Alumni Office holds a regional reunion in Meru town

It was glamour in Meru town on Saturday June 5th as the Alumni Office held a reunion for Upper Eastern Alumni in Meru town. The guests included Alumni residing from Embu, Meru, Maua and Isiolo and included alumni working in the towns. It was a reunion of its kind organized by a committee coordinated in Nairobi with representatives in Meru town. In attendance to grace the occasion was Professor David Sperling, one of the key founders of Strathmore Alumni Liaison Office (Salo-Kenya) who briefed the guests on the milestones taken so far by the office since its establishment. "We are in the process of compiling a Directory for all Strathmore Alumni beginning with the class of 1961. This is a huge undertaking that will take time but once in place such a directory will enable Alumni to know and contact each other all over the world. Reunions like the one we are having today in Meru are wonderful occasions to know and support each other. We count on you to update us if you change your job or address. We are planning to have many more reunions like this one, in Kenya and abroad, which will help us find and get together with our alumni wherever they are." Said Prof. Sperling. As the University prepares for its 50th Anniversary next year, Alumni were challenged to form regional committees that will work hand in hand with the Alumni office and participate in the celebrations to be held in the University grounds. Addressing the guests, Davis Karambi was keen to discuss the key initiatives he took and the support he has received from the University since his vision of building a school in his local village, Ikumbo was established in 2003. Davis cited that everything is possible and no dream is big to achieve as he has fully built a Secondary school with a Library and Computer laboratory. Later on, he gave a description of the current projects including one in which he is setting up a Distance Learning Center for bright students who don't qualify to get chances of joining University. This has been achieved through the support and partnership with the University's Community Outreach Program (COP). Elizabeth Njagi applauded the guests on the influence the University has had on her life and testified that she has never had any regrets since enrolling for her secretarial studies late 1990's in the University. "In Strathmore, I was not only taught how to work but also how to interact well with workmates, ethics and religion. This has been key in my daily life and Strathmore has modeled me to be the kind of person I am. This makes me a proud Strathmore Alumni and I look forward to working in similar forums." She said. Alumnus David Ndolo from Nairobi reiterated on the need for annual giving, Alumni registration, and Networking, and Alumni events. The concept of annual fund which is well established in other Universities abroad is a yearly appeal by a school for donations from alumni and friends to support its operations. It's an extended personal relationship of an institution with its alumni and friends over many years. He encouraged the Alumni to visit the University and get more information about the current developments and future prospects. The event was also graced by Alumnus Batholomew Nyaga, he was the Principal of Nkubu School, Nairobi School and then Principal of Egoji Teachers College who attended the 1965-1966 A-Level classes at Strathmore College. Having attended a number of Alumni events, he commended the team for their participation and support towards this great get-together. This was the second time the Alumni office was holding a regional event having held the first one at Mombasa for Alumni living and working in the coastal city on October 31st 2009. The event was sponsored by Coca cola East Africa limited and Sharaworld Systems. By Kilonzo Joseph