Bakersfield College launched a new program that brings the alumni back to the community to help guide present students to become the new leaders of our community.

The new program Nexus stands for building a community together. The newest alumni program launched on campus focuses on giving current students a chance to learn from key leaders, alumni, such as Sen. Jean Fuller, Mayor Harvey Hall, and Congressman Kevin McCarthy.

The adviser of foundations, Angela Paquette stated, “We want to groom our current students into becoming both robust alumni and really strong future leaders of the community.”

Many colleges have active alumni that are connected with current students and help raise money for student scholarships. Bakersfield College alumni are already active when it comes to raising scholarship money, but the BC Foundations want to reach a higher level of including alumni in many projects.

The associates want to create a program on social aspects as well as other aspects that an alumni program normally is involved in. This would mean, for example, communicating and sharing personal experiences of their career.
When Paquette was asked what message she wanted to send to the students, she said, “It takes a good degree in great training to launch a career, but I think it takes building a network and really engaging with the community to grow a career.”

Nexus offers career development, networking, philanthropy, and other services.

Career development deals with educating students on their careers goals and what it is like to work in the work place. The program teams up with the alumni to host events.

By networking and showing students work opportunities, students get a chance to meet alumni and gain knowledge on different careers that interest them.

Being a part of Nexus, students get the opportunity to become more involved in a philanthropy project that gives students a chance to give back to the community. The alumni have decided to do a student-to-student scholarship, which is student-raised money for other students to receive a scholarship.

Giving Rocks is the project that Nexus is currently working on. It is where a student makes an affordable donation, then after that donation is made, they receive a red key ring as a ‘thank you’ for being a part of the project. You do not need to be a part of Nexus; anyone can apply. The Nexus board votes and picks four to five winners that will receive the scholarship.

“One of the hallmarks of Kern County is that we tend to be a very giving community,” Paquette stated. Paquette also added that most leaders in our community are involved in a philanthropy project that makes them have a distinguished characteristic.

Community service is a well-known way to give back to the community. Nexus is showing students to volunteer at Bakersfield College and around town.

The group attends large-scale events around town to help clean up after the event happens.

When there are events on campus, Nexus  extends their help even if it’s as small as guiding people around Bakersfield College.

There are many ways that Nexus is being promoted. For example, SGA hosted the Student Involvement Festival and Club Day where Nexus began to spread the word of the new programs. The group will be placing their information table at a few football games this year, including a photo booth, backdrop and props for everyone to see what Nexus is about.

Another way Nexus is being promoted is through Career Series where they invite guest speakers to educate the students with helpful information.

A variety of career paths are expressed during the Career Series gathering. It’s a way to become familiar with other careers that may be of interest to students who are undecided on a career path. It is also helpful when it comes to gaining knowledge on building your resume and business.

Nexus was established at the beginning of the school year in 2015. Some began working on the program around the summer time, but as of now it has an amount of about 20 members and about six board members.

They plan on looking for more board members in the near future. To become a member you can contact Adviser Angela Paquette in Foundations or the President of Nexus, Tracy Hall, in the president’s office.

Regular meetings are held in the Fireside room the first and third Thursday of each month from noon to 1p.m.