Albertus Magnus College Blog

Richard and Riker Mitchell are founding members of the Student Alumni Association (SAA) and seniors on the verge of graduation.  The Mitchells grew up in Naugatuck, Connecticut, where they attended Naugatuck High School.  We’ve asked them to reflect on joining SAA and how they feel about becoming alumni.  

Richard Mitchell

I’m a current member of the Student Alumni Association here at Albertus. I joined SAA in the beginning of my sophomore year. I was approached by my freshman advisor, Corey Brushett, who told me that there was a new organization that I should consider joining. I decided to join SAA because I believed it would be a good experience, and I was looking forward to promoting more school pride. Being a founding member gives me a great sense of Albertus pride and feeling of great importance. I am proud of the fact that I have been part of starting this organization that has promoted increased school spirit. Also, being a part of SAA feels like being a part of a family. Our organization’s members are so friendly and there is always a positive vibe at the meetings and events.  Perhaps my favorite event is the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting which SAA started.  My favorite time of the year is the holiday season so I was very glad to create an event that celebrated Christmas.  This event allows the whole Albertus community to come together and enjoy the holidays. In May I will be graduating from Albertus and I am looking forward to becoming an alumnus. Being a part of SAA has shown me the continued connection to the College. I am looking forward to staying a part of the Albertus family, as the SAA motto goes, tradition never graduates.

Riker Mitchell

I am currently a senior, majoring in Accounting and a founding member of the Student Alumni Association. When I first joined SAA, back in my freshman year, I was looking for an opportunity to really connect with the Albertus Magnus community. When Stefanie Seslar and Corey Brushett approached me about joining the Student Alumni Association, I knew this would be a great opportunity. As I continued on with the organization, each year became more and more rewarding and exciting. Each year I found new events and traditions that were fun. My personal favorites are the SAA Annual Summer Retreat and the Christmas Tree Lighting. These events promote community, both within Albertus Magnus College and SAA.  SAA has also given me the opportunity to enhance and work on my skills that pertain to my major. As Vice President of Finance, I handled all of the organization’s financial records and finances. This opportunity gave me the chance to evaluate and implement the knowledge and skills I gained in the classroom in a real world application. As I approach graduation and my transformation from student to alumnus, I have discovered another advantage of being a member in the Student Alumni Association. Being a part of SAA has given me the ability to increase and enhance my network. In fact, I recently got an internship at Marcum LLP as an intern in the Assurance Services. I was able to get this internship because of the network I developed from SAA. Being a member of SAA, is an experience that is unparalleled.