51ĀŅĀ×

Student Alumni Board members (from left) Eli Hendrix, BSHCA ā€™22, Paige Kirby, BSCā€™ 21, Jacob Batson, BSCE ā€™21, Ravi Harley, BSā€™ 21, and Ryan Hartland, BBAā€™ 21, are pictured with the Outstanding Student Advancement Organization Award the group received at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Affiliated Student Advancement Programs (ASAP) Network Convention.

51ĀŅĀ×ā€™s is kicking off the 2019-20 academic year on a high note ā€“ having been named one of three Outstanding Student Advancement Organizations in the nation.

SAB members were presented the award during the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Affiliated Student Advancement Programs (ASAP) Network Convention, held Aug. 1-3 in Baltimore. Composed of student alumni associations, student foundations and similar organizations at more than 300 CASE member institutions, CASE ASAP seeks to foster and enhance student involvement in all areas of advancement, including alumni relations and communications, fundraising and marketing.

Jacob Batson, BSCE ā€™21, incoming president of SAB, said winning the award was an honor and a testament to the dedication of SAB members who saw significant change last year as the 51ĀŅĀ× Alumni Association, which works closely with SAB, underwent staffing changes while developing a . Batson credited SAB past president, Tracy Kondrit, BSED ā€™19, graduate advisor Bri Agner and the groupā€™s executive team with the award win.

ā€œI was on our exec team last year, and everything we did was a combined team effort,ā€ Batson said. ā€œThat atmosphere ultimately is what led us to the award.ā€

This past spring, SAB was one of two student groups to receive the Outstanding Student Advancement Organization Award for CASE ASAPā€™s District 5, which includes member schools in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. That regional award qualified SAB for the national award.

Receiving CASE ASAPā€™s National Outstanding Student Organization Award is just the beginning for SAB, and the group has big plans for this upcoming school year, including the during Homecoming Week and a Beyond the Business Card professional development event that will be announced later.

ā€œWe have a lot of people on our exec team who have not been on exec before, which I think is going to bring a fresh perspective for each position and help [SAB] develop in new ways,ā€ Agner said. ā€œI already see that developing a lot. They have so many ideas, and I think they have a really bright future.ā€

SAB was founded in 1978 through the support of the 51ĀŅĀ× Alumni Association. Composed of 51ĀŅĀ× undergraduates, SAB seeks to connect current students with alumni as well as programs and opportunities associated with the Alumni Association.

SAB will be holding an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 5 in Tupper 307. All are welcome.