The NAU Foundation and Alumni Association launched their Lumberjacks Thrive grant program last semester to help connect student organizations with alumni. These grants provide funding and planning support for student organization events that focus on student-alumni engagement.
This grant encourages these student-alumni connections because they keep the Lumberjack spirit alive, highlight the success of current students and their contributions and ensure ongoing success of the university. NAU alumni can offer beneficial career advice and mentorship, as well as business connections and letters of recommendation. Both students and alumni can benefit from these interactions.
Lumberjacks Thrive grants are open to all different types of student groups, including service-based, leadership, academic, affinity, cultural, social and Greek organizations. Any event that involves NAU alumni can be funded by the grant, including virtual events. A few ways alumni can be incorporated into programs are through guest lectures or trainings, workshop facilitation, tours of alumni-owned businesses, resume or portfolio review sessions, networking events, club reunions, service projects and more. Student organizations that receive the grant also receive hands-on assistance from the NAU Alumni Association throughout the planning process.
More information can be found on the Lumberjacks Thrive Student Grants webpage or by contacting Kate Millard at AlumniGA@nau.edu.