Auburn Alumni Association welcomes more members with new Commemorative Medallion Program

With a current membership of nearly 42,500 contributing members, The Auburn Alumni Association represents a number of the Auburn Family both past present and future. 

According to Kate Cole, Membership Coordinator for the Alumni Programs, the number of contributing members has remained relatively consistent over the past two years but the association is eager to boost engagement and contribution.

The Auburn Alumni Association and its members work hard to enhance the Auburn experience every year, dedicating time and effort on numerous committees and boards, including the Auburn Magazine Advisory Council and the Auburn Club Program.

“Many of our close to one hundred clubs have between three and six officers each who are alumni engaging almost 40,000 each year through their events,” Cole said. “This represents approximately 600 volunteers who are actively engaged in leadership through the year.”

Auburn alumni also engage with the University through donations. According to Susan Cowart, director of parent and annual giving for the Auburn University Office of Development, 13 percent of Auburn undergraduates donated to the University in 2017. While that number decreased by one percent since 2016, the size of the donations in 2017 dominated those of 2016, with an increase from $53,951,043 to $55,324,789.

Donations to the University have served the University’s students, faculty and community substantially. In 2017, Auburn donations aided in the expansive construction on campus including the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Fund, Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center and the Equestrian Facilities Renovation.

Donations can depend greatly on the age of the alumni.

According to Cowart, 2017 Auburn alumni in their twenties donated $395,392 while Auburn alumni in their fifties and seventies donated over $10,000,000 and those in their eighties donated nearly $16,000,000.

Cole said she hopes newly graduated Auburn men and women will begin giving back to the University through the Commemorative Medallion Program.

“Commemorative Medallion Program is an opportunity for students to donate at a minimum their class year amount, for instance, this year would be $20.18,” Cole said. “A student can designate their gift in honor of anyone and to any unit on campus.”

For their donations, graduates will receive a keepsake commemorative medallion that can be worn at commencement exercises. This program intends for newly graduated Auburn men and women to build on their first gift and continue giving back to the University as they move further into alumni status.

“To date, the Auburn Alumni Association has helped students contribute to every school and college on campus,” Cole said. “It’s dedicated to fulfilling its mission to enhance the engagement and connection of all Auburn University alumni and friends.

With recent donations and efforts, the Auburn Alumni Association has aided in the development of Auburn’s campus.

In 2017, the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering received $13,658,341, the year’s largest alumni donation. The Raymond J. Harbert College of Business received the second largest at $4,855,147, followed by the College of Education, $2,538,549; College of Science and Mathematics, $1,798,641; and the College of Liberal Arts, with a donation total of $932,775.

Cole said however, the Auburn Alumni Association isn’t simply about donating.

“Your Auburn Alumni Association is here to support you, just as family should,” Cole said.

The association offers numerous programs and services to Auburn graduates including Auburn Hospitality Tailgates, Inclusion and Diversity events, and networking opportunities. More than 100 Auburn Clubs and Affiliates exist across the globe with ample opportunities for community service, scholarship fundraising and game watch parties.

In 2017, the association hosted its two largest events, Ambush and the 125^th Anniversary of Auburn Women. Ambush partnered with Athletics and Auburn clubs to raise scholarship money with Gus Malzahn. The 125^th Anniversary of Auburn Women was a collective university event which reached nearly one million individuals through event attendance and social media.

“The numbers for membership are not directly impacted by these events, but more importantly, awareness about the association increased and we were able to engage alumni and friends with the university,” Cole said.

For 2018, Cole said the Alumni Association is working towards a broader and more inclusive engagement for its members, especially with the recently approved change in membership structure by the Board of Directors. The new tiered membership program launched with the December 2017 Commencement Ceremony, where graduates automatically becoming general members of the Alumni Association with no required membership contribution.

“This new general membership is an effort to continue our engagement and provide a more inclusive environment for all alumni,” Cole said. “As alumni further succeed within their careers there will always be opportunity to become a contributing member.”

General members have access to the online Auburn Magazine, are members of their local Auburn Club and receive regular updates from the Auburn Alumni Association as well as their complimentary Auburn alumni pin.

Cole recommends general members upgrade to a contributing member to receive enhanced benefits and help increase Auburn’s alumni participation rates, which factor into the University’s national rankings.

“It’s thanks to the support of our contributing members that the association is able to provide these programs and services for Auburn alumni and friends,” she said.

Cole said the Auburn Alumni Association already has exciting plans for Auburn students.

“Mark your calendars for the Class of 2018 Send-Off celebration on Tuesday, April 17 from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Auburn Alumni Center," Cole said. All students graduating in 2018 are invited to celebrate with the alumni association. We’ll have food, games and plenty of fun.”