Update your addresses\u2014physical and email\u2014on MacConnect<\/a>, Mac\u2019s online alumni network, and you\u2019ll get all sorts of goodies, starting with the magazine you\u2019re holding in your hands. You\u2019ll also get invitations to on- and off-campus Macalester events. Plus, you can use MacConnect to find a long-lost pal, submit a class note, or search job and interest boards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Campus-based opportunity, connect with other alumni.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Celebrate your milestones: every five years, you\u2019re invited to join your class (and some 1,800 other Mac alumni and potential new friends) to reflect and reconnect at Reunion<\/a>. And, while milestone celebrations include special dinners and class gatherings, everyone is invited to attend Reunion every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere, connect with other alumni.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You went to Macalester, so we already know you\u2019re plenty brainy. Why not join fellow alumni for the annual trivia contest to show off those smarts? You can build a team on your own or be placed with alumni in your region. Winners don\u2019t just get bragging rights; they also receive official Tartan Trivia sweatshirts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ken Iosso \u201987, who served as host for a recent victorious group, says the best teams often bring together diverse groups of alumni. \u201cOur winning team\u2014which got every single question right, not that I was keeping count\u2014included a member from the Class of 1973 and a couple from the Class of 2018,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s great to connect with close friends and the larger Mac community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This annual event takes place online each February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate in multiple locations, connect with current students.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alumni are invited to share their professional expertise with current students in areas including media, technology, social science, and law at in-person MacExplore events<\/a> in several major cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in the Twin Cities, turn your dial to 91.7 FM; if you\u2019re further afield, head to wmcn.fm<\/a>. However you connect, you\u2019ll hear what\u2019s popular with student DJs today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For an alumni perspective, tune in to \u201cMac Vintage Voice with Martha T.\u201d Every Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m., Director of Philanthropic Giving Martha Truax \u201907 chats with alumni, who share thoughts on life after Mac and spin tunes from their era on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let Macalester Today know what you\u2019re up to! Awards and promotions, weddings and babies, mini-reunions and milestones\u2014we want to celebrate them all with you. Send your updates to mactoday@macalester.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Campus-based opportunity, connect with other alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Former varsity athletes and coaches are invited to several games, meets, matches, and competitions every year to cheer cheer on Macalester athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the annual Hall of Fame Banquet held each fall is the M Club\u2019s signature event<\/a>, Fall Sports Day\u2014now part of Mac Fest in October also attracts alumni eager to watch Mac\u2019s intercollegiate teams compete. \u201cWhether they\u2019re donning orange and blue gear, chowing down on a Scot Dog, getting a \u2018Let\u2019s go Mac\u2019 temporary tattoo, or receiving a congratulatory plaque as a new inductee into our Hall of Fame, seeing the excitement and enthusiasm from the Macalester community is very rewarding,\u201d says M Club president Steve Cox \u201976. \u201cBased on the thank-you cards that come in from various teams, it\u2019s clear that student-athletes are appreciative, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your college friends are doing amazing things. Let the rest of Macalester know how they are making the world a better place by nominating someone you know for an Alumni Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alumni can nominate people in four categories: the Catharine Lealtad \u201915 Service to Society Award, the Charles J. Turck Global Citizen Award, the Distinguished Citizen Award, and the Young Alumni Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent recipients have included teachers and entrepreneurs, government leaders and coaches\u2014and we know there are incredible Macalester alumni whose stories are just waiting to be highlighted. Award nominations are due at the end of September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate in multiple locations, connect with current students<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the International Connections Program, Mac grads who live around the world can meet with students who are on study away programs or internships. \u201cAlumni can be a friendly face in those countries,\u201d says Director of Alumni Engagement Erin Updike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ezequiel Jimenez \u201913, who has lived in London and Barcelona, says he loves talking with students to offer ideas about life overseas. \u201cI\u2019ve met more than fifty people through the International Connections Program over the years,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s always a pleasure to give back to Mac by helping others navigate a life outside the US. Mac prepares students for global citizenship, and I try to help that pillar in our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere, connect with other alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you ready to represent 28,000 Mac alumni and turn your great ideas into action? Apply to become one of thirty board members<\/a> who help nurture community connections and support meaningful engagement with the college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from multiple locations, connect with other alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Each September, alumni gather for events in more than fifty cities around the world for events including gallery crawls and happy hour meetups. Updike describes them as \u201ca little bit of Mac wherever you are.\u201d Yulun Li \u201914, who has hosted two San Francisco Mac in Your City<\/a> events, says that the \u201cMac vibe\u201d at these events is palpable. \u201cConversations are easy to start and people are very engaged,\u201d he says. \u201cNo one expects others to be working in a field they majored in, and it\u2019s super interesting to meet with alums who are in different spots in their careers and lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere, connect with other alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alumni who graduated in the last decade can connect on the yMac<\/a> Facebook page and in a handful of regional chapters across the country. The group is a great resource for young alumni moving to a new area or transitioning to a new job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During a weekend in October, students, their families, and alumni come together for a full slate of events on campus. Take in a theater production, watch a swimming and diving meet, participate in a 5k run\/walk through campus, or stroll through an academic showcase. Share your memories with the Macalester Oral History Project<\/a> and grab dinner from a food truck. \u201cMac Fest<\/a> highlights what a Macalester experience is today for families and alumni,\u201d says Updike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from multiple locations, connect with other alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A few times a year, faculty travel beyond the Twin Cities to present to alumni audiences. Update your information on MacConnect<\/a> to get on the invitation list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last spring, for example, alumni in New York City were invited to a panel discussion about sustainability that featured Professor of Environmental Studies Louisa Bradtmiller and President Suzanne M. Rivera. The event was part of the college\u2019s 150th anniversary celebration. \u201cSome of my former students came and stayed to chat and catch up, and I also got to meet alums I hadn\u2019t known as students,\u201d Bradtmiller says. \u201cIt was a wonderful reminder that Mac alums are all over, and that they are still curious about the world and eager to connect with each other and the college.