Carleton is preparing its fifth annual Maize and Blue Daize event. Posters appeared in front of Sayles-Hill Campus Center and nearby lampposts. The event will take place between April 9 and 14, and will feature a collection of small events for both students and alumni. Hosted by the Alumni Relations office and its faculty and student ambassadors, Maize and Blue Daize aims to raise awareness of the ways in which Carleton alumni, parents and friends of the college contribute to and enrich students’ experiences.

Various events are expected to take place on campus, including major celebrations and a Senior Send Off. According to Genevieve Sterne ’28, student ambassador for the Alumni Relations Office, these events highlight experiences at Carleton that are made possible through alumni donations, as well as access to other resources related to their major and career goals. Maize and Blue Daize activities are designed to be entertaining and to encourage student participation. Students who participate in various activities at the “headquarters” are given the opportunity to earn points and collect prizes.

“It’s our way of making it fun while learning about the ways that people still love and care about Carleton for the rest of their lives,” said Sterne.

Sterne highlights how demonstrating the connectedness of the Carleton community is a key tenet  of Maize and Blue Daize. The Senior Send Off event, for instance, highlights the resources available to help senior students succeed even after they graduate. “[The event] helps students feel like they have those people to fall back on when they graduate…that there are so many peers around you that you can connect with,” said Sterne. 

Besides raising awareness, fundraising is also an essential purpose of the event. Associate Director for Young Alumni Philanthropy Shalin Carranza ’20 emphasizes the role of alumni, family and friends of the college in contributing to its vibrant experiences.

 “There was a big gap of knowledge that students had on how Carleton actually gets funded and how we get to do things we do at Carleton,” said Carranza. 

According to Carranza, alumni donations go into the Alumni Annual Fund (AAF); last year alone, about 9000 alumni raised $10.1 million for the Fund. The money goes directly to student programs, including “financial aid, Carleton Athletic Initiative, Area of Greatest Need, MCAN Fellows, teaching and learning and other designations,”  according to Carranza. Maize and Blue Daize plays an important role in fundraising and programming. “[During Maize and Blue Daize] we campaign throughout the whole week to all of the alumni around the world, to all the parents and to any friends of the college,” said Carranza. 

Carranza highlights how Carleton’s close-knit campus community and alumni network shape unique student experiences both during and after their time at Carleton. Alumni contributions made campus opportunities more accessible in small ways often unrealized by students.  “If you go to some state schools, you might have to pay to go watch the basketball game. But at Carleton, [games] are completely free. That is something that we do on purpose,” explained Carranza. 

Carranza also emphasized how the Carleton alumni stay involved with the Carleton community for a lifetime. The Alumni Relations Office hosts events not just for currently enrolled students, but alumni of all ages, including reunion events. “At the reunion, we have people coming to celebrate their 75th reunion. They graduated 75 years ago, and they still come,” she noted. 

In the end, Sterne and Carranza similarly highlight the accessibility of the alumni network to Carleton students. “What’s special about Carleton is how close the alumni network is. They are more willing to help you, perhaps, in comparison to a lot of other schools,” said Sterne. Carranza emphasizes how students can use the Campus Directory to access alumni information. She often finds that resources from alumni are underutilized by students. “You just have to put yourself out there. They’re really awesome about using their own professional networks to also connect you,” Carranza said.

“At most colleges, graduation is a goodbye. At Carleton, it’s the opening to a lifelong connection,” said Michael Thompson, Director of Alumni Relations. According to Thompson, besides generous donations, Carleton Alumni also scout talent through the Alumni Admissions Program, mentor students via the career center and shape policy as representatives on the Board of Trustees and College Council. Maize and Blue Daize offer a glimpse of the various ways the alumni network contributes to Carleton’s community.