It’s not only time for the birds to migrate, but it’s also time for Iowa State alumni’s children to begin migrating to ISU.

On Friday, Nov. 7, registration for participants in the ISU Legacy Migration program will begin at 9 a.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

Since 1989, Legacy Migration has been an on-going project coordinated by the ISU Alumni Association and the Office of Enrollment Services.

“This project was created to begin the recruitment of alumni’s children from the time of birth,” said Debra Sanborn, program coordinator of Enrollment Services.

Upon receiving a birth announcement from an alumni, the coordinators immediately send out a baby book entitled, “My Friends Call Me Cy,” Sanborn said.

At age five, the child receives a Cyclone bank with a letter for their parents explaining the importance of saving up a college fund for their child.

A Cyclone watch is then sent to the child at age 10.

“By age 15 the alumni’s child has begun to get information on Iowa State and is invited to the legacy migration events,” Sanborn said.

The students begin by registering on Friday morning. At that time, students are given the chance to register for a class in their college of interest.

“We have professors from every college that give a special class created for kids in that young age group,” Sanborn said.

After tracking the alumni’s children from birth, a personalized letter from ISU President Martin Jischke is sent to the young students during their junior year in high school.

This letter is a reminder to the alumni’s children to keep Iowa State in mind when choosing a university.

About 50 ISU students will help to organize the Legacy Migration events this year, Sanborn said.

Some of these events include pictures taken with ISU mascot, Cy, and tours of the campus, residence halls and greek system.

College preparation presentations will be made, and there will also be a luncheon at the recreation center during the weekend.

Melissa Haines, an Iowa high school student who plans to graduate this spring, attended the Legacy Migration program last fall.

“Ever since I went up there [ISU campus] I’ve like it a lot,” Haines said. “I’ve heard a lot about ISU through my mom, dad and sister.”

Haines said she plans on attending ISU next fall and plans to major in elementary education.

Sanborn said figures prove that the Legacy Migration program has been successful.

She said 60 percent of the students that attended the Legacy Migration weekend in 1992 enrolled at ISU in the fall semester of 1996.

“It’s a really fun weekend that gets potential, future students thinking about ISU,” Sanborn said.