Every Poet has a story, and Whittier College wants to hear yours.
However, with over 22,000 living alumni, it would take many years to meet with each of you individually. That’s why we’ve decided to embark on a new project called Poet Memories to collect the stories of alumni like you in your own words. These stories will be preserved in a book that celebrates the impact Whittier College has had on your lives and who you are today. Every year we don’t capture and preserve these stories feels like another opportunity lost, so we’re excited to get started today!
Your Story
So what Poet Memory will you tell?
- Did a special faculty or staff member have a profound impact on your life?
- Did you find your Poet sweetheart at Whittier College?
- Can you trace your career path back to a defining moment at our alma mater?
- Have connections you made on campus turned into lifelong friendships?
- Were you on campus during a historical moment?
- Are you a Poet legacy?
Have You Moved?
As part of this project, we are also taking this opportunity to help make it easier for you to stay connected to Whittier College. PCI will help us collect updated contact information from those of you who may have moved and inadvertently lost touch with your alma mater.
PCI Partnership
With our limited resources, we’d never be able to tackle a project like this. By partnering with PCI, we’re able to access their trained staff of real, live human beings who are excited to listen to what you have to share. PCI will also help collect and assemble the stories into the Poet Memories book that we can share with all alumni. Please note, we have only shared your contact information with PCI in conjunction with this project. We have NOT sold your contact information, or otherwise used it for outside marketing purposes.
Do I Have to Buy Something?
No. This project is being done at NO COST for Whittier College alumni. The project is completely funded by the alumni who choose to purchase the Poet Memories book that will be produced at the end of the project. Various book packages will be offered. PCI will also offer you the option to purchase other Whittier branded merchandise such as a travel bag, sweatshirt, and t-shirt. You are welcome to purchase these items, but you are not required to do so to participate in the project or order the Poet Memories book. Again, we’d never be able to embark on a project like this without the support of our amazing alumni and the partnership with PCI. We sincerely thank every person that participates and chooses to purchase the book.
What’s Next?
Soon you will be receiving email and postcard communications from the PCI team with instructions on how to participate. We’d like to invite you to share one of your stories with us and take part in this first of its kind project to honor the experiences and voices of our alumni. The PCI team will collect stories until December 2020. After that, they will enter a post-production phase editing the data. We hope to have the book distributed in late summer 2021.
We look forward to hearing from each and every one of you regarding your memories of “the school we love so dearly!”
What to Look For
Below is an example of a postcard you will receive in the mail. This is an official postcard from the TTAA, distributed by our partner PCI. Once you receive the postcard, please follow the instructions to update your information and set up an interview time to share your Poet Memories.
Below is an example of an email you will receive in your inbox. Once you receive the email, please follow the instructions to update your information and set up an interview time to share your Poet Memories. If you do not receive it, please take this opportunity to call PCI at 1.800.982.1590 and update your contact information so we can stay connected.
Contact Information
If you have any other questions regarding the project, please reach out to PCI customer service desk at 1.800.982.1590 or the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@whittier.edu.
