GAA Committees

The General Alumni Association (GAA) was established to assist in the promotion of the welfare of the College of the Holy Cross and all alumni are invited to join in this effort by participating in the activities of the GAA. The GAA has numerous committees to achieve this goal as well as serve the specific needs of alumni. Some committees are for the management of the business and routine affairs of the GAA and others are service or event oriented

Also, some committees specifically serve current Holy Cross students such as the Bishop Healy Committee or College departments such as the Admissions Office by the Book Prize Committee. GAA events and Regional Club activities are just two areas through which Alumni can become involved, assist the GAA , further the mission of the College and meet many other active Holy Cross alumni. All alumni are members of the GAA and are encouraged to become involved in its committees. To join one of the GAA committees or to inquire about a specific committee's activities please contact one of the GAA Officers or the Alumni Relations Office.

 

 

Bishop Healy Committee

The Bishop Healy Committee was established by the GAA in July 1979. Its name was taken from James A. Healy class of 1849, an African-American, the valedictorian of the first graduating class of Holy Cross and the second Bishop of Maine. Its purpose is to "discover and implement means of alumni/ae participation in efforts to foster interracial understanding, interaction and friendship within the Holy Cross community." The three basic objectives of the committee are 1) to assist in increasing the recruitment and enrollment of ALANA students, 2) assist in the retention of all ALANA students by initially welcoming, then encouraging and facilitating the achievement of their full potential at Holy Cross and 3) increasing the involvement of ALANA alumni/ae in Holy Cross activities such as regional clubs, reunions, General Alumni Association activities, functions and leadership and in the recruiting of ALANA students to the College. Click HERE to visit the Bishop Healy Committee Website.

 

Career Networking Committee

The Career Network Committee works with the Holy Cross Career Planning Center and Office of Alumni Relations to maintain a network of alumni volunteers throughout the United States to assist Holy Cross graduates and students with career advice and networking opportunities. Toward that end, the committee has a valuable role in providing input, advice and assistance concerning the services and activities of the Holy Cross Student/Alumni Career Network. Click HERE to visit the Holy Cross Student/Alumni Career Network.

Continuing Education Committee

For over 20 years the Continuing Education Committee has sponsored a daylong program of classes on a Saturday in the spring, taught by some of the top Holy Cross faculty members. The "mini-courses" are designed to appeal to the interests and intellectual curiosity of a wide range of alumni. The day's schedule allows alumni "students" to select three of nine classes offered by professors from various departments, providing flexibility in the choice of subject matter. The day starts off with coffee and registration, morning classes, lunch, afternoon classes and is closed with a mass and social hour.

Summer Fellowship Program Committee

The function of this committee is to encourage meaningful public service and socially responsible projects for Holy Cross students in regional club areas during the summer. The projects should assist needy "not for profit" agencies in the name of Holy Cross, while providing regional clubs with an activity/program that either provides an opportunity for community outreach or supplements their existing programs. In 1992 the Summer Fellowship Program was inaugurated whereby Holy Cross Regional Clubs began to sponsor fellowships in conjunction with the GAA. Currently the fellows each receive a stipend towards their tuition for their eight weeks of work in the amount of $2,400, contributed by the GAA, the regional club and the benefiting agency. A number of regional clubs are participating in this successful program and the GAA is encouraging and assisting other regional clubs to sponsor Summer Fellowships.

Alumni Admissions Program

In 1974, the GAA established the Alumni Admissions Program, which is composed of alumni volunteers who assist the Admissions Office in locating and attracting top candidates for admission to Holy Cross. An Alumni Admissions volunteer represents the College at local college fairs, providing a source of helpful information to high school students and their parents. Alumni Admissions volunteers also interview students in their local areas and in April contact accepted high school students to answer questions and encourage them to enroll at Holy Cross.

If you would like to more information or would like to sign up to volunteer, click HERE

For more information about AAP, contact:
Andrew Carter
Alumni Admissions Coordinator
Admissions Office, College of the Holy Cross
1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610-9973 acarter@holycross.edu
(508) 793-2443

The Holy Cross Book Prize

Inaugurated in 1973, the Holy Cross Book Prize is presented each year to outstanding juniors in some 500 high schools located throughout the country. The Prize is sponsored directly by a Holy Cross graduate, a friend of Holy Cross or a regional alumni club. The recipient receives a Deluxe Reference Desk Set, which includes a dictionary and a thesaurus in an open-ended jacket. Each volume is leatherette bound and carries the Holy Cross seal in gold on the front cover. There also is a special bookplate signifying the names of sponsor and recipient on the inside cover.

Book Prize winners are chosen by their high school faculty. These students represent exceptional academic achievement in rigorous college preparatory programs. Recipients have also exhibited a strong commitment to their school and community through specific actions, sincere concern for others and responsible attitudes. They are selected without regard to religion, race, sex or ethnic background.

In Hoc Signo Award

Each year at the June Reunion, Holy Cross honors three graduates with the GAA 's highest honor, the In Hoc Signo Award. Winners have distinguished themselves by their dedicated, outstanding and lengthy service to the College, regional clubs, or their class, and often all three. First presented in June 1960, the award is an expression of respect and admiration for those alumni who have given most generously of their time and talents to Holy Cross. Click here for a list of past recipients.

Order of the Purple Knights

Since 1974, this award has been presented annually to those alumni who have been members of the GAA for 50 years. A Scroll and Crusader lapel pin are presented each year to each 50th reunion class alumnus at a special dinner during Reunion Weekend.