SAYA Alumni Ice Skating Event

In an effort to maintain and grow our alumni network, SAYA hosted our winter alumni event at the City Pavilion Ice Skating Rink in Queens. With a healthy turnout of 20 of our college enrolled alums, SAYA staff had the opportunity to re-engage with their former participants. Our students were visibly elated to be in each other’s presence again as a cohort. Tam, a first year honors student at CUNY Baruch remarked, “it was a fun time seeing old faces, hanging out with my friends and being reminded of why I came to SAYA: the fellowship and the opportunity to share and be open”. After two hours on the ice, we all returned to the Elmhurst Center for lunch and discussion. Students introduced themselves, the college they attend, and their intended major. SAYA staff had each student describe the highlights and challenges of their Fall semester.  It was encouraging for each student to hear that they were not alone in some of their fears and anxieties. The alumni exchanged tips to overcome the hurdles they faced and celebrated each other for their successes. As SAYA builds its alumni network, we will host seasonal events similar to this one.