Fellow Alumni,
I’d like to share some of the highlights from the recent Colby College Alumni Council meeting up in Waterville. Held March 6–8, it was a packed, illuminating, and inspiring weekend.
We kicked things off with a DavisConnects networking event (pictured above), with Alumni Council members meeting a group of juniors and seniors and learning about their already-impressive credentials and career ambitions, from finance to film, from biomechanical engineering to data science roles in West Africa, and a wide range of other fascinating trajectories.
The following day, we discussed the performance of the incredible Dare Northward campaign with Colby Senior Vice President Matt Proto. He reviewed some of the specific next steps on the horizon for Colby’s remarkable upward trajectory, including investments into the sciences, residential life, our local Maine community, and more. Just two of the noteworthy items that stood out to me: first, Colby now offers one of the most significant financial aid programs in the country and continues to focus on attracting students from Maine and from rural communities even while it becomes one of the most selective schools in the nation. Second, more than half of Colby students are now majoring in the sciences—certainly a change from when I was a student.
We were also blown away by a presentation from Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies and Director Gail Carlson and several students affiliated with the Buck Lab for Climate and Environment. The Buck Lab was established through a generous gift from Alexander “Sandy” Buck ’78 and Sissy Buck to support research, internships, community engagement, professional networking, and other broad initiatives to train the next generation of environmental leaders. One project I found particularly engaging was The Climate Reality Check, which assesses the accuracy of climate issues as depicted in film.
On Saturday, we met at the Chace Community Forum, a free public meeting venue at the Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons, and talked with the Lawry Family Director of Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships Elizabeth Jabar and several students who have spearheaded incredible projects through Colby’s Office of Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships. The students’ presentations were truly inspiring, including one who founded the Colby Community Health Clinic and another who runs a science coding club for Waterville junior high students.
As an aside, for those who haven’t been recently, you may find Main Street almost unrecognizable with all of the exciting and interesting new shops, restaurants, and facilities to explore.
At our own formal meeting sessions, the Alumni Council set ambitious targets around alumni support for DavisConnects, the Colby Fund, the C Club’s efforts to celebrate Colby athletics and athletes, and around the ways we can celebrate and amplify the successes of Colby alumni across the professional spectrum. You will be hearing more from the Alumni Council as we look to implement those goals, and I hope you will not hesitate to share your own ideas and feedback with us in the months to come.
It was a very full weekend, and I came away reminded about what an honor it is to be able to lead the Alumni Council—a group of dedicated volunteers with diverse sets of interests, professional backgrounds, and accomplishments. We will meet again in October on campus, and I look forward to the progress we will make between now and then in ensuring that the Colby alumni experience becomes the very best it can be.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Cade ’08
Alumni Council Chair
The Alumni Council is a group of about 30 alumni from across class years and serves as a conduit between the alumni, the College, and the student body. Alumni who are nominated for membership on the Council play a meaningful role in representing alumni interests to the Board of Trustees and College administration; facilitating alumni engagement and participation in Colby’s growth; recognizing achievements of alumni and student athletes; and supporting the professional growth of students and alumni through direct engagement.
