Ghost stories at the president’s house, $500 blazers and nonstop schmoozing add up to one thing: poise.
Pepperdine Ambassadors Council (PAC) members are getting a head start on life by learning networking and etiquette skills for the business world that many students won’t experience until post-Pepperdine. Already leaders in Seaver’s student organizations, PAC students hone their leadership and social skills, while giving back to Pepperdine and the Malibu community.
“We are more than just the kids who wear the blazers,” PAC junior Marissa Baly said. “We are active members of the Pepperdine Community who are proud to represent this University.”
The students network with elite professionals and develop skills toward their individual career paths, covering everything from which fork to use to how to send a professional email to how to talk to a stranger. Annual events include helping out with Founders Day, the president’s Christmas Party, the Pepperdine Associates Dinner, mixers with Crest associates, etiquette dinners, an alumni reception at Waves Weekend, the Malibu Pie Festival and the Veteran’s Day Ceremony, just to name a handful.
PAC prepares you to handle yourself in high-pressure situations. Senior Mallory Cummins, vice chairman of PAC and a second-year member, said she enjoys the behind-the-scene aspects PAC offers her and the simple every-day lessons that she has been able to apply to her daily routine.
“We have had speakers come in and teach us so many beneficial skills you don’t learn every day in college,” Cummins said. “Learning skills ranging from personal professional etiquette, personal presentation skills, professional emailing tips, proper phone etiquette to simple dinner etiquette and mannerisms.”
Members said they appreciate these helpful professional skills and continue to embrace teamwork and leadership workshops.
“I have learned basic people and communication skills,” senior Evan Dean said. “I now know how to initiate conversations with others and I am able to relate to new people that I meet.”
Senior Juliano Bonavia, news representative for PAC, remembered how nervous he was at the 2013 Associates Dinner and the pressures he felt representing Pepperdine last year as a junior member of PAC. Now he feels differently.
“You are kind of thrown into different situations and almost forced to speak with people of all different backgrounds whom you do not know,” Bonavia said. “I no longer get nervous; I am very comfortable in a variety of circumstances.”
Senior Tanner Heckle said PAC has prepared him for a successful life in the real world.
“PAC trains you to make unforgettable impressions with others as well as emphasizing the importance of writing thank you letters,” Heckle said.
Members said they now feel more comfortable in situations where students are not the majority. Through various events and workshops, senior Henry Hwang said he has learned the importance of responding promptly to emails and RSVPs as well as simple dining mannerisms.
“The etiquette dinner was a lot more than just knives and forks,” President Andrew K. Benton said. “The notion of etiquette and how we present ourselves in civil society is very important. The art and gift of making people feel comfortable is a nice thing these students can do for others.”
These students serve under Benton and represent Pepperdine at events on and off campus. They also have group bonding events, such as a slumber party at the president’s house.
“It was amazing just to talk to him and hear his stories,” PAC junior Trevor Alvord said. “I now see him as a real person rather than just “AKB” or “The President.”
PAC members cited the event as a favorite for the year.
“There were like 10 of us who stayed up until 3 o’clock in the morning just hanging out and telling ghost stories on the Benton’s couches,” PAC junior Jacqueline Cisneros said. “You could say we bonded.”
Benton said he admires the members of PAC. He believes that these students joined for the right reasons, to promote Pepperdine, and that it is not just about a line on a resume.
“Any opportunity to stand up, speak out and demonstrate confidence in civil society is a real advantage for any student,” Benton said. “When we are able to represent Pepperdine better, when we are more visible, we are able to offer more scholarships and PAC focuses on this outward perception.”
These members promote the university with confidence, and many said they are amazed by the people they meet.
“You go to these events and there are people outside of this Pepperdine bubble that really care about you and want to know about us,” Cisneros said.
PAC members also helped out with an event in Payson Library that honored the career of filmmaker and childhood actor Michael D. “Mickey” Moore. There they met famous stuntman Chuck Waters.
“Chuck worked on the movie ‘Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and he was ridiculously hilarious,” Alvord said. “He loved to talk about all of the stunts he’d done — and even mishaps during his stunts.”
PAC junior Maura Durkin agreed.
“Chuck was so passionate about life,” Durkin said. “He wanted to know about Pepperdine University, asking us about our studies and plans for the future.”
The networking possibilities that PAC entails is the main element that sets it apart from other leadership organizations on campus, multiple members said. PAC provides its members with mentors who have connections out in the real world. These mentors are there to help fix resumes, build professional networks and provide advice where needed.
“It is just really cool meeting all of these very successful people and going OK what steps did you take and how can I kind of take a similar path,” Cisneros said.
Bonavia said the council works closely with Crest, the university’s support group. Through Crest Bonavia developed relationship with Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Managing Director Barry Garapedian.
“He (Barry) is someone who I can say I look up to, and since we are both in finance he has had beneficial advice to give me and possibly help me in career opportunities for the future,” Bonavia said.
Senior Taylor Nam, secretary for PAC, said she will never forget when PAC members attended dinner with the Crest Board of Associates at Barry Garapedian’s house. Garapedian gathered the group into the family room and asked them all to answer one question: where do you want to be in three years both professionally and personally?
“It was inspiring and encouraging to hear from my fellow classmates,” Nam said. “I was intrigued by their passions, their plans, and their insights into the world that we are so close to entering.”
The Associates emphasized the importance of not losing oneself in a career and keeping one’s individuality. They then shared their passions and how they got to where they were in life.
“As I was sitting there, I could not help but be overwhelmed by the success story after success story that these people seemed to so perfectly embody,” Nam said.
PAC is trying to raise their profile with students.
“People don’t really know about PAC unless they know someone in PAC,” Cisneros said.
PAC 2013-2014 Advisor Nicole Miller shared the ideal candidate.
“The council wants well-rounded students who have a passion for serving the University and who can represent it well,” Miller said. “They have to do a lot of public speaking and meet a lot of people outside of the University so we want and need students who love Pepperdine and want to promote it to the outside community. We also want people who have a desire to be a leader.”
Sarah Grindle completed this story in Dr. Christina Littlefield’s fall 2014 Jour 241 class.
