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Cal State San Marcos Plans Alumni Fest

By Triveni Sheshadri
TODAY'S LOCAL NEWS

SAN MARCOS — There are plenty of reasons for Cal State San Marcos' alumni to return to their alma mater next month.

The university is preparing for its first Alumni Month, a series of events spread throughout October to bring graduates and their families to campus.

Highlights will include a Crush Party with two tons of grapes, barbecues, lunches, get-togethers with faculty and a day at Qualcomm Stadium.

Heather Manley, alumni relations director, said the idea for the month of festivities grew out of the success of a spring gala where many graduates expressed an interest in reconnecting with the university.

"The idea is to create traditions for alumni, reasons for them to come back and re-engage with the institution," Manley said. "This is a critical time for the university. We have changed so much."

Returning grads will find a campus that has undergone a transformation since its beginnings in a San Marcos business center. In the past five years, the university has added the five-story Kellogg Library, on-campus housing, an arts building, a science building and the Clarke Field House and Student Union, a center for athletics and student activities.

Manley, who grew up in Escondido, earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in business administration from Cal State San Marcos. She credits her teachers and counselors with helping her stay on track when the demands of college became overwhelming.

"My family was very supportive of me but had no idea of what I was going through," said Manley, a first-generation college student.

The university has an alumni base of 19,000 men and women in careers that range from accounting to aerospace, education to pharmaceuticals. According to a 2006 survey, most of them continue to live in San Diego County. About 12 percent live out of state.

Brian Vitek is a 1997 graduate who majored in political science. An active member of the alumni association, Vitek straddles two careers. He is a UPS manager and founder and CEO of Carlsbad Coastal Winery. He will supply about two tons of grapes grown in Paso Robles for the Crush Party on Oct. 6. There will be grape stomping, music and a barbecue.

Vitek said Alumni Month was another step in helping Cal State San Marcos alumni establish connections with each other.

"I think it's the next step for the school," Vitek said. "This will help alumni network with each other, make contacts and help each other."

Larry Thomas served in the Marine Corps for 22 years and graduated from Cal State San Marcos in 2001.

Currently president of the Cal State San Marcos alumni association, Thomas is a human resources manager in San Diego.

He hopes traditions such as Alumni Month will foster an active alumni network in the community.

"We are in a slump now," Thomas said. "Growing the alumni base has been difficult. Events like this can assist in doing that."

September 26, 2007