Loyola Alumni Connect at Notre Dame

2/12/2020

On Sunday, February 9, members of Loyola Academy’s executive leadership team and President’s Leadership Council (PLC) traveled to the University of Notre Dame to connect with thirty Loyola alumni now studying under the golden dome in South Bend, Indiana. It was a wonderful opportunity to visit with young alumni, identify their needs and preferences for further engagement with Loyola, and foster a budding professional network.

Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, a Notre Dame graduate from the Class of 1988, was joined by Principal Charlie Heintz and Vice President for Alumni and Network Engagement Marty Jennings ’98.

Fr. McGrath began the afternoon program with a beautiful Mass and then delivered a brief reflection about the importance of the mission of Loyola, the recent building projects that have transformed the Wilmette campus, and the impact of the generosity of Notre Dame alumni on the life of the school.

A panel discussion and Q&A session followed with special guests and PLC members Steve Conway ’09, ND ’13, senior director of business development at Gorilla Group, and Laura Alcide ’07, ND ’11, proposal manager at The Walsh Group. Steve and Laura addressed the impact of their education at both Loyola Academy and Notre Dame, the benefit of their connection to Loyola through the PLC, and gave advice on leveraging the strength of both the Loyola Academy and Notre Dame alumni networks.

After the panel, young alumni had the chance to network with Steve and Laura, ask questions, and engage with Loyola’s leadership team at a small reception.

“It was such a great event not only to reconnect with Fr. McGrath and the LA leadership, but also to catch up with our peers on campus because often times we are all so busy that we rarely have a chance to speak,” says Luke Phillips ’18, now a sophomore studying at Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business. “And having the opportunity to interface with some grads already out in the workforce was really cool, as well. I’m really grateful for Mr. Jennings’ help in organizing this and hope it can become a great tradition at Notre Dame and at other schools where lots of LA grads matriculate to.”

The trip is one of several planned at colleges and universities across the country with a large contingent of Loyola Academy alumni. The objective? Encourage Loyola grads to stay connected while discovering what needs, after four years at Lake and Laramie, Loyola alumni have and what opportunities Loyola can provide.

A special thanks to our volunteers: Luke Phillips ’18, George Lyman ’17, Patrick Lawler ’19, and Clare Eilers ’16.

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