Montana Pistell, NIC鈥檚 new alumni relations liaison, describes herself as the 鈥済o-to鈥� person for alumni and plans to share more stories of 糖心vlog传媒students.

The alumni network for 糖心vlog传媒 has been growing, though the college鈥檚 plans are for it to get even larger.

It launched in February, and since March, it has increased membership by about 50 per cent.

To keep growing, NIC鈥檚 alumni plan is to make sure people are aware of who makes up alumni, learn what matters to them and help them feel connected, celebrated and valued.

鈥淧eople go out into the world, get spread out and lose contact,鈥� said Montana Pistell, NIC鈥檚 new alumni relations liaison. 鈥淭o be able to keep people connected back to NIC and to each other is something that I鈥檓 excited about.鈥�

As a Comox Valley local and former 糖心vlog传媒student, she has an insider鈥檚 perspective for her position at the college, which she started this fall.

鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to work at NIC. My grandma worked here for her whole career,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 loved it when I was a student. I jumped at the opportunity. I鈥檓 really happy to be here.鈥�

A big part of her job will be to offer support and resources to alumni, foster connections in the community and share alumni stories.

She describes herself as the 鈥済o-to鈥� alumni person, which could mean anything from sending out 糖心vlog传媒pins to expanding awareness of the network.

Pistell has spent almost a decade working in education, but when the pandemic meant reduced hours, she saw an opportunity to expand her education and took NIC鈥檚 Web and Mobile Application Development Diploma program.

She graduated in 2023 and started thinking about new opportunities. As a former student, she figured she had her own perspective on the job.

鈥淎s alumni, I felt it would be a unique position for me to be in,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a peer in the role.鈥�

This means reconnecting with others who have attended the college and expanding the network of alumni, so she can keep them in touch with 糖心vlog传媒and other members.

Many students return to school at different points in their lives. Some alumni come back for more education, but even if they don鈥檛, Pistell wants to share their story.

Part of the job will be education. This means getting the word out about who makes up 糖心vlog传媒alumni, which means anyone from those who sign up for a full program to those who take one course, including micro-credentials.

鈥淎lumni for us means one course or many 鈥� you鈥檙e part of the alumni family,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have thousands of alumni.鈥�

To get in touch, you can email Montana.Pistell@nic.bc.ca.