{"id":12249,"date":"2018-05-18T12:29:08","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T19:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/dodge\/2018\/05\/18\/speed-networking-event-connects-students-with-alumni\/"},"modified":"2018-05-18T12:29:08","modified_gmt":"2018-05-18T19:29:08","slug":"speed-networking-event-connects-students-with-alumni","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/dodge\/2018\/05\/18\/speed-networking-event-connects-students-with-alumni\/","title":{"rendered":"Speed Networking Event Connects Students with Alumni"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former students of Harry Ufland step up to emulate what the late professor gave them every semester; the chance to network with industry professionals. Elise Laplante\u2019s \u201913<\/a> reason for helping, \u201cwas to honor Harry’s memory. Harry was my first mentor in the business and I wanted to celebrate his spirit by helping current students connect with alumni in a meaningful way.\u201d Laplante wasn\u2019t alone in this as she and alumni Winsor Yuan \u201912<\/a>,\u00a0Christy Westad \u201917<\/a>, Ayelet Bick \u201912<\/a>, and Dan Pastewka \u201913<\/a>, coordinated to create a mixer held on April 29th<\/sup> that would host alumni and current students.<\/p>\n

Yuan spearheaded the event as, \u201che did all of the planning in terms of finding the venue, putting together a team to assist with catering, set-up, etc.,\u201d says Westad and, \u201chad a great idea to have more structured mingling through the use of a “speed-dating” set up to help facilitate conversation since it can be awkward to walk up to a stranger and strike up a chat.\u201d Laplante agreed saying, \u201cWhat made the event unique was really the program that Winsor put together that allowed a real dialogue between current students and alumni.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event was held at Pastewka\u2019s Phase Two<\/a> space in Culver City which allowed mingling in an open area and closed off spaces to connect. Pastewka took great pride in his facility and he could be seen with multiple hats on as he set up chairs and tables, directed parking, mobilized groups of attendees, and helped answer student questions.<\/p>\n

Each alum had their reason for stepping up to support this event and when Bick was asked by an attending student what her incentive was she replied, \u201cmentoring the younger generation is important and what motivates me these days. But it is also a way for me to be involved with my community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The alumni each sat in on group discussions and helped answer questions from current students, most of which are graduating this Spring. Some of the insight shared by alumni was:<\/p>\n