NSU Alumni Association begins RiverHawks FAN program

In an effort to help Northeastern State University students stay in touch with the institution after graduation, the Alumni Association has launched the RiverHawks Future Alumni Network.

RiverHawks FAN is NSU's student alumni association. Membership includes a benefits program and the opportunity to network with fellow students and alumni. The program, started by the Alumni Association, is administered by the Student Foundation under the guidance of the Office of Alumni and Development.

"We want to encourage students to join the Alumni Association," said Daniel Johnson, director of alumni services. "Students often graduate and move away pursuing their careers and don't stay connected or involved with the university. This is an effort to promote the Alumni Association while they are still students."

For a $20 membership fee, students receive a RiverHawks FAN T-shirt, a members-only FAN cup good for free drinks at Flo's in Wilson Hall, The Grill at Seminary Suites and the Sip 'N' Surf on the Broken Arrow campus, a membership card, a one-time coupon for 25 percent off at the RiverHawk Shoppe (excluding textbooks) and offers from participating Tahlequah merchants.

Members also receive free items during monthly FAN Out days organized by the Student Foundation.

"They go out on campus and any member receives these giveaways," Johnson said. "In September we gave out ice pops along with NSU sticky pads, highlighters and pens. They'll continue to do FAN Out days throughout the semester and the items awarded will be different every time."

The Alumni Association already gives complimentary one-year memberships to graduates, and the RiverHawks FAN program is an additional endeavor to help engaged students become engaged alumni.

"As Alumni Association members they will receive all the latest information on what NSU, the Foundation and the Alumni Association are doing," said Johnson.

Johnson added that the program is exceeding its expectations for membership.

"We started out with a goal of 150 members," he said. "Currently we have around 350, which we are just thrilled about and we want to expand from there."

The program is administered by students and Johnson said the Student Foundation's work has been outstanding.

"Every member of the Student Foundation helps with this," said Darrin Priest, RiverHawks FAN chair for the Student Foundation. "They help manage it by putting stuff together, making sure everything is filed, making sure everything is kept track of. They also come out and help me if I am setting up a table in the University Center to recruit members or give out packages. We also have other Student Foundation members that come and help during our FAN Out days each month."

The next FAN Out day is Oct. 15, when the Student Foundation will give away items to RiverHawks FAN members on campus in the morning and make an appearance at NSU's soccer doubleheader at the Soccer Complex in the afternoon. Members are encouraged to wear their RiverHawks FAN T-shirts.

For more information about the RiverHawks FAN program or to join, call the Alumni Association at 918-458-2143.