ISL Alumni Initiatives
Due to the variety of events, services, and programs provided by the International Student Life office, many UGA students pass through ISL’s Archway to the World. We consider all of these students (whether international or domestic) to be part of the ISL family as well as alumni members of our services and programs. It is our sincere hope that students and alumni who have had an ISL experience (through World Leaders, Street Festival, participating in our tax assistance program, volunteering in one of the ISL student organizations, etc.) find it an enriching, rewarding adventure with positive memories that will last a lifetime.
ISL has long since wanted to create an ISL Alumni Association to help former student leaders keep in touch with each other as well as the office. We think this initiative would be a great way to expand our ISL alumni’s global network of friends and contacts (as well as to keep us posted on how you are doing). We are looking for ISL alums to help jump start this project whether it’s by helping create a sustainable network where we can all stay connected or by organizing events in your area for ISL Alums to gather together and rekindle/create friendships. If you are already doing some of these things, please let us know. If you are interested in helping get the ISL Alumni initiative off the ground, please contact the office for more information or to share your ideas.
We would love to keep in touch with many of you and help to keep your ISL (and UGA) memories, friendships, and connections alive. Be well and we hope to hear from you soon!
ISL Alumni Spotlight
International Student Life is extremely proud of the accomplishments and achievements of ISL alumni. As many ISL alums might tell you, their experiences with our events, programs, and services have made a lasting impact and helped create memories that will stay with them for a lifetime. To better understand our alumni’s ISL experience and how it has influenced their lives, their personal stories are below.
Allison Krache, USA, Class of 2004
I graduated from UGA in 2004 and went straight to visit England and Italy by myself for a couple of weeks. Knowing it'd be my last vacation for a while once I started my job in June, I wanted to get away for just a little bit. I had a blast and came back to work as a Sales Assistant at Turner Broadcasting. I helped run accounts and maintain relationships with major cable companies and the 10 Turner networks (including Cartoon Network, which was pretty entertaining).
In the spring of 2006, after two years at Turner I realized it was time to move on - in more ways than one. I moved from my tiny apartment in Vinings, Georgia after purchasing a house in Kennesaw and took a job just 2 miles away from my house. I now work for a small business doing marketing, sales, IT, and accounting. The position is a little bit of everything and always a challenge. I have my own office (a definite change from the corporate world's cubicle) and love the people I work with.
In December 2006, I finished up my Masters in Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University. I can mediate and negotiate, yet my mom still thinks I start fights better than I finish them.
I'd love to one day see the whole gang from my ISL days. They made my undergraduate experience a blast, and I have memories I'll cherish until the day I'm gone. I miss the days of hanging out in the lounge during World Ambassador meetings or hanging out around the office in the late hours of weekdays during Orientation Week – exhausted but reeling from the fun of the day. Let's have a reunion, please! Anywhere, anytime!
This section is dedicated to highlighting the accomplishments and achievements of ISL alumni, volunteers, and former student leaders after their graduation from UGA. ISL Alums interested in being part of the Alumni Spotlight section of this website should contact the ISL office for more information.
Support ISL
There are a number of ways to help support ISL’s events, programs, and services.
Become an ISL Leader by Volunteering
ISL consistently seeks volunteers to help plan, organize, implement, support and fundraise for all of ISL’s initiatives. Interested individuals who would like to volunteer with the office should contact us in order to help us find the best fit for your needs.
Support ISL Programs and Services through Financial Contributions
International Student Life relies on multiples sources of financial support to create quality events, programs, and services for our constituents. In order to help UGA students compete in a global economy as well as provide adequate services for our current student population, ISL has steadily increased fundraising and development initiatives since our creation more than a decade ago. Individuals seeking to help support International Student Life through financial contributions can do so in a variety of ways.
ISL Alumni Gifts
Many ISL alumni and former student leaders have told us how much their ISL experience(s) have meant to them in terms of life skills learned, life-long friendships, and having access to a global network or people from around the world. Many of these ISL alums have elected to provide leadership through financial support for specific programs within the ISL office including International Street Festival, ISL orientations, and the World Leaders Program. If you are an ISL Alum and are interested in making a financial contribution to support future international and U.S. leaders working with our office, please contact ISL today for more information about the various opportunities to give back.
ISL General Support
For individuals wishing to support the overall mission, goals, and purpose of the ISL office, the General Support Fund is an exciting opportunity to provide financial assistance for the office. Funding within this category is used for a variety of purposes to support UGA international students, student leadership as well as staff initiatives, planning opportunities, trainings, workshops, etc. Contact ISL for more information.
Companies, businesses, organizations, or individuals interested in providing specific sponsorship for specific programs and services have supported ISL through financial donations and/or in-kind contributions for events and programs including the International Student Orientation, the ISL Tax Assistance Program, the International Street Festival held in downtown Athens each year, and many more. ISL is happy to provide a variety of advertising opportunities for major sponsors of ISL events. Contact ISL for more information.
Final Notes
With more and more participation from the UGA student body and Athens community in ISL services and programs, the cost of providing quality events continues to increase. We respectfully encourage you to become a supporter of ISL whether it is through financial support, in-kind contributions, leadership opportunities, or volunteerism. Any amount helps and anyone can give. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Initiatives