ALUMNI IN FOCUS
Volunteering Keeps
Becica ’69 Feeling Young
When he decided to downsize his home, the opportunity to be close to Lafayette was one of the reasons that John Becica ’69 moved to Easton from his hometown of Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.
The mechanical engineering graduate admits that staying involved wasn’t always a major priority. He got interested in volunteering after his freshman roommate, Tom Neats ’69, approached him about chaperoning high school students for a bus trip on Junior
Visiting Day.
“I got hooked,” Becica says.
“I enjoyed doing that so much I
began volunteering every other year.
I think it’s just the fun of showing
these young people this gorgeous campus and what it has to offer that kept me interested.”
As Becica became reacquainted
with Lafayette, his involvement increased: He became an alumni admissions representative, took over organizing the Junior Visiting Day trip, and was one of the initial executive committee members who restarted
the North Jersey Alumni Chapter.
His service has earned him several honors, including the Outstanding Chapters Support Award, Chapter Support Person of the Year, and William E. Greenip Jr. ’44 Award.
Despite moving, Becica remains an executive committee member of the
North Jersey Alumni Chapter, maintaining its web page and attending some events. And, of course, he participates in the Lehigh Valley Alumni Chapter.
“When you get involved in work like this, you meet a heck of a lot of nice people you never knew before and you have a common interest,” he says.
“You see that going back to the reunions and to Volunteer Day each year.
You’re meeting a whole bunch of people of different age groups and making friends who are young and still have the college mindset. I always say ‘It’s better to have friends who are younger than older because it keeps you young.’”
Those interested in volunteering with admissions as an alumni admissions representative, through Junior Visiting Day or in another capacity, should
contact Anne Marie Ferriere at (610) 330-5079.
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