With toppings like chocolate, caramel, peanuts and sprinkles, Grand Valley State University’s Future Alumni Association scooped out ice cream and information to students on Thursday.

FAA held its second-annual ice cream social event in front of the Cook-DeWitt Center to welcome students back. Along with giving out ice cream to passersby, this event was held “to make ‘Future Alumni Association’ a name students [can be] familiar with,” said Courtney Putters, vice president of FAA.

Putters said the social helps current GVSU students understand what the group can offer them, as well as meet other students and alumni to make important networking connections.

FAA works to aid each student non-exclusively to bring alumni benefits to everyone. They achieve this by helping students make connections with alumni.

“We are very big on creating connections and networking with peers and alumni to help with students’ future career goals,” Putters said.

As a member of the group, senior Ann Hartleib said she is pleased to have access to FAA’s benefits of professional networking. She said not everyone ends up doing what he or she expects when graduating college, and with the help of this group, she was able to job shadow with alumni and get a real feel of what happens after graduation.

“When I was a freshman, I was looking for opportunities to do with my major — [FAA] helped me to figure out what I wanted to do,” Hartlieb said.

Each event FAA hosts involves students of all years as well as alumni. Other upcoming FAA events include “Dinner with Seven Strangers” on Oct. 13 and “Brand Yourself” on Nov. 16, to assist students with meeting alumni and networking.

“Brand Yourself” helps students familiarize themselves with networking on the Internet through the use of social media. Websites such as LinkedIn.com and Facebook are used as examples of networks that can help one’s career.

“They do a great job connecting students with alumni and Grand Valley,” said Erin Rutgars, the group’s adviser.

Rutgars also works with GVSU Alumni Relations.

The Future Alumni Association will hold its first meeting today. For additional and up-to-date information, “like” the “Future Alumni Association GVSU” page on Facebook.

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