So I'm an Alum of USU... Now What?

Whether you've graduated for the first time or the fifteenth from Utah State University, we'd like to extend a warm welcome to you as a member of our Alumni group. 

You might be asking yourself some questions about your place with the university now; let us try to illuminate the answers:


Why am I so important to the Alumni Association?

Because of your successes after graduation, Utah State is a well-known institution with programs that build and improve every year.  

Because of your involvement, Utah State continues to move forward, and future students feel a desire to be a part of educational opportunities afforded here.  

Because of your support, Utah State promotes a beautiful legacy that we can all be proud of.

What activities can I be involved in as an Alum?

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger for updates on what is going on at Utah State. 

We host a tailgate party at each road game for the Aggie Football team. Watch for the 2015-16 season schedule this summer.

With a $25 yearly donation to the university, we can send Utah residents a waiver for the A-Plates for your vehicle.

The Legacy Scholarship, available to direct relatives of Aggies, goes through the Alumni Association. Contact us for more information.

Join our LinkedIn group to make connections with other Aggie professionals. Also, take advantage of Career Aggie when looking for a new job. 

How do I become a official member of the Alumni Association?

All it takes is a monetary gift of any amount to any department within the university on an annual basis. When you donate, you'll receive a card in the mail with your Alumni benefits listed on the back. 

We also offer a Lifetime Membership to our association, which supports scholarships, Homecoming, the Student Alumni Association, and many other programs. There are more benefits available to Lifetime members, including a commemorative brick in our courtyard on campus.

*Note for recent grads: If you graduated less than three years ago, a special discount is available for your Lifetime membership. 

Becoming involved with the Alumni Association can bring you a sense of belonging and togetherness with your fellow Aggies. You can build on all the memories you created at Utah State University by becoming an involved Alum. So get involved, have fun, and keep your Aggie Pride alive!

How you've helped: The Student Opportunity Fund

Utah State University is constantly searching for new ways to develop student scholarships. One college established the CHaSS Student Opportunity Fund to encourage alumni and friends to ensure that higher education continues to be a dream within reach of students from all walks of life.

Over the next week we will be highlighting some of these students, as they tell their own stories.

BAILEY MCMURDIE

“Being a woman in sports broadcasting definitely isn't easy. People look at me differently because I don’t want to be a sideline reporter. I want to be in the action, getting all of that stuff on camera.”

“If I could say anything to the donors: there are so many hardworking kids, and I was blessed enough to have donors like Deseret Digital Media who recognized something that I did. That made me work harder.”

Bailey is now working for FOX 13 News in Salt Lake City as a sports producer and reporter.

Visit her profile here: http://fox13now.com/author/kstubaileymcmurdie/ 

CHRIS ELLSWORTH

“Studying here at Utah State and especially being in the ROTC program has really taught me that I can do hard things, and that I can actually push myself a lot harder than I ever imagined that I could.”

“Leadership, for me, is about having people trust you, and allowing them to confide in you.” 

“Although our program is a lot smaller today, being able to be a part of that legacy is a privilege.”

Each recipient has a unique story, but they have all have benefited from scholarships in order to gain an education. Because of the hard work they put into their schooling here at USU, they will be valuable additions to the work force and more importantly, the world.  

As Alumni, you play a critical role in the success of these students, and others at Utah State. Thank you for your kindness, compassion, loyalty and sacrifice for the benefit of these great students. 

Affording Tuition: The low-down on legacy scholarships

Scholarships.  Everyone wants ‘em.  But sometimes, they seem unattainable and difficult to navigate. Luckily, the process of finding and applying for USU alumni scholarships is easier than one might expect.

There are two scholarships that all alumni should be aware of at Utah State:

           1)    The Alumni Scholarship is offered through the Alumni Association and

           2)    The Nonresident Legacy Waiver is offered through the USU Admissions office 

Here is a brief explanation of each. 

The Alumni Scholarship

This scholarship is available to new incoming students.  If a student has a parent or grandparent who attended USU, they are eligible to apply.  Any incoming student can apply (freshman, transfer, resident, and nonresident).  The deadline to apply for Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 is February 1, 2013.

The Alumni Scholarship is funded through the Alumni Association.  All funds awarded are raised through alumni events, private donations, and the Aggie License Plate program.  Applications are available online at www.usu.edu/alumni/scholarships.  On average, the Alumni Association receives between 500-600 applications a year and approximately 175-200 students are selected as recipients.  The average scholarship is a one year award, valued at $1,000.  This scholarship can be combined with any other scholarships and can be used at any USU campus.

The Nonresident Legacy  Waiver

This scholarship is available to new incoming students who are admitted to USU.  To qualify for this scholarship, a student’s parent/guardian must have graduated with a degree from Utah State University.  Once the graduates’ degree if verified, the student will be awarded a nonresident waiver and the student will be charged Utah resident tuition. 

This scholarship is awarded through the Admissions office.  USU is able to participate in this program because of Utah House Bill 364 (signed into law July 1, 2009).  This scholarship is available to all nonresident students who meet the requirements (including freshman, graduate, and international students).

Applications are available online at www.usu.edu/admissions/scholarships.  This scholarship can be combined with other scholarships at USU.  The deadline to apply for Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 is August 1, 2013.

Scholarship Advice

Scholarships can cause stress for parents and students.  Everyone experiences the uncertainty of the selection process, the concern over providing the ‘correct’ answers on the application, and the time involved in waiting for results.  Here are a few suggestions that may help reduce some of that stress:

• Read the application.  Yes – it seems simple.  And kind of silly to mention.  But most of the questions you have will be answered in the application.  Read all of the information and perhaps more importantly, visit the appropriate website for information.
• Contact the office who administers the scholarship.  Ask what the time frame is and if they have any suggestions in applying.
• You must approach the application as you would a job application.  Full, complete sentences and grammatically correct statements will only work to your advantage.  Leave text messaging and instant messaging lingo out of your application.  Don’t ramble and exceed the acceptable length of answers.  You must set yourself apart from all other applications.  For this reason, choose your words carefully and explain why you are the most qualified applicant for the scholarship.
• Be yourself.  Let your personality come through and try to connect with those who will be reading your application.  Often, scholarship committees will review many applications and you want them to remember your application.

We encourage you to read and review the applications for the scholarships listed above.  If you then have questions, call the appropriate office (Alumni Relations: 800-291-2586 or Admissions: 800-488-8108) and we’ll be happy to assist you.