When Eleanor Schoenbrun BF ’25 joined Yale Alumni Fund Student Ambassadors (YAFSA) as a first-year student, she saw it as a chance to connect with Yale alumni and help her classmates better understand the role they would one day play as alumni themselves.

“I saw the opportunity to connect with Yalies across time,” she says. “I thought I could help bridge that gap from campus to our life beyond Yale.”

Four years later, as co-chair of Senior Roll Call, Schoenbrun is working to ensure that her classmates graduate with a clear understanding of what it means to be involved alumni. 

Senior Roll Call, an engagement campaign for graduating students, invites members of the senior class to “raise their hand” to get involved by attending events or making a gift to the Yale Alumni Fund. 

From trivia nights and tie-dye events to a Farewell Bash at the Yale Farm, SRC activities offer both fun and purpose—sparking pride and promoting participation in Yale’s alumni community.

“At every event, we remind students that we’ll be alumni a lot longer than we’ll be students,” Schoenbrun says. “It’s about starting the tradition of giving back.”

Supporting What Matters Most

Schoenbrun says the events help her classmates see how their gifts can make a real difference in areas they care about most. Since gifts can be designated to support specific purposes, students are empowered to give in ways that reflect their values.

“As someone who benefits from financial aid, I know how important it is to make Yale accessible,” she says. “People really like to hear that they can direct their giving to support that, or to areas like mental health, the arts, sciences, athletics, or even the New Haven community.”

Through conversations with fellow students, she’s found that when people understand how their gifts are used, they’re much more excited to participate.

“One of the best parts of these conversations is when someone says, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize all the things the Alumni Fund supports,’” she says. “Yale is so many things to so many people. It’s exciting when students realize they can choose how they want their contributions to make a difference.”

Beyond the Gift

Senior Roll Call also is an opportunity to expand the definition of alumni support. She wants her classmates to graduate knowing that giving back can mean offering time, guidance, and connection—not just gifts. 

“There are so many ways to stay involved that don’t have to be financial,” she says. “Engagement, mentorship, volunteering—those are all meaningful ways to give back.”

Schoenbrun’s own Yale journey was transformed by Nancy Stratford ’77, a mentor she met through STAY (Students and Alumni of Yale). Conversations with Stratford, a past chair of the Yale Alumni Fund and the Yale Alumni Association Board of Governors, not only shaped Schoenbrun’s academic direction—ultimately leading her to pursue a master’s in public policy at Georgetown—but also reminded her of the powerful ripple effects of alumni support.

“Just one conversation with Nancy changed everything,” she says. “That’s the butterfly effect—you never know the impact you’ll have on someone.”

A Class United

As commencement approaches, Schoenbrun finds herself reflecting not only on her own growth, but on the collective journey of the Class of 2025—a group that weathered uncertainty, embraced opportunity, and emerged more connected than ever.

“We’re a resilient group,” she says. “Coming out of the pandemic into this new chapter, we’ve supported each other through everything—shows, presentations, personal milestones. It’s been so fulfilling to grow alongside people who truly care.”

For Schoenbrun, the chance to strengthen ties between students and alumni has been a fitting capstone to a transformative college experience.

“Yale has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” she says. “Helping others see how they can give back—whether it’s time, mentorship, or a small gift—has been one of the most meaningful parts of my four years.”

Looking ahead, she’s excited by the idea of staying connected to the Yale community, no matter where life leads next.