After graduating from Oakland University, alumni can stay involved through the Alumni Admissions Ambassador Program and attend events to share their stories with prospective students.

The program works through the Alumni office and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to expand the presence of OU on a national level.

There are currently over 300 alumni who participate in the AAAP. These alumni are in over 20 states and attend college fairs to share their experiences from their time as a student.

Alumni participants of the AAAP return to campus for open house events, “Go For the Gold,” college fairs and welcome receptions for admitted students.

“The group utilizes alumni to share their stories with students,” Luke Fleer, coordinator of the AAAP, said. “They have opportunities to give time and be able to share their experiences, whether it be to freshmen and sophomores in high school or at events like ‘Go For the Gold.'”

Alumni who have since moved out of state can also become an ambassador and recruit at college fairs in their community.

“The group is also an outreach to remain engaged (at OU) even though they’re out of state,” Fleer said.

Corey Schmidt, an alumnus who is currently attending graduate school in Indiana, attended his first event as an alumni ambassador on Tuesday.

“As a recent alum, I feel like I can give students a perspective on what it is like to be a student at Oakland,” Schmidt said. “Tell them about the unique community we have, some of the opportunities for involvement, about working an on-campus job, those personal touches that can help a student identify better with the Oakland experience.”

As a student who lived on campus all four years, Schmidt said he hopes to share how he felt calling OU home for those years since the students he talks to in Indianapolis will most likely live on campus.

Schmidt was an admissions ambassador as a student, which he said helped developed a strong connection with OU. As an alumni ambassador, he said he will have an opportunity to keep that connection strong.

Schmidt, who graduated in May with a degree in Public Administration, said he feels it is important for alumni to stay connected with the school after graduation.

“The Alumni Ambassador program allows you to give back to the school and you only have to give what you can, whether it’s attending a college fair out-of-state or maybe going to an on-campus recruitment event if you are staying local,” he said.

Lynne Lombard, a 1984 graduate, said she became an ambassador because she had a positive experience at OU and wanted students in northern Michigan to know more about the school.

“I try to answer the questions students have about OU and the quality of education, but also coming from northern Michigan, its similarities and differences,” Lombard said. “I try and explain its location and its advantage. Many people are unaware of OU in northern Michigan, but that is slowly changing.”

Lombard graduated with a degree in physical therapy. She is currently working as the physical therapy director at Great Lakes Orthopedic Center in Traverse City, where she said she is pleased to have hired an OU physical therapy graduate this year.

The AAAP asks for time and service rather than money. Fleer said the AAAP doesn’t ask for help every weekend or at every event, but rather any opportunities that are convenient for the alumni to attend.

“Even though OU has changed and grown, alumni can share their story through the group,” Fleer said.

The AAAP began in 2007 on a two-year contract and was then extended through July 2010. Now the group is permanently funded through OU.

Interested students can learn more at www.oakland.edu/aaap