New president leads alumni board
Peter Jong, BSc '03, Starts 2-year Term
Members of the UVic Alumni Association board of directors welcomed more than 100 participants in the association's annual general meeting, held June 21 at the University Club at UVic.
The meeting marked the start of UVic Biology alumnus Peter Jong's two-year term as president of the alumni board.
Jong, who also holds a business administration diploma from Continuing Studiess, grew up in Victoria and attended Oak Bay High School.
"The thing I love about this university is it gives me a connection to the community, to the alumni and it gives me the opportunity to give back," he said. "In fact, I met my wife here and every time I walk around this beautiful campus I feel a strong sense of connection and nostalgia."
Jong added that he sees his new role as one that will enable him to help foster connections among alumni and with UVic. "As alumni president it gives me the opportunity to help grow strong engagement. I think that's one of the strong points of the association."
Jong succeeds Lesley Patten, BCom '96, a board member since 2008. "There's so much to remember. The people I've met are a big part of it. From different eras, different faculties. Just wonderful people. That's been really great," she said.
Patten said that alumni who become involved in volunteering for the association may be surprised by what's involved. "The opportunities and the people and the experiences are something you won't forget. It's worth coming back and re-living a little bit of your past and trying something new."
The business section of the annual meeting was followed by a special on-stage interview with Vancity credit union CEO Tamara Vrooman, whose UVic undergraduate and master's degrees in history springboarded her into her career – first with the BC ministry of finance and then Vancity.
She was interviewed by board member and CHEK News anchor Stacy Ross, BFA '97.
The association also awarded two $1,000-scholarships to student Jasmine Yadeta and new grad Melissa Wong, BSc '17, members of the UVic Student Ambassadors community service club.