The Student Alumni Association (SAA) turns 25 this year, and it’s not slowing down. For the 2026-27 school year, the organization has set its sights on three goals: recruitment, campus engagement and closing the gap between students and alumni.

The SAA will be leaning heavily into the evolution of tradition as the student population grows larger with each passing year. Leading those efforts is incoming SAA President Charlie Hurley, who is seeking to establish SAA as one of the most visible student groups on campus. 

1. Recruitment

One of the organization’s top priorities identified by the board for the upcoming school year is expanding recruitment efforts across campus. Hurley and the executive board are focused on SAA becoming a prominent presence for students from the moment they arrive at NC State.

“SAA is a chance for everyone in our campus community regardless of year, major or interests to come together and share one thing we all have – a love for this university,” Hurley said.

According to Hurley, the organization plans to participate heavily in involvement fairs, such as Wolfpack Welcome Weeks, activities and recruitment sessions throughout the year. SAA ambassadors will also begin speaking in classes to maintain a more consistent presence on campus with students.

“We want the SAA Ambassador program to exemplify the strongest student leadership on campus,” Hurley said. “We want to increase recruitment reach so that we can seek out the strongest student leaders that NC State has to offer.”

Hurley says the larger mission behind recruitment is to build a stronger leadership pipeline for students across every industry and discipline. “As president I hope to continue to develop our ambassadors to become strong leaders, help them understand the importance of our mission, embrace their individual talents and have alumni look directly to our ambassador program for talent when it comes to hiring,” he said.

2. Campus Engagement

The emphasis on first-year students in particular will be especially intentional. Hurley said students who join SAA earlier in their college careers tend to stay more engaged with professional development opportunities and campus involvement.

The organization also plans to redesign its mentor-mentee program to create more personal connections among ambassadors while adding multiple professional development sessions each semester. Those programs will focus on networking, leadership and career readiness.

Additionally, SAA has planned major expansions to several of its campus traditions and engagement initiatives. The organization first hopes to grow Ram Roast, an NC State tradition to guard the Free Expression Tunnel before big games that started when UNC-Chapel Hill Tar Heel fans began painting the tunnel Carolina blue in the early 2000s.

SAA would like to make the tradition a spring signature event comparable to homecoming in the fall while also creating entirely new events focused on philanthropy. Executive board members have discussed developing an annual calendar that connects student engagement programming with homecoming planning.

“We want our signature events to become traditions themselves and engage the larger local community as well as students,” Hurley said. Part of that effort includes expanding events like Paint the Town Red and Wear Red, Get Fed, which connect students with local businesses.

3. The Student-Alumni Bridge

SAA also hopes to increase alumni involvement during the organization’s 25th anniversary campaign, encouraging former members to reconnect with current students and share their experiences. The campaign will celebrate the organization’s history while highlighting the role SAA has played in creating generations of engaged Wolfpack alumni since 2001.

“We want SAA to be the reassuring boost that a student might need to jump headfirst into the job search and alumni networking.”

“Since my first day as an ambassador, I have worked to ensure that SAA events exceed the expectations set by any other student organization. I embrace this through proactive planning, impressive events and opportunities for professional development that far exceed what is offered elsewhere on campus,” Hurley explained. “We want SAA to be the reassuring boost that a student might need to jump headfirst into the job search and alumni networking.”

Hurley explained that the most meaningful professional events focus around opportunities to connect with alumni, including the Networking Dinner and Young Alumni Mixer or by learning from alumni at events such as the Mock Interviews or Alumni Career Panel.

“NC State has some of the most loyal alumni in the country. Alumni want to give back to current students, and I have seen firsthand that just being enrolled here can be the foot in the door for career opportunities,” said Hurley.

Derrick Arnold, director of stakeholder engagement for NC State Alumni, shared that, “Through leadership, service, engagement and philanthropy, SAA continues to strengthen its mission of bridging the gap between students and alumni while fostering an engaged and invested Wolfpack community for life.”