CAREER SUPPORT!

In an appeal to alumni during this economic crisis, Columbia University President Lee Bollinger is asking everyone to reach out to fellow Columbians, whether by offering support or utilizing the vast network of alumni around the world.

Post a profile on Columbia Connection to connect with alumni, search for resumes or mentor current students. Get career advice via the Center for Career Education and post jobs or search listings on its LionShare.

VOLUNTEER

As Columbia welcomes to campus the Class of 2013 -- comprising 1,074 College and 317 Engineering students from 52 countries – preparations are already under way to select the Class of 2014. If you are a College or Engineering alum and wish to become a Columbia Alumni Representative Committee member and interview applicants for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, log in.

If you are an alum of other schools, please check their individual Web sites, click on “alumni” and find out ways you can volunteer, lend support, and build upon your relationships with the school and its vast network.

WE’RE THE CHAMPS

Columbia – with heft from some of this summer’s Columbia Experience Overseas (CEO) interns -- wrested the 2009 Ivy Ball trophy from last year’s winner, Cornell, with pom poms and a spirited full-throated rendition of the “Fight Song.” You can check out the winning performance on YouTube.

The Ivy Ball brought together the alumni associations of Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania and Yale for a black-tie formal event at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on June 27.

RECAP OF EVENTS

CEO HONG KONG

This year’s Columbia Experience Overseas (CEO) comprised 15 students interning with 13 companies in Hong Kong this summer. If you wish to become involved next year as a mentor or would like your company to get involved, contact Katherine Jo at Center for Career Education at kk2102@columbia.edu

CEO participant Aileen Yan wrote:

My summer in Hong Kong has been one of my most eye-opening, engaging summers to date. It was close to the end of April, and I had yet to land a job in the city. A last minute job popped up through CCE, and within a week, I was going to Hong Kong to intern at a fund of funds investment firm. I have never been to Hong Kong and the last time I was in Mainland China was 7 years ago. I was surprised, excited, and anxious once I arrived. It has been quite a stimulating 8 and a half weeks filled with excursions out with alumni mentors and trying to get as much out of Hong Kong as possible. Aside from the main tourist attractions, we were able to hike parts of the MacLehose Trail, squid fish on a sampan in Sai Kung, and do community service out in Tuen Mun.  

Aside from all the fun, the opportunity that has been given to me to develop my career has been immense. I feel that I’ve made so many valuable connections and gained insight on the markets, the Asia story, and general life lessons. My internship was relatively involved, which has helped me gain a better understanding of the fund of funds industry and have interactions with more people in the financial industry.

I can easily say that I will dearly miss Hong Kong, perhaps not the pushing and shoving of the MTR in the mornings,  but definitely the food, the sights, and the  new friends I’ve made.