Student Alumni Ambassadors

UMW’s Mock Interview Competition Helps Students Build Career-Ready Skills

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University of Mary Washington sophomore Maggie Alt’s strong response to a question about her greatest weakness impressed judges during last month’s Mock Interview Competition.

“I told them I need time and a few conversations with people before I can fully open up and make connections with them,” said Maggie, a historic preservation major, who added that UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassador (SAA) program has helped her acclimate to others more quickly.

Three smiling students in professional dress.
From left: Mock Interview Competition finalists Elaina Dongieux ’27, Maggie Alt ’28, and Zoë Mueller ’26. Maggie won the competition, held every other year for UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassadors to help them hone career-launching strategies and techniques. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

The confidence-boosting moment – the judges applauded her thoughtfulness – helped Maggie clinch the competition, held every other year to equip SAAs with career-launching strategies and techniques. Organized by UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, it’s one of numerous initiatives that help connect students with alumni whose advice and expertise can prepare them for Life After Mary Washington.

Maggie was one of 20 students who vied for a fictional position planning programming for Mary Washington graduates. Yet, she received a real reward – an overnight stay at a regional alumni event and a recommendation from Katie Turcotte, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement and executive director of the UMW Foundation.

“I was thrilled, knowing I went up against such strong competition,” said Maggie, who hopes to work in urban planning and geographic information systems (GIS). “I now know the mindset I need to bring to an interview and how to prepare for success.”

The made-up job was updated to tie into competitors’ experiences as SAAs and to teach them about philanthropy, said Assistant Director of Annual Giving Cadi Treviño Pinto ’22, who was a competition finalist during her senior year at Mary Washington.

Now the SAA staff advisor, she oversees students who support alumni and donor events, along with planning résumé writing workshops, networking mocktail mixers, and dinners to teach professional etiquette.

These events, along with Network MaryWash – a platform designed to connect students with UMW’s vast network of alumni in various fields – build upon resources offered by the Center for Career and Professional Development to help students strengthen their career-readiness skills.

A panel of judges including (from left) Fredericksburg Regional Alliance President Curry Roberts, Tara Corrigall ’82, and Vice President for Student Affairs Mike Walsh interview Elaina Dongieux ’27, a business administration and political science major. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
“After going through a challenging round, being able to practice questions that not only relate to your skills and experience, but ones that are more personal, make you feel like a more well-rounded interviewee,” said Elaina Dongieux ’27, seen here with Tara Corrigall ’82, a financial services director, and Curry Roberts, president of the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
2025 Mock Interview Competition winner Maggie Alt ’28, a historic preservation major, shakes the hand of Tara Corrigall ’82, who previously was a member of UMW’s Board of Visitors, the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees, and Alumni Association Board of Directors. A director at a financial services firm, she served as one of the judges in 2025’s Mock Interview Competition. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Members of UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassadors watched the finalists participate in the second round of interviews from the Hurley Convergence Center’s Digital Auditorium. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
From left: Vice President for Student Affairs Mike Walsh, Elaina Dongieux ’27, Tara Corrigall ’82, Maggie Alt ’28, Fredericksburg Regional Alliance President Curry Roberts, and Zoë Mueller ’26. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

The competition begins with an initial round of questions from judges, who score applicants on their answers, wardrobe, eye contact and body language, communication techniques, and other factors. The top three advance to the final round, while others watch and discuss the interviews during a viewing party in the Hurley Convergence Center’s Digital Auditorium.

“We were impressed to see these students rise to the stressful challenge of interviewing with highly experienced professionals in front of their peers,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Mike Walsh. Serving as a judge with Tara Corrigall ’82, a director at a financial services firm, and Curry Roberts, president of the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, he said all three finalists excelled, but Maggie’s personal anecdotes set her apart. “She displayed overall confidence, illustrated her answers with real-life examples, and asked great questions.”

Elaina Dongieux ’27, a business administration and political science major, gained confidence about interviewing for internships and jobs, and delivered a strong answer about personal skills she’d like to develop. “I’d love to learn multiple languages,” said Elaina, who plans to pursue a career in government or corporate law. “It would help me build communication skills while making my workplace a more welcoming environment.”

Zoë Mueller ’26, an international affairs major, relied on her previous experience interviewing for her current internship with the Institute for the Study of War, a public policy research nonprofit in Washington, D.C. She felt prepared for some questions but also knew how to think on her feet.

“Being in SAA has absolutely helped with my interviewing skills,” said Zoë, who plans to apply for graduate programs focusing on the Middle East and international affairs. “This competition gave me much more confidence in myself as a candidate.”

