Volunteer

Meet Frank Landaverde (EE ’93), a dedicated alumnus who generously volunteers his time and expertise to support Illinois Tech. Landaverde is involved in the Alumni Association in various capacities including serving as a member of the Board of Directors, chair of the Career and Professional Development Committee, and member of the Admissions Committee. He especially cherishes his experiences volunteering with the Office of Undergraduate Admission, where he participates in college fairs and visits high schools to encourage prospective students to attend Illinois Tech. Below, Landaverde tells us about his experience as an admissions volunteer at these events:

How do you stay connected to Illinois Tech as an alumnus?

"I'm on the Admissions Committee and we attend a lot of the high school and college fair visits, which I think are fantastic. My favorite thing to do as a volunteer is going to see these young kids' diverse faces and telling them that there really is this opportunity to have a successful career in STEM.

Why do you believe in the importance of volunteering with admissions?

“I think what happens when these students are walking to our table, and it says Illinois Tech, they have some knowledge that they want to explore something in STEM, although they're not sure what field yet. Seeing someone Latino that looks them, that successfully navigated through Illinois Tech’s tough STEM curriculum gives these students a lot of hope that it is possible to get through college and get it done.”  

What do you enjoy most about connecting with future Illinois Tech students as an admissions volunteer at college fairs?

"Speaking to the kids that are interested in technology but have no idea about what to do or what it's all about—that's probably my favorite thing. My second favorite thing is talking to the parents. It is a real eye opener because they can be so intimidated by the whole concept of college and their kids are usually the first generation to pursue higher education. So, I think with me also being a first-generation college graduate in my family, it also gives the people that I'm talking to a lot of hope. If I could do it, then other people can as well, right? I like being that ray of light that can say, ‘Yes, it is possible. If he can do it, so can we.” And I say, ‘Yes, let's go do it.’"

What has been your favorite alumni-to-prospective-student interaction at a college fair?

“There was this Latina student, she was maybe a junior in high school—young yet very inquisitive. Then, I met her parents who did not speak a word of English. They asked me so many different questions in Spanish: 'What is college like?', 'What is life like in college?', 'If you commute, what is that going to be like?’, and ‘What if you don't commute?'. This interaction stood out, because they told me, 'Our daughter is so intelligent. So intelligent that it forces us to have to go and attend these events because we want her to have something better than what we have.’ So that experience that I had with them sums everything up right there.” 

What would you say to fellow alumni that are considering becoming an alumni volunteer?

"Passion is contagious. If you have a passion for a particular topic, and you go and talk to these prospective students, your passion will come through and they will grab onto it. As an alumnus, that passion can really help another human being."

Landaverde’s dedication is proof that alumni engagement can make a meaningful difference for both prospective students and the future of Illinois Tech!

Are you interested in serving as an admissions volunteer at college fairs and high school visits? Fill out the alumni engagement opportunities form or email Associate Director of Constituent Engagement Anna Gerlach at agerlach@iit.edu to learn more.