Spotlight: Young Guarde

Graduation is just the beginning of a lifelong journey with William & Mary. To support the transition from students to alumni, the William & Mary Alumni Association created the Young Guarde — a dedicated network for those who have graduated in the past 10 years. If you got your degree in 2015 or later, congratulations — you are already a member! Designed to deepen the connections of recent graduates with each other and alma mater, the Young Guarde provides dedicated resources and programming for the newest generation of W&M alumni.

Welcome to the City events are a key part of this programming. Each fall, gatherings are held in cities across the U.S. to connect Young Guarde members who are looking to find their local Tribe. In 2024, these events spanned eight different cities, from Williamsburg to Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago and beyond. Venues ranged from homes to coffee shops and breweries, including four alumni-owned businesses. Young alumni showed up in record numbers, coming together for laughs, libations and lively conversation.

“It’s challenging to meet people when you’re new to an area, especially in this hyper-digital age. You might be living in the same neighborhood with W&M alumni but never know it,” says Jack Zhang ’18. “Welcome to the City helps overcome that and build community by introducing you to a local W&M network.”

“The Chicago Welcome to the City event was a great opportunity to meet other young alumni in the city and the turnout was amazing — over 40 young alums!” says Adam Siegel ’15. “It was made extra special by having Alumni Association and Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement staff on hand to facilitate networking and connection building. Some of us who attended have already set up times to get together informally. I’m looking forward to building more momentum within the Chicago network!”

Beyond Welcome to the City events, Young Guarde alumni can take advantage of other William & Mary Alumni Association programming, such as Yule Log celebrations and career development webinars. Each Homecoming & Reunion Weekend also offers special events for the Young Guarde, including the Young Guarde Reunion and the First Three Party — a special celebration for alumni in the three most recent graduation years.

The Young Guarde is governed by its council, which works with William & Mary Alumni Association staff to curate programming, initiatives and other resources. Visit the Young Guarde website to get involved and learn more.