Greetings all,

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of greeting the most recent class of Metro State graduates on behalf of the Alumni Association at the 116th commencement ceremony. I graduated at the end of the summer term in 2021, and did not get the chance to walk in a commencement ceremony, so I was excited to see what it was like. I was blown away. The students and their families were filled with joy and pride over their achievements. It left me energized to continue working as a champion for the university.

I joined the alumni board shortly after graduation. During my four years on the board, we have had many conversations about our role as partners with the university. As volunteers with a diverse range of interests, talents, and experiences, we aim to serve as a valuable resource for alumni, students, and our professional partners who work at the university.

This year, we have identified specific areas where we believe we can have a positive impact in amplifying and supporting the work happening at the university. In the coming years, we will focus on four key areas: student engagement and support, resource development, public presence, and alumni pride. We aim to enhance the work happening at the university and lend an alumni perspective whenever possible. Metro State alumni are a vital and dynamic resource that can help build the university’s capacity to fulfill its mission in the community.

The alumni board is the representative body for alumni at Metro State, and one way to get involved, but there are many other ways to get involved. Volunteering for an event or as a mentor, submitting your important life news for publication, amplifying admissions events on social media, and making a financial contribution all help advance the Metro State mission. We have an opportunity to create our community. As a relatively recent Metro State graduate, I didn’t think much about the community I was joining when I graduated. However, since then, having attended alumni events, getting to know my fellow alumni through volunteering opportunities, and, of course, witnessing the most recent graduates join our community at commencement, I feel pride in my alumni community. I am inspired to invite more alumni to take part as active members of our community.

I am grateful to everyone who chooses to engage with Metro State as an alumnus, and I look forward to seeing what we can create together!

With gratitude

Ryan Ringwelski ’21
Alumni Board President

TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP AS AN ALUM

Are you wondering how to get involved but unsure where to start? Visit the alumni relations web pages at metrostate.edu/alumni. Sign up for Metro State Connect, our alum-to-alum/alum-to-student connection platform, or explore volunteer opportunities.