoriously proud bunch, alumni pride at King’s means more than the pride the alumni have in the institution. At King’s, alumni pride is the pride that the institution has in its alumni. Pride pages you will find stories of some of the people who make us burst with pride. You will read of the community-minded service of the newly elected mayor of Stony Plain, William Choy, the adventures of Jen Hoyer teaching in Africa, the quest for answers to galactic questions with Dr. Tyler Foster, and so many more. As a first formal address to our alumni, there are a number of messages that I want to pass along. I want to tell you of what’s changed at King’s, and what’s stayed the same – we are still passionate about Christian education and see education as an important part of God’s redemption. I want to tell you of how we need you – your prayers, your guidance and your support. I want to inform you about upcoming events. I want to ask for your direction for the future of alumni relations. I want to know what has been happening in your life. Yet, the most important thing that I hope to tell you is simply this – you make momma so proud. You inspire alumni pride! ? The Latin term alma mater literally translates to “nurturing mother”. If you are an alumnus of King’s, King’s is your “nurturing mother”. There is perhaps no way that King’s is more like a mother than that we are undeniable, irrevocably, utterly, eternally, joyfully proud of you. Our alumni have gone from King’s to find success as professors, doctors, pastors, business owners, dentists, teachers, nurses, police officers, politicians, parents, spouses, community organizers, volunteers, etc., etc., etc. Indeed, to list all the ways that King’s graduates have made us proud would take more space than we have in this magazine. In these The King’s Connection /// Fall 2012 /// 15