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere, connect with current students<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We know exactly who wants more Mac alumni in their workplace<\/a>: you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Not sure what to do with those cardboard boxes filled with your student-era scrapbooks, research projects, and event programs? Macalester College Archives<\/a> might just be a great home for them. \u201cIf it has something to do with Mac, we want it,\u201d says College Archivist Ely Sheinfeld, whose recent acquisitions have included a 1940s-era scrapbook of a student canoe trip. \u201cArchives is interested in anything that helps us tell the story of Macalester and its community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Campus-based opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheinfeld also has a question for you: When people bring up Macalester, what memory immediately comes to mind? If you\u2019ve got an answer, Sheinfeld wants to record it as part of the Macalester Oral History Project<\/a>. He sets up his recording equipment at many major on-campus events, and encourages alumni to get in touch before they arrive on campus. \u201cI would love to have more alums sit for this kind of oral history,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Campus-based opportunity, connect with other alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure your Reunion<\/a> reflects your class\u2019s distinctive character by serving on the committee that creates it. Make a difference with a thirty-minute monthly commitment and one on-campus meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere, connect with current students<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Help Mac students and alumni get a leg up in their future careers by offering advice, connections, or simply friendly support<\/a>. All you need to do is fill out a form or sign up on MacConnect<\/a>, and interested students and alumni will occasionally reach out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from multiple locations, connect with other alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alumni in cities across the country participate in activities<\/a> including packing lunches for those in need and cleaning up parks, beaches, and roadsides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere, connect with other alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Give your most formal or informal Mac gathering some official Mac flair with a Mac banner or MacPack<\/a> (which includes blank nametags, pens, a Macalester sign, and swag). Send us photos from your event and you might see your group featured on one of Macalester\u2019s social accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Macalester Fund<\/a> helps keep your favorite alma mater strong. Give a gift today or join thousands of your classmates during Give to Macalester Days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You contributed to Mac during Give to Macalester Days<\/a>\u2014now showcase your Mac pride on your social media accounts. Once you give, you\u2019ll get a link that makes sharing easy. It\u2019ll even allow you to record a short video if you want to make your case for Macalester more personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n During Give to Macalester Days<\/a>, you can create a simple challenge for your classmates\u2014a $10 match for the next ten classmates who donate, for example. \u201cThese are low-threshold ways that people can support the Macalester Fund in ways that don\u2019t feel like \u2018asking people for money,\u2019 but can inspire others who share your passion to support Macalester financially,\u201d says Catie Gardner Smith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Immortality doesn\u2019t come easy, but with a planned gift you can make an impact on Macalester even after you\u2019re gone. Include Macalester in your will, or add Macalester as a beneficiary to your life insurance policy or retirement account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The support will earn you a spot in the James Wallace Society<\/a>, which currently has more than 900 members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Director of Planned Giving Theresa Gienapp acknowledges that these types of gifts tend to be more popular as alumni near milestones such as their 50th Reunion. But she says even recent graduates can participate by designating Mac as their\/a beneficiary. \u201cWe have folks who have estate gifts of $100, and we have a Wallace Society member from the Class of 2022,\u201d she says. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be a millionaire! We appreciate every gift, they all go to this great college, and we celebrate all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Leadership-level giving to Macalester starts at $1,600 a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A gift at this level grants membership in the Grand Society<\/a> and supports Macalester\u2019s commitment to access, academic excellence, and innovation. Membership offers some pretty great perks, including insider updates from the president, invitations to special Macalester events, and a gold pin to show your support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alumni who have graduated within the past ten years are eligible to join the Young Grand Society<\/a> and access the same privileges with a donation starting at just $17 a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n More than 150 Mac alumni volunteer as class agents<\/a>, helping write fundraising letters and connecting with fellow classmates to encourage support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participate from everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Attend your Reunion.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Compete in Virtual Tartan Trivia.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Meet with career-focused students at MacExplore events.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/653\/2025\/03\/AlumniKit_MacExplore-CC.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Listen to WMCN.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Send us your updates.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. Root for the Scots at M Club events.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
8. Nominate a classmate for an Alumni Award.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
9. Welcome a student who is far from home.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
10. Apply to join the Alumni Board.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
11. Host or attend a Mac in Your City event.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
12. Join yMac.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
13. Come to Mac Fest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Campus-based opportunity, connect with other alumni, connect with students<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/653\/2025\/03\/AlumniKit_MacFest-CC.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n14. See a Mac professor in your city.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
15. Post a job or internship on Mac’s Handshake platform.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
16. Send a meaningful Mac memento to the archives.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
17. Ensure your Mac memories live forever.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
18. Plan your milestone Reunion.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
19. Offer your skills as a career helper.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
20. Make the world better by joining Mac’s Week of Service<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
21. Request a “MacPack” or a Mac banner.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/653\/2025\/03\/AlumniKit_Banner-CC.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n22. Make a gift to the Macalester Fund.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
23. Advocate for your alma mater on social media.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
24. Challenge your friends and classmates.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
25. Create your own Macalester legacy with a planned gift.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
26. Become a Grand Society member.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
27. Volunteer as a class agent.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
28. Bring us your great idea.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n