A student organization dormant for the past few years is re-launching with a goal of connecting current University students to alumni and providing valuable networking opportunities and a resume builder. 
The LSU Student Alumni Association’s goal is to strengthen the relationship between alumni and students and to build a young alumni base.
Amanda Haynes, class of ’08 and Emily Berniard, class of ’06 were both members of the SAA as students and got jobs at the Lod Cook Alumni Center because of connections made while in school.
“This may sound cheesy, but in the business world it is not exactly about what you know, it’s about who you know”, said Berniard.
Berniard and Haynes are now the SAA directors and are working to increase membership and get students connected to alumni.
The SAA is working to build a young alumni base by recruiting students and helping them to transition to an alumni member after graduation.
“The Alums like to know how current students are doing,” Haynes said. “You may get a business card or contact information that you can follow up on that may get you an internship. Most Alumni when they hear what is going on with the organization are willing to come to the meetings and connect with the current students.”
The organization holds monthly meetings where prominent alumni are the guest speakers and are available for networking. Guest speakers in the past have included Joe Dean, Brandon Landry and Jack Warner.
As a student organization, the SAA is helping with the Forever LSU campaign as well as various service projects.  Because of recent budget cuts, the SAA wants to focus their campus service projects on areas affected by cuts.
Other service projects include Habitat for Humanity and volunteering at Our Lady of the Lake on the children’s floor.
The organization is not charging dues this year as a way to increase membership, and is also trying to reach students through social media.
 
Helpful Links:
http://www.lsualumni.org/
http://lsualumni.org/saa/  
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baton-Rouge-LA/LSU-Alumni-Association/65600329683