From Past to Present: Celebrating Connections at the 2024 Holiday Alumni Mixer
Beneath the glow of the Irvine night sky, Andrei’s Restaurant transformed into a Winter Wonderland as Westcliff alumni gathered in style for the 2024 Alumni Holiday Mixer, hosted by the University’s Alumni Affairs & Career Services department. The venue, adorned with enchanting décor, set the stage for an evening filled with connection, celebration, and plenty of holiday cheer. Former students and their guests mingled with one another as they reminisced about their academic journeys at Westcliff and shared stories of their professional experiences since graduation. From start to finish, Westcliff’s esteemed alumni enjoyed a dazzling evening filled with much excitement to help kick off the holiday season.
Reflecting on the success of the evening, Mariah Barabe, alumni affairs coordinator at Westcliff stated, “This year’s alumni holiday mixer was a resounding success, standing out as an intimate gathering that brought familiar faces from throughout the year back together to celebrate the holiday season.”
Dinner is Served
The event’s itinerary was packed with exhilaration kicking off with a delicious dinner that featured an array of flavorful dishes. Guests were treated to a spread straight out of a Hallmark holiday movie including mouthwatering pastas, savory salads, and an assortment of decadent cheeses that no elegant event is complete without.
Once the tables were cleared — and after an obligatory round of seconds — guests eagerly moved from table to table, reconnecting with former colleagues and forging new connections, almost as if they were playing a lively game of musical chairs.
“It’s always fun to meet wonderful people and learn about their achievements in their industries after graduation,” said Sonal Mandhyan, Master of Business Administration graduate. “I love returning to my roots at Westcliff and reconnecting with familiar faces.”
Let the Games Begin
The event wasn’t just about networking, though. True to the Westcliff Way, fun and a bit of friendly competition took center stage! Guests dove into a lively bingo game, earning extra raffle tickets with every connection made, while the raffle giveaway kept the holiday spirit buzzing with enthusiasm.
“My favorite moment was the networking bingo activity, where the alumni were tasked with completing their bingo cards for extra raffle cards,” said Barabe. “They were given prompts like ‘someone with a master’s degree’ and ‘someone who is an only child.’ Seeing everyone’s excited faces as they connected with one another made the event worthwhile.”
The raffle giveaway wrapped up the night with everyone on the edge of their seats. Lucky attendees walked away with incredible prizes, including a NutriBullet, essential pots and pans, a JBL speaker, and, of course, a Westcliff swag bag. These prizes were the perfect way to capture the season’s festive spirit and added an extra touch of adrenaline to an already unforgettable evening.
Of course, the true stars of the evening were undoubtedly our alumni, who lit up the event with their presence and holiday spirit. But let’s not forget the dedicated Westcliff staff who brought this magical night to life. From the alumni affairs team who hosted the event, to marketing and other departments for their hard work behind the scenes that captured the best moments of the event.
“This event was a lot of fun and very beautiful with delicious food and fun raffles,” expressed Javier Ruiz, Master of Science in Computer Science graduate. “Mariah does such an incredible job and I appreciate her putting these events on for us.”
An Open Invitation
Events like the alumni holiday mixer offer Westcliff’s alumni a chance to reconnect with former classmates and share inspiring stories of their professional journeys, These gatherings aren’t just about reminiscing — they’re also fantastic opportunities to network, forge meaningful connections with fellow WU alumni they may not have crossed paths with before, and discover potential collaborations that could shape the future.
If you’re an alumnus, we warmly invite you to join us at future events. We promise you’ll leave with something valuable.
“The relationships we’ve built this past year in the alumni association will continue to grow in the new year, and I look forward to all the possibilities of how we can keep connecting,” said Barabe.
