July 26, 2012
There’s one word that perfectly describes St. John’s own
Carolyn Young ’11GEd: ambitious. And given her incredibly busy
schedule, she doesn’t seem ready to curb that ambition any time
soon.
This energetic administrator currently works as Advancement
Coordinator for the Division of Institutional Advancement, helping
to plan and implement the Annual President’s Dinner – the
University’s premier fundraising event – the annual Alumni
Convocation and other Presidential level programs and
initiatives.
“On a typical day, I’m making phone calls to donors, sending out
mail, accessing and processing incoming donations – a whole lot of
things that get thrown my way,” Young explained. “It keeps me busy,
but it’s incredibly rewarding to know that my work goes toward
helping students receive scholarships.”
Thanks to the efforts of Young and her colleagues, the
14th Annual President’s Dinner was the most successful yet,
raising $3 million to support St. John’s students. Interacting with
so many generous alumni, individuals who are committed to service
and to the Vincentian mission, is Young’s favorite part of her
job.
“What I find most striking about the University and its alumni is
the genuine sense of community,” she said. “You see that in our
alumni, especially by the way their eyes light up when they come
back to campus. You can tell what admiration they have for this
place.”
She added, “And it’s unbelievable how generous they are. They’ll
call up and ask to make a gift, donating a large sum of money, and
they won’t even ask for any recognition. They simply give to give,
because it’s the right thing to do, and that’s so amazing.”
Outside of her job, Young is equally busy, spending her downtime
furthering her education and serving the community. In 2011, she
received a graduate degree from St. John’s The School of Education
in School Counseling and is currently working on an Advanced
Certificate in Caribbean and Latin American Studies. She hopes to
one day receive a Doctor of Education in Instructional
Leadership.
“Right now I’m weighing my options, but I’d definitely like to
continue my education,” she said. “That’s another reason why I’m so
excited about working on events like the President’s Dinner. I know
how important getting an education is, and I definitely know how
important it is to receive scholarships. So to help students afford
school and achieve their goals is a really special feeling.”
Young is also committed to making a difference in the community,
participating in a number of service opportunities through St.
John’s. For example, she took part in the Conversation Partners
Program, teaching exchange students how to speak English. She also
gets involved in the annual University
Service Day, working alongside students, faculty and
administrators to serve in soup kitchens, visit residents at
nursing homes and various other ways to help those in need.
“Catholic schools are sort of my comfort zone,” Young explained,
“and the Vincentian mission is an important part of my life. If you
have the capabilities to give back and help those less fortunate,
you should – it’s that simple.”
Although she never expected to be working in a university setting,
this ambitious alumna has clearly excelled at St. John’s and is
excited to watch the President’s Dinner and other events grow in
the coming years.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be working to raise
funds for a university,” she noted, “but now that I’m here, I’ve
really fallen in love with it. To see the type of support we get
from alumni – to watch the President’s Dinner grow each year – is
an incredibly rewarding experience, and I’m so glad to be a part of
it.”