Founded by Father Antonio Torrente Viver, Cristóbal Colón University in Veracruz, Mexico, has seen many generations of students pass through its classrooms in its 56 years of existence. In view of the bond with their alma mater, it was decided to systematically create an alumni community and to launch it on 29 March with a kick-off event under the name ‘Alumni UCC: the Community of the Great’.
And so the graduates of various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes gathered for breakfast to catch up, reminisce about their experiences with their classmates and learn more about the project.
Father Francisco Javier Alonso Arroyo, Rector of the Cristóbal Colón University, welcomed the guests and explained the purpose and details of the initiative:
‘Alumni UCC,’ Father Alonso explained, ’seeks to maintain the connection between former students and Cristóbal Colón University and provide them with a space for reunion, growth and collaboration. It is not just an institutional programme, but a movement that strengthens the commitment to the alumni and allows them to continue being an active part of university life. Through this initiative, alumni connect not only with the university, but also with a global community of Piarist graduates who share common values and a common goal of social transformation
Based on the contributions of graduates of degree programmes in 16 previous meetings, in which they were asked how they are doing, what their university has given them and what they propose to improve, various actions and activities are being considered to help strengthen the sense of belonging to the degree programme, visibility and professional promotion of graduates. An important aspect of this is the updating of data through an ongoing accreditation campaign that benefits alumni, for example.
The event was also attended by Fr Carles Gil i Saguer, Sch. P., Assistant General of the Piarist Order and Head of the Worldwide Alumni Network, who gave the keynote speech ‘Piarist Alumni: Education for Lifelong Service’. During the conference, he emphasised the importance of graduates (‘alumni’) to the Piarist Order and how the idea has evolved. From a simple network of former students to the formation of a community of continuous learning and social impact, with three key functions: as a network of contacts that multiplies personal and professional opportunities, leadership development and a culture of service and reciprocity.
Two graduates, Teresita Zavala Villagómez from the Faculty of Education and Gilberto Tovar Arizpe from the Faculty of Architecture, presented their certificates as UCC Alumni. Iván Reyes Tejera, from the Faculty of Telecommunications, received the first certificate.
Angelina Gómez Colorado, Alumni Coordinator, presented the newly designed website and reiterated the invitation to join this community in order to keep it growing.
As Fr Javier Alonso said: ‘The development of a society and a community lies in our ability to connect with each other. We are part of something bigger: the network of Piarist communities in the world: schools, fraternities, Christian communities and volunteer groups
Mr Edmundo Gómez Martínez
Director of Institutional Communication
Cristóbal Colón University
