On 18 January 2019 Aurora hosted its first ever multi-national event – The 2019 New Year Drinks! As many alumni will know this annual traditional party has been held in Riva, Amsterdam almost as long as the drinks have been running. Excitingly however, as the board has become increasingly international (members now include Dutch, German and British nationalities!) the event expanded to be offered in De Hems, London on the same day, same time as one multi-city party! Around 140 alumni partied well into the night and made moments that matter with their old school buddies on opposite sides of the Channel.
Between August 30 to September 1 2019 Aurora co-hosted with UCR its biggest event to date – UCR’s Lustrum III! Celebrating fifteen years of UCR success, Aurora organised a festive weekend of events in Middelburg including a wild Homecoming Party in Elliott – UCR’s student common-house, the Lustrum Gala and after party in Schuttershof, and a Hangover Brunch in the beautiful Kloveniersdoelen. Over 400 alumni and current students attended the Gala where the new Chair of Aurora, Nick Rogers, gave an inaugural speech saying goodbye to the outgoing Chair and Vice-Chair, Sytze van Odijk and Dyon Matulessy, and set out the upcoming agenda for Aurora’s future events and programs. It was a nostalgic but wickedly fun experience shared by all who traveled back to their alma mater!
On the topic of new programs, throughout 2020 Aurora has worked in the background to add a new dimension to the alumni community, the City Representatives (CRs)! CRs are individual motivated alumni who have agreed to to give up some of their time to become the face of their local UCR graduate community and prepare regional, smaller gatherings in additional to the more major Aurora organised events. By the end of 2019, four CRs will have been announced in London, Belgium, New York, and Sydney.
Looking forwards, Aurora is looking forward to the second edition of the London-Amsterdam New Year Drinks which will take place on 17 January 2020. Tickets will be going on sale shortly, including free tickets for our benefactors. Benefactors are members of UCR’s alumni community kindly who give up 25 Euros a year to support the activities that Aurora provides.
Aurora is always looking to expand and would love to hear should you wish to become a benefactor, CR, or maybe even join the Aurora Board itself. To ensure you are always in the loop make sure to like our Facebook page . If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing hello@aurorafoundation.nl.