Learn more about the Student Alumni Ambassador program at the University of Mary Washington by contacting Assistant Director of Annual Giving Cadi Treviño Pinto ’22 at ctrevino@umw.edu or 540-654-1153.

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04 

Scholarships, Sense of Community Add Up for UMW Math and Stats Major

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The distance between the University of Mary Washington and the small town in Uganda where Aloysious Kabonge grew up is over 7,000 miles.

A student in a dimly lit room, dressed in a suit, standing at a podium and speaking into a microphone.
Aloysious Kabonge, who hails from Uganda, received the UMW Alumni and Friends Scholarship and several other awards to attend Mary Washington, where he’s become an integral member of the campus community. K Pearlman Photography.

Adjusting to life as an international student that far away in a new country had its challenges, the UMW senior said. “But I’ve formed strong bonds and built a supportive community that has truly made Mary Washington feel like home.”

Aloysious shared those sentiments and other highlights of his journey from Africa to America at UMW’s Celebration of Giving in November 2024. There, he expressed gratitude toward the donors who established the scholarships that have shaped his college experience and given him the chance to give back to the campus community.

“Your kindness, generosity, and support have changed my life profoundly,” said Aloysious, the recipient of the Mary Ann Dorsey, Thomas Howard and Elizabeth Merchent Tardy, and UMW Alumni and Friends scholarships.

During his remarks, Aloysious offered up a morsel of his life back in Kiwatule, outside Uganda’s capital of Kampala. “One of my favorite memories from home is sitting with elders in a circle, sharing stories in Luganda – our local language – and eating Luwombo, a dish of meat or vegetables [steamed inside banana leaves], along with juicy mangoes, fresh roasted corn, and tea with local spices.”

Aloysious attended seminary school as a young teen but decided on a different path due to his country’s human rights struggles. He applied to numerous schools abroad through Education USA and picked Mary Washington because of the private scholarships he was offered and the support he received from UMW’s Center for International Education, which helped him navigate moving overseas.

Aloysious poses for a photo with his parents at the airport before coming to the United States to attend Mary Washington. Photo courtesy of Aloysious Kabonge.
A photo of Aloysious (front row, far right) and his fellow Student Alumni Ambassadors at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center. K Pearlman Photography.
Aloysious (third from right), a member of UMW’s African Student Union, participates in the ‘Colors of Africa’ event put on by the James Farmer Multicultural Center at Mary Washington each spring. Photo courtesy of Aloysious Kabonge.
Aloysious (third from right) poses for a photo with his Department of Mathematics faculty mentors, Professors Melody Denhere and Leo Lee, and classmates after the Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute Symposium in July 2024. Photo courtesy of Aloysious Kabonge.

At UMW, he’s majoring in applied mathematics and statistics and minoring in data science. He collaborated with Professor of Mathematics Melody Denhere for a comparative study exploring ethnic and racial demographic trends over the last few decades, which he presented at the Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute.

“It was an invaluable experience that sharpened my skills in data collection, analysis, and visualization,” said Aloysious, who aspires to work in the technology, finance, or healthcare industries or pursue a graduate degree in data science or computational statistics.

In April, he shared his work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Richmond, presented a group study titled “Artificial Intelligence for Emergency Alerting Systems and Reliability” at UMW’s 20th annual Research and Creativity Day,  and won second place – and $2,000 – in the College of Business’s Eagle Egg Pitch Competition. The judges praised his entrepreneurial idea for Proof Mode, a time-stamped PDF system meant to assure professors that assignments were completed without AI assistance.

He also appreciates the liberal arts and sciences education he’s found at Mary Washington. Higher education is more specialized in Uganda, he said, “but at UMW, I’ve been able to explore courses outside my major, such as post-colonial literature, which has broadened my perspective.”

Outside the classroom, Aloysious has thrown himself into campus life, serving as a Student Alumni Ambassador (SAA), connecting with students and alumni alike at Homecoming, Reunion Weekend, and presidential events.  He’s also been an orientation leader, resident assistant, and front desk associate and built homes for unhoused citizens as part of alternative service break trips through UMW’s Center for Community Engagement.

His commitment to the UMW community earned him the Alex Naden Award at UMW’s 2026 Eagle Awards for exuding the exceptional character, spirit, and personality of the award’s late namesake, a former UMW student who passed away in 2003.

Aloysious regaled the audience with stories about the cultural differences and social norms he has observed between his homeland of Uganda and the United States. K Pearlman Photography.
Aloysious, who received the Thomas Howard and Elizabeth Merchent Tardy Scholarship, among others, chats with his donor, Al Merchent, during a Scholarship Luncheon. K Pearlman Photography.
Aloysious received the Alex Naden Award at the 2026 Eagle Awards, earning an ovation from Dean of Students Melissa Jones and his fellow students. K Perlman Photography.
Aloysious and a classmate celebrate a decade of UMW’s Colors of Africa event, hosted by the James Farmer Multicultural Center. Photo courtesy of Aloysious Kabonge.

