UCA Young Alumni Board: Case Study

Case  Study: UCA Young Alumni Board 
The University of Central Arkansas Young Alumni Board connects recent graduates through dynamic networking events, fostering valuable professional relationships and providing essential guidance for life beyond campus. Their mission is to empower UCA alumni as they navigate their early career journeys and maintain meaningful connections.
Opportunity
The University of Central Arkansas had limited engagement from young alumni (graduates within the last 10 years). Event turnout was low, there was no dedicated board representing this demographic, and younger grads felt disconnected from alumni programs that skewed older and more formal.
Low Visibility
Events weren't reaching target audience effectively.
Poor Attendance
Recent graduates weren't participating in alumni events.
Missed Connections
Valuable networking opportunities were being lost.
Goals
Launch Young Alumni Board to foster community, connection, and campus pride
Build partnerships to support event success without increasing costs
Establish sustainable operations for the board: structure, roles, planning templates
Increase event attendance and alumni engagement in the 21–35 age group
Solution
We built the group up from scratch,  including board structure, member recruitment, event strategy, and branded communications. My background in event design, marketing, and community organizing played a key role in creating scalable and engaging alumni experience. 
My Role
I designed creatives for five events, initiated partnerships with local businesses, and recruited additional founding members. Design and communications emphasized a relatable, local feel, while strategic planning ensured continuity.
Social Strategy
Led this social media initiative from conception to implementation, establishing goals for a 40% attendance increase and coordinating with six board committees.
Designer
Created over 25 custom social media graphics using consistent UCA branding, optimized for Instagram, Facebook
Connector
Facilitated meaningful connections between 300+ young alumni and established professionals, creating networking opportunities that resulted in 15 job placements and 8 mentorship relationships.
Social Media Creatives





Networking Event Promotion
Flyer designed for professional development event.
Instagram Promos
Story-optimized content for maximum mobile engagement.
Alumni Mixer Announcement
Social-optimized graphic for casual gathering.
Homecoming Campaign
Part of multi-platform engagement strategy.
Examples of the social media flyers that helped drive increased engagement and attendance at Young Alumni Board events.
Methodology
Needs Assessment
Surveyed 250+ recent graduates with a 42% response rate, revealing 78% preferred Instagram for alumni updates and 65% wanted more networking-focused events.
Design Creation
Developed 25+ custom graphics using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, incorporating UCA's official purple and gray color palette with consistent typography and branded elements.
Social Media Integration
Optimized designs with platform-specific dimensions (1080x1080px for Instagram, 1200x628px for Facebook, 1200x627px for LinkedIn) and implemented both organic and paid distribution targeting 4,000+ alumni.
Insights
Our analysis of the UCA Young Alumni campaign revealed several key factors that contributed to its success:
Visual Appeal Matters
High-quality visuals and concise messaging attracted attention on social media.
Brand Consistency Builds Trust
Consistent look across materials reinforced UCA brand identity.
Platform-Specific Design Works
Tailoring content to each platform maximized engagement.
These insights guided our implementation strategy and contributed directly to the 40% increase in event attendance.
Results & Outcome
40%
Attendance Increase
More young alumni participation
25%
Engagement Growth
Increased alumni engagement
42%
Local Sponsorship Growth 
Leading to more cost effective events.
Key Takeaways
Nostalgia is nice, but Young Alumni want connection: Casual, welcoming formats foster higher participation
Design plays a big role in engagement: On-brand, youth-friendly visuals and messaging made alumni feel seen
Sustainability is a design problem: Documented systems ensured the board continued long after founding members left
Partnerships are force multipliers: Working with local vendors helped increase quality while reducing costs