ALUMNI NEWS
Tanja Dunat Timms
Ourschool Alumni Program Manager
An introduction to North Geelong Secondary College’s alumni (former students) program
What a challenging year it has been so far! It is so hard to believe that we are already in the second half of the year.
I have been waiting for things to ‘get back to normal’ to inform you of the Ourschool Alumni Program that has been in operation at North Geelong Secondary College since late in Term 1 (just before Lockdown #1 occurred). Seeing as though we are about to embark on Lockdown #2, I figure there is no better time, than now, to tell you about this exciting program (which like everything else, is looking quite different, given the current global pandemic).
What is the Ourschool Alumni Program?
With the help of Ourschool, North Geelong Secondary College has commenced an alumni program to build and mobilise the school’s alumni community.
Ourschool is a not-for profit service that helps public high schools build a thriving alumni network to benefit current students and the school community.
Alumni programs in private schools and universities are well established and provide huge benefits to students. Our alumni program will help us grow our alumni community to benefit our students.
The alumni program (when COVID-19 restrictions are not in place) will focus on doing these key things:
- Find and connect with alumni
- Invite alumni back to school to inspire students about study and career pathways
- Create opportunities for students via alumni providing work experience placements
- Invite alumni to provide philanthropic support for students and our school by contributing to school fund-raising projects, student scholarships or gifts in wills (longer term goals)
What are we doing while we are unable to invite alumni back to their old school and/or create opportunities for students to complete work experience through alumni connections?
We have been inviting alumni to continue to support and guide our students, albeit virtually, by participating in filmed Q&A sessions, hosted by our Alumni Program Manager. Thank you Kray Real ‘11, Irene Bakulikira ‘16, Dylan Tabb ’15, Ben Shanahan ’18 and Komon Sochali ’17 for participating in the filmed Q&A series; shedding light on your pathway choices and professions. It will, no doubt, be a fabulous resource for our pathways team and students!
We will be continuing to invite alumni to be involved in an online capacity until the time comes where we are able to invite them back to the college. We are also working towards adding LIVE Q&A sessions into the mix!
Irene Bakulikira ‘16
Q & A Screenshot
Please head to our college website to check out the Alumni Q&A videos and be sure to stay up-to-date with alumni news by ‘following us’ on the NGSC Facebook page.
If you are a former student of North Geelong Secondary School, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us by sending an email to our Alumni Program Manager (Tanja Dunat Timms): alumni@ngsc.com.au
Alumni in the Spotlight
Ben Shanahan from the class of 2018 was invited to create a selfie video, which would be shown to students, detailing his pathway since graduating from North Geelong Secondary College.
I was thrilled when Ben asked if he could to this in the form of a 2D animation, given he is currently studying this at university.
Please watch the 3 minute video and gain insight into his chosen pathway. It will no doubt make you smile from ear-to-ear.