Alumni Make a Difference in Preparing Students for Success

While UNCW has many alumni who move around the globe after they graduate, a lucky few work right here at the university. One in particular, works hard to ensure that our current students have an unforgettable experience and all the tools they need to prepare for success after graduation.

Missy Kennedy  ’01, is UNCW’s Director of Annual Giving. She achieved a position at the university after working for the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach as the Promotions Manager and excelling in her marketing career.

Reflecting on her years as a student she recalls, “The time I spent at UNCW was transformational. My professors were mentors who made course work relevant to our lives, to pop culture and to the working world – preparing us for our future”. A Communication Studies major, she was also involved in ACE (the Association for Campus Entertainment) where her love for music became as varied as the diverse group of student leaders she worked with.  

Missy also joined Alpha Phi sorority, becoming part of a special legacy of young women who are committed to scholarship, service and friendship. “I have shared some of life’s most special moments with these women… vacations, weddings, births and more.”

Now back at the university that gave her so much, she wonders if fellow alumni understand the impact they can make. “I am just one of 57,000 alumni whose life has been influenced by UNCW; yet I am only one of 3,235 alumni who have made a gift to UNCW this year. I have no doubt that most alumni feel the same way I do about UNCW. I see their Seahawk license plates or their “Dub” t-shirts. I cheer alongside them at Trask Coliseum and have drinks with them at alumni socials. I see their posts on the UNCW Alumni facebook page and read their stories in the alumni magazine. As a proud alumna, I know that there’s no better way to show my support for my alma mater than to make an annual gift. As the Director of Annual Giving, I’ve seen just how critical that support is for today’s students. Imagine the possibilities and resources that could be made available for today’s Seahawks if more UNCW alumni joined me in this tradition of giving.”

Reflect on your own UNCW memories and challenge yourself to think how the university is helping you reach your highest potential. Find out how your annual gift can provide funding for scholarships, academic programs, cultural activities, technology upgrades, professorships, and opportunities that foster friendships, develop leaders, change perspectives and inspire greatness.

Alumni can trace so many important achievements in their lives, both personal and professional to their time at UNCW. Give back to be that support for our next generation of Seahawks.