Kaylee Stecchi is a first-year WISE Program student who attended the Multicultural Alumni Homecoming Reception on Friday, Oct. 25, at the Cross-Cultural Center (Tric-C).   

“I attended the event to help represent the WISE Program, share my experiences with it and discuss how its mission has impacted my first year at Stetson,” she said.  

The idea behind the event, according to Erin Doggette, PhD, director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, was to provide current students an opportunity to connect with fellow alumni, faculty and staff while celebrating the diverse community that makes our university so special and unique. 

“Current students, especially our first-generation and underrepresented populations, could network with others who have walked in their shoes,” she said. “They received an opportunity to ask questions and forge new partnerships with alumni. They also got an opportunity to simply listen and glean knowledge and wisdom from those who’ve come before them.”  

Stecchi, who is majoring in Marine Biology with a minor in Environmental Sciences, took advantage of the relationship-rich nature of the event as she developed a connection with three alumni.  

“Connecting with alumni was a great experience as they understand the values of Stetson, and I was able to feel welcomed into the community,” she said. “Because of the size of the Stetson community, I see everyone being very close-knit with each other. Making connections seem very easy, especially with the kindness I’ve received during my time here so far.”  

The event, hosted yearly during Homecoming Week, aims to showcase the evolution of Stetson’s culture and highlight the strides ODI continues to make to allow its tagline to come to life — “Bridging Differences. Building Belonging.”  

“Overall, I wanted students to see people who were once them,” Doggette said. “These were alumni who are successful and who were once first-year, second-year students, and so on just like our current students. They’ve endured many of the same challenges and obstacles, but they are still here and willing to share their success stories.”  

This was exactly what Stecchi experienced as she connected with alumni during the event while listening to their stories and each of their inspiring journeys. 

“Through the connections I made, I got to hear about the experiences they had at Stetson, and it gave me a glimpse into their growth,” she said. “It was inspiring to learn about the journeys they went through. I believe that is tied to the meaning of the Soul of Stetson because with this event, the alumni were able to come back and share their experiences with students and help with our growth by sharing advice they would have wanted when they were students.”