The new program for young alumni Generation HU is growing through networking, serving and giving back to the university according to the Harding website. Sarah Bobo, young alumni associate of Generation HU, said the program aims to bring alumni who have graduated in the past 10 years closer together.
“I don’t care who you are, graduating is a struggle in different ways for everybody,” Bobo said. “My job is to get into contact with people who can lead groups in large cities like Little Rock, Nashville, Oklahoma City and Memphis in a service project, or simply a fun activity.”
One of the organization’s largest days of service is Bisons for Christ, where current students of Harding serve in the surrounding community. Generation HU organizes service projects across the nation to help alumni participate in Bisons for Christ as well.
According to the Harding website, April is the month of nationwide service for Generation HU. Service projects for last year included volunteer work at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Dallas LIFE and the Sharing Shoppe in downtown Searcy. Throughout the month, young alumni signed up for a timeslot to serve in one of these three locations as well as a few more.
“I was in Dallas for an event,” Bobo said. “We played Topgolf and then the next day we had a service day at Dallas LIFE, which is a homeless shelter there.”
This year, Generation HU is planning to start a student board to help keep young alumni connected to the Harding family. Along with the student board, 10 young alumni will be chosen to serve as mentors to the student board members. Bobo said that the board will help prepare for events like Homecoming and Spring Sing and to inform graduates of what they should expect when they visit campus.
Other events such as Say Thanks Day and 24K in a Day are led by Generation HU, and have shown growth in the last few years. According to Bobo, over 100 students volunteered to help with Say Thanks Day and over $54,000 was raised during the 24K in a Day campaign.
“We reached over $54,000 and that is amazing,” Bobo said. “That just goes to show how generous and loyal Harding people are.”
Bobo also said that staying in touch with current students is important to Generation HU because students are alumni of the future. For more information about Generation HU, visit the
Office of Advancement or go online to harding.edu/advancement/generationhu.
