Volunteer Profile: Tricia Sipowicz '85

Tricia Sipowicz ’85 recalls her origins as an Alumni Association volunteer: “I wanted to give back time, if not money, that I had been given from Pomona.” Over the years she has volunteered in many different roles—admissions volunteer, regional community committee member and chair, caller for the Alumni Fund, and most recently, the regional coordinator for the Alumni Board.

Sipowicz, who one could easily describe as “a volunteer junkie,” devotes her time to family, local schools and church groups. For almost two decades, Sipowicz has remained a loyal volunteer for Pomona, even though the College is now the only non-local organization of the many groups benefiting from her time. She notes that her family has been very supportive of her engagement in the College. “I think my husband has attended every alumni event in Portland,” she claims. Her volunteer roles have given her family the chance to become more familiar with fellow alumni and friends, and even her mother claims that she has never met one of Sipowicz’s Pomona friends she didn’t like.

Sipowicz has planned events for local alumni, and in her new role as regional coordinator, she will be helping other volunteers across the country to make sure their regions are running well. “I’m hoping to see the communities across the nation get excited about planning their alumni events. We’ve had such wonderful turnouts for ours” says Sipowicz.

Asked how she keeps going, she says, “I continue to volunteer because I meet such incredible fellow Sagehens right in my backyard. Plus, I get the added bonus of spending quality time with the speakers who come to town for alumni events.” With other activities stretching her thin though, Sipowicz is currently recruiting a new chair and volunteers for the planning committee. She hopes for some new alumni to bring their ideas and enthusiasm to the community. If you are interested in volunteering or even just attending events, contact the Alumni Office at (909) 621-8110.