If there’s one word that describes why so many Baruch alumni pay it forward to the next generation of students, that word might just be “inspiration.” Whether it’s with money, time, providing job opportunities, or another type of commodity, alumni find a way to participate.
That’s certainly the case with Christine Li-Au-Yeung (’00, ’02, EMS-FSA ’09) and her husband, Raymond Au-Yeung (EMS-FSA ’09). The couple has a history of helping students be better prepared for careers after graduation by donating their time. Now, they’re one of the reasons for the success of the Baruch Means Business campaign, thanks to seed money they donated to set up scholarships for the Peers for Careers program, run by the Starr Career Development Center. And it’s all because of a story they read in the Spring/Summer 2012 issue of the Baruch College Alumni Magazine (BCAM) about another alum who was grateful for the education she received at Baruch.
“That article really inspired me,” says Christine, referring to the cover article about Eland Capital founding member Nadja Fidelia (’02), who committed more than $100,000 to the campaign to fund scholarships. So Christine, a scholarship beneficiary herself who works for an asset management company, and Raymond, who works for a large media outfit, put their heads together and came up with a plan. With $500 of their own money and a matching gift from Raymond’s company, two outstanding students in the Peers program will receive awards of $250 each, and the $500 matching gift will support the program itself.
“We hope that our plan will inspire others to do the same,” said Raymond, of their gift. Added Christine, “People who have benefitted from Baruch should think about where they came from and give back to their alma mater.” She said that she and Raymond hope to someday fund two annually renewable full-time scholarships.
The couple chose Peers for Careers as the recipient for the scholarship money because of Christine’s long association with the leadership program, which trains students to serve as paraprofessional career coaches to other students. She was Peer herself, beginning in her freshman year, and she credits the program with helping her discover her “own passion to help people.” The three-degreed alumna continues to help current Baruch student as an Executives On Campus (EOC) mentor as well.
“It’s like a full circle, everyone helping each other,” she says.
—Barbara Lippman