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The NU Club of Southeast Florida hosted a student panel for incoming freshman at its New Student Party in August.

PREPARING FRESHMEN IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

For many incoming freshmen, the interim between deciding on Northwestern and attending the first class can seem like an eternity. That allows time for a lot of nagging questions to arise — especially for those who have never experienced the joys of lake-effect snow or riding the CTA. It’s up to clubs like the NU Club of Southeast Florida, working in conjunction with the Alumni Admission Council, to help provide answers for the newest Wildcats through orientation events and other programming. About 20 freshmen — joined by dozens of alumni and family members — took part in the Southeast Florida club’s New Student Party on Aug. 8 in Fort Lauderdale. The highlight was a chance to ask questions of a panel of five current students, pictured above. Jo Jablonski (WCAS61), the club’s vice president of programming, said the annual party has helped build an early bond between students and the local alumni community. “We have instances of grads who were interviewed by us returning to Florida, taking an active part in the Alumni Admission Council mission and eventually joining the local alumni club,” she said. And it isn’t just the new students who feel this bond. “Personally, with each class, I feel so much like the parents in the audience,” Jablonski added. “We say goodbye to our kids with a combination of pride and sadness.”

SUPPORTING INTERNS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Each year, scores of Northwestern students descend on the nation’s capital to intern in government, media and other fields. The NU Club of Washington, D.C., recently gave the interns a chance to network with one another and receive advice from a former congressman. About 30 Wildcat interns and young alumni attended the July 22 event at the home of Jim Kolbe (WCAS65), who served 22 years as a representative from Arizona. The event was aimed at building awareness about the club’s activities. Many interns will find careers in Washington once they graduate, but few of them know that there are already close to 5,000 alumni in the area. “We support them with advice on where to go, how to get around and how to work effectively in this city,” said club president Taylor Stager (J02). “We want to ensure that all students find a friendly face and a bit of Northwestern here in D.C.”

To find out more about clubs near you, visit the Northwestern Alumni Association's Clubs page.