Alumni (old)
Saly M. Sebastian '06 to Lead President's Leadership Council
This fall, Saly M. Sebastian ’06, longtime executive board member of the President’s Leadership Council (PLC), will take the lead as the group's chair, succeeding Rory Kenny ’06 who deftly held the position since 2013.
"I'm very proud to be a part of a community that values faith, service and social justice, especially in today’s world which faces many challenges locally, nationally and globally," Sebastian says.
As a senior program manager working on acquisition integration with Snapfish, an online photo company that offers custom prints, artwork and gifts, Sebastian will use her experiences to work closely with the Office of Alumni Relations and align the goals of the PLC with the alumni team's strategic vision.
During her time as a Rambler, Sebastian was active in Life! Be in it! (now the Arrupe Service Program), Torch Club, Pro-Life Club and was a four-year member of the volleyball team. "Loyola has such a great sense of community. Four years goes by really fast. Even after that, you still feel like you’re part of the family," she says.
After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010 with a degree in finance, this lingering sense of community prompted Sebastian to attend a Loyola meet-up for alumni in NYC where she had moved to continue her career in corporate banking. Sebastian was immediately impressed by the strength and reach of the Loyola Academy network. "I remember thinking, what other high school is doing reunion events like this in other states?" she says.
When Sebastian moved back to Chicago a few years ago and accepted a job with Walgreens, she attended a PLC event hosted at 1871, Chicago’s entrepreneurial hub and tech incubator, where she spoke with other Loyola alumni and learned more about the PLC’s goals and function within the Loyola community. She became a member soon after.
"The PLC is an easy way for young alumni to reconnect with each other and with Loyola, whether they are transitioning back home from out of state or just getting reacquainted with the LA community after a few years away at college," says Sebastian.
Comprised of approximately 100 young alumni members from the Classes of 2002 to 2017, the PLC members serve as ambassadors for Loyola Academy. The purpose of the PLC is to advance the mission of Loyola while providing opportunities for faith development, service offerings, and networking and professional development. Networking events, panel discussions and volunteer experiences offer young professionals the opportunity to sharpen skills sets and explore new talents all while giving back to Loyola.
Assuming her role as chairwoman this fall, Sebastian’s plan for the future of the PLC is clear: to lead in a way that honors the programs' success and further builds upon its foundation.
"I've been a part of the PLC for five years and in that time I've seen tremendous growth in membership and activities. It's thanks to the great leaders ahead of me who brought the program to this point," she says. "I hope to add to this success by continuing to build out the structure of the PLC, engaging more alumni. It's important to further our reach so all young alumni feel welcome to get involved -- whether the last time they interacted with Loyola was one year or fifteen years ago."
Loyola Academy
1100 Laramie Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091-1089 | 847-256-1100
Loyola Academy admits students of any race, color and national origin or ethnic origin.
© Copyright 2020 Loyola Academy