When the Golden Panthers men’s basketball team of Florida International University (FIU) traveled to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to take on the 49ers, it was too good of an opportunity for area alumni to pass up.
“We decided to gather alumni for some pre-game fun and then to cheer on the Panthers,” said J.C. Alvarado (BA ’03), president of the Carolinas Chapter of the FIU Alumni Association, who organized the January 31, 2015 event along with Sashle Eslaquit (MBA ‘07, BBA ’06, BBA ’05). Around 25 alumni and many family members gathered at the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery in Charlotte.
“It’s great to meet someone who went to your university and is now living in your same city. Friendships are quickly formed,” said Alvarado, owner of Alvarado Insurance Agencies. He mentioned that there are many FIU alum, including Eslaquit, who work for Bank of America in Charlotte and enjoy discovering a co-worker is a fellow Panther.
After socializing at the brewery, many of the group went to the Halton Arena to cheer on the Panthers, who defeated the 49ers by a score of 78-70.
“We had our FIU gear on, including the kids, sitting together and rooting for the Panthers,” Alvarado said. “What a fun time!”
Alumni offices help with event planning.
“You think organizing an alumni event is going to be stressful, but the people at FIU give you so much help, with planning, invitations and whatever you need,” said Alvarado.
“I love when alumni contact our office for assistance. We’re delighted to help with whatever we can do for alumni events,” said Yanyn San Luis (BBA ’10), assistant director, Alumni Relations, who attended the Charlotte event. “That night, as always, many people who didn’t even know each other were soon sharing college stories. Getting people connected is the best part of my job.”
Also attending were Amanda Wood, assistant director of Chapters and Young Alumni for FIU Alumni Association, and College of Business Development Officer Kenneth Gelok (BA ’08).
San Luis and Wood brought FIU t-shirts and hats and other give-aways to the event.
