![Incoming Student Union President junior Aki Bejamin and other SU candidates sitting on stage while waiting to give their speeches during the May 18 SU Debate. Aki said he plans to “burn [the SU] all down and start anew.”](https://thhsclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_9600-e1782439128607-1200x1131.jpg)
Every year, Harrisites are swept up in an array of internships, college prep courses, community service, and other activities to prepare for college and their future careers. However, despite the school’s reputation and our variety of notable alumni, few students think to make active use of one THHS’s greatest resources: the diverse network of professionals and scholars that make up the Townsend Harris Alumni Association (THAA).
THAA is a truly exceptional organization that bridges the gap between current and former students. Thus, the Editorial Board believes that THHS students should seek to not only take advantage of the benefits that come with the Alumni Association but work to expand opportunities for interactions.
Currently, the Alumni Association helps students directly by fundraising for school events, needs, and engaging alumni for events like SING, while also organizing events for alumni like class reunions. According to a report from UC San Diego, high school alumni associations often contribute through hosting alumni-student events for networking, partnering with current teachers to integrate their experiences into educational curricula, celebrate and promote alumni successes, and contribute to the community identity within the school.
As Founders’ Day shows each fall, the strong presence of alumni certainly contributes to the identity of the school (particularly through keynote speakers who are often alumni). Various alumni also work with teachers in different capacities. Alumni continue to contribute to the robotics team in various ways, Classic alumni have run tours at colleges for years, a number of alumni advise seniors on college essay writing, and more. Moreover, the school employs several alumni as teachers and staff, and their return to THHS has strengthened the community by providing valuable insight for students both while in THHS and who are interested in pursuing careers in education.
These experiences are all privileges. We do believe, however, that a more formal apparatus for connecting current students to alumni in various fields would deepen the already excellent experience students have with THAA.
Students often lack direct guidance to professionals who have pursued careers in medicine, law, technology, journalism, and other professions. While some teachers have degrees in other fields, a more focused program through the Alumni Association could help connect students with a range of potential mentors who have pursued a wide variety of careers.
Career Day is a great example of this. The day is composed of sessions predominantly run by alumni and offers an invaluable experience for current students to see the careers out there directly from people who were once sitting in their very seats. Since it’s a once-a-year event, involving large groups of students having only 50 minutes with these amazing mentors, it only offers students a taste of all the alumni out there. Creating a system of long-term engagement with these mentors would be of great value to the student body.
The Editorial Board believes the school should work with the Alumni Association and guidance department to create an expanded system for students to reach out to their predecessors. An alumni talk or workshop series focused on career exploration, as has been done in the past, could help familiarize students with career options. Working with the guidance department to create a mentorship program, matching students to alumni by interest area, and the creation of an alumni contact list would allow students to form lasting professional relationships.
Further, according to the aforementioned UC San Diego report, keeping alumni involved can help students with expanding their networks significantly. Actions at alumni events like sharing contact information or social media information and the building of social capital all help students connect to jobs and opportunities outside of school and even beyond high school. The report finds that this is especially impactful in public schools due to the nature of the less well-connected student body when compared to private schools.
Further bridging the gap between alumni and current students would not only benefit individuals but would also strengthen the broader THHS community, offering an important way for students and alumni to work together to uphold the values of the Ephebic Oath.
