American Corner (AC), Universitas Gadjah Mada Library, received a visit made by Charles B. Kellet, Program Officer, and Cultural Affairs Bureau, Washington, DC. Charles B. Kellet purposedly held a meeting with American alumni in Yogyakarta. The event went on lively because it was attended by the alumni of International Voluntary Visitor Program (IVLP), Cultural Exchange Program, Fulbright Fellow, AFS-YES, Youth Leadership Program, and Teacher Training of Trainer. They were from different professions, ranging from students, professors, teachers, to the workers of art. The alumni had visited the United States previously for study purposes and other programs. In that meeting, Kellet had interaction and shared ideas and experiences with the alumni. From that meeting, Kellet hoped to capture and recognize the development of recent issues that become the concern of the alumni. "I believe this is important in order to be the points of consideration for the U.S. Department of State to create or evaluate the exchange program in the future," he said, Thursday (8/4).
Seen attending the event, Prof. Dr. dr. Soenarto Sastrowijoto, Sp.THT (K) from the Faculty of Medicine UGM who joined the Fulbright Fellow in 2000, Nur Cahyati Wahyuni from UGM Library who joined the IVLP Program year 2008, Theodorus Christanto (Teater Garasi), Dyna Herlina (YLIP 2007 – Rumah Sinema), Baskara T. Wardaya (Sanata Dharma), and Arifah Rahmawati from PKSP UGM. They looked excited when sharing experiences during their U.S visit. Dudi Irawan Sukendar as the Alumni Coordinator of United States Embassy in Jakarta explained the significance of the alumni community. He hoped that the alumni remained in contact with fellow alumni in Yogyakarta and other parts of the world.
The easiest way, according to Dudi, is to become a member of the American alumni community, because by joining the community, they will get much specific information, also through the website. "The hope is that information such as on scholarships, grants, and academic articles can be circulated back to the people of their community. In addition, by becoming members of the community it is possible to create community programs in collaboration with the alumni or the United States Embassy," he explained.