Walk into the Upper School College Counseling office and you’ll see a new, friendly face peeking out from the back office. Mrs. Laurie McFeeley, the new Director of Alumni Relations is bringing new ideas to the alumni community and increasing their involvement at Saint Stephen’s.

McFeeley has high hopes for the success of the Alumni Relations program and has begun by establishing deeper relationships with alumni, as well as with current students.

“I strive to keep alumni connected to the school after they graduate. I [also] want to [continue] building relationships with the current students, mainly high school upperclassmen, so they can learn who I am. When they leave, I can keep them connected,” she said.

Earlier in January, alumni from across the country gathered in the area to participate in a variety of events, including a soccer game, a luncheon, a cocktail hour and an alumni panel.

McFeeley said the number of alumni who showed up at these events was more than she could have hoped for; she attributed the turnout to the use of social media.

“The turnout has been bigger this year than I [heard it had been] in the past. I’ve had the time to really focus, do personal e-mail and reach out to people. I’m currently on Facebook with a personal page to friend many of alumni. I also use the Saint Stephen’s Alumni page, [which] I think we need to [drive in more alumni] so they can see what events are going on when they are in town,” she said.

2012 graduate Ishpaul Bhamber said he has been thrilled to be back on campus to see old faces again.

“Seeing all the teachers and underclassmen is always fun. Because of the fact that [I] am not a [student] at Saint Stephen’s anymore, I feel that my relationship with the teachers has developed more,” he said.

Mr. William Southerland, an Upper School English teacher and Saint Stephen’s alumni, said through McFeeley’s efforts, he has been able to reconnect with friends.

“With just recent efforts, I’ve been reconnected with a lot of my [friends from high school]. We Facebook now, all as a result of what the alumni department has done,” he said.

Despite the success of recent alumni events, McFeeley said improvements can still be made to the program.

“I’d like to make Homecoming a much bigger deal concerning the alumni. In the past, it has felt like it has been a much more family-centered event, rather than an alumni event. I hope to make Homecoming much more accessible for alumni,” she said.

Additionally, McFeeley said she would like to expand the alumni events to take place not only in-state, but also outside of Florida.

“Ultimately, I hope to do more regional receptions in big cities such as Boston, New York City, Chicago or Atlanta, where alumni have located. I also hope to create some more networking events for alumni in the local area, who might be out of a job, looking for a job or have jobs to offer,” she said.

Overall, the future looks bright for the alumni program.

Southerland said he is thoroughly impressed with the changes made to the program just this year.

“I think the program will continue to grow over the coming years. [Right now] it is on a really good course,” he said.