Bentley is much more than a school to alumni. It is a living, breathing community with heart and purpose, pride and ambition, personality and big dreams. Every day, in their workplaces, homes and communities, alumni demonstrate what it means to hold a Bentley degree … and why that is a powerful asset in today’s world.

When the Alumni Association was founded in 1955, most Falcons lived and worked locally or regionally. Alumni activity was centered in the Boston area and, to a much lesser degree, in New York City. Today, our community of graduates includes more than 65,000 men and women around the world.

What stands out about Bentley alumni is their strong desire to connect — to hear about each other and share in one another’s accomplishments.

The new reality of the Bentley experience has inspired the association to break ground in engaging alumni not just in our backyard, but across the nation, and increasingly, across the globe. Last year alone, Alumni Association chapters, in partnership with the Center for Alumni, Parents and Friends, hosted more than 2,850 alumni and guests at 93 events in 39 cities and three countries.

There is renewed commitment to provide alumni with a lifelong connection to their alma mater and a seat at the table for shared ownership of its future. Alumni now participate in everything from admissions activities, to offering jobs and internships for students at career fairs, to sharing their professional expertise as mentors and guest lecturers in Bentley courses. In these ways and more, alumni are powerful partners in students’ education and invested in their continued success as future alumni.

What stands out about Bentley alumni is their strong desire to connect — to hear about each other and share in one another’s accomplishments. Networking comes naturally, and alumni often look to each other when they need to find an intern, new hire, mentor or business partner. Not surprisingly, events for alumni go far beyond socializing at a happy hour. They want to learn something, extend their business ties and call on each other as trusted advisers.

Pride is the emotion that dominates interactions between alumni and students. Our own proudest moments are in seeing alumni recognize themselves in today’s students. Despite the differences and decades of living that might exist between them, they are all Falcons. And that counts for a lot.

Leigh Gaspar is executive director of advancement relations at the Center for Alumni, Parents and Friends.