The Student Alumni Association is starting a new program that will give students and alumni the chance to get together and interact with one another.

The program, titled “Alum Buds,” originated from an idea in last fall’s events and relations committee election.

“The idea was generated in a campaign, and our committee has worked on making it a reality,” said Stephanie Connor, chairwoman of the association’s events and relations committee.

Connor, sophomore in metallurgical engineering, said the program is designed to let students interact with alumni.

Meggan McIravey, member of the events and alumni relations committee, said alumni can help students who have anxiety about graduating and going into the real world.

Students interested in participating in Alum Buds must fill out an information sheet in the Student Alumni Association office. The sheet asks for the students’ interests and career aspirations.

“The student will be paired up with an alumni with similar interests and career,” Connor said. “The alumni are an important resource, both in the business world and as a mentor.”

McIravey, sophomore in chemical engineering, said she thinks the program will be as enjoyable for alumni as it is beneficial to students.

“It gives the alumni a chance to relive their days at Iowa State and keep up to date on what is going on here as well,” she said.

The program will be contacting alumni within a 40-mile radius of Ames, so a close friendship can be fostered.

“We are starting with alumni working in the close proximity of Ames, but we would like to keep expanding and eventually have alumni involved all across the nation,” Connor said.

Alum Buds will not get into full swing until the fall, McIravey said, but it will begin pairing students with alumni this spring.

“Our committee is working on setting up a couple of social events during Veishea that will allow students to meet their alum bud,” Connor said. “Hopefully, next semester we will have dinner exchanges and sporting events.”