Speaking of home, he’s gotten a taste of it through participating in the James Farmer Multicultural Center’s Colors of Africa and African Student Union. “I’ve cooked and shared meals with friends from Nigeria, Mali, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan,” he said. “We often listen to music and play games together from our home countries.”

Assistant Director of Annual Giving Cadiann Treviño Pinto ’22, who oversees both the SAA program and the Eagle Engagement Center, has worked with Kabonge since he was a first-year student.

“Aloysious has always been a warm presence to be around,” she said. “At every event or activity, he radiates so much joy and excitement that you can’t help but smile when you talk to him.”

He feels the same when interacting with the alumni and friends who continue to support Mary Washington and its students.

“I’m here today, pursuing my dreams, because of you,” Aloysious told his donors at the Celebration of Giving. “You have given me opportunities that I could have only imagined, and for that, I’m deeply grateful.”

Learn more about establishing scholarships and how private support makes a difference in the lives of UMW students who receive scholarships, research fellowships, and internship grants.

This article was written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04.

Mock Interview Competition Preps UMW Students to Land the Job

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Senior Aniya Stewart ’24 sharpened her skills before taking part in the Mock Interview Competition at the University of Mary Washington last month. She researched how to answer the toughest questions and reflected on her past performances when applying for jobs.

Still, she was surprised when she was declared the winner. “My shock wore off when the judges explained their reasoning and gave feedback,” said Aniya, a mathematics major at Mary Washington. “I was elated after that and called my mom to share the good news.”

Aniya, who is already looking for her first post-college position, said she feels more prepared than ever after participating twice in the competition, held every other year for UMW Student Alumni Ambassadors, or SAAs. The event equips students with strategies and techniques to nail any interview – and hopefully, the job.

Along with Network Mary Wash, it’s one of many initiatives organized by the Office of University Advancement and Alumni Engagement to introduce UMW students to the vast network of graduates whose guidance can help them launch their careers and lives after college. A recent Mary Talk held on Nov. 15 featured Associate Provost for Career and Workforce Kimberly Young discussing the key competencies the University has adopted to prepare students for Life After Mary Washington.

Aniya Stewart ’24, winner of the 2023 Mock Interview Competition. Aniya is a mathematics major and a member of the Student Alumni Ambassadors, who participate in the biennial competition. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Shadwick Yoder ’25, an SAA and a finalist in the 2023 Mock Interview Competition. Shadwick is a political science major and an environmental sustainability minor. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Natalie Baca ’24, an SAA and a finalist in the 2023 Mock Interview Competition. Natalie is a biomedical sciences major and neuroscience minor. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

This year’s interview competition saw 16 participants vie for a job as a program assistant in UMW’s Office of Student Activities and Engagement. While the position was fictional, Aniya will get a real recommendation from Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte and an overnight stay at a regional alumni event.

A finalist during her senior year, Assistant Director of Annual Giving Cadiann Treviño Pinto ’22 serves as staff advisor of the SAA program, which fosters relationships between alumni and students. “I provide pointers like ‘dress to impress, come early, and look for verbal and nonverbal cues,’” she said, but ultimately, the students are responsible for matching their qualifications to the job description.

“This is an essential experiential learning opportunity for UMW students, preparing them to succeed in the real world,” said College of Business Dean Filiz Tabak, who served on a panel of alumni, faculty, and staff judges who evaluated the participants over two rounds. While all the students were “well-prepared, personable, and professional,” Dean Tabak said, Aniya’s confidence, authenticity, and comfort with taking risks helped her stand out among her peers.

Michael Gilchrist ’20, who also served as a judge, said that being a former finalist in the competition helped him distinguish a good interview from a great one. His own mock interviews as a SAA helped him secure his current position as a global client and project manager at D.C.-based ROI Training. “Even to this day, I use the feedback I received to better position myself among other applicants.”

Junior Shadwick Yoder ’25 may have fielded a few curveball questions, but he said that making it to the final round gave him the confidence he needs to pursue his future career.

“Being an SAA has given me many firsts in the realm of professional development,” said Shadwick, a political science major and environmental sustainability minor, who applied to the program during his first semester at Mary Washington. “All of the skills I’ve gained are extremely valuable, no matter what field I enter.”

Learn more about the Student Alumni Ambassador program at the University of Mary Washington by contacting Assistant Director of Annual Giving Cadiann Treviño Pinto ’22 at ctrevino@umw.edu or 540-654-1153.

Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04