My AMIGOS Network
As an AMIGOS alum, we know you care deeply about supporting your local and global community. AMIGOS Alumni Connect, our alumni program, provides ways for you to build your social, professional, and civic networks. Learn more about opportunities and be sure to engage with this page check out the event and activity calendar for more information.
Where Are They Now? Digital Yearbook
AMIGOS alumni go on to do some incredible things. Our annual Where Are They Now? Digital Yearbook allows alumni to share updates about their life and achievements.
You can check out the 2023 Where Are They Now? Digital Yearbook here.
Check out the 2022 Where Are They Now? Digital Yearbook. Each fall, we will welcome new submissions. We are excited to share your stories!
Power the Alumni Network
Local Service Days
Join in local service day or social events in your area. See the above calendar for more information. If you are interested in organizing a service or social activity in your area, please contact [email protected] and we will be happy to support you!
Share Job Opportunities
Share open job or volunteer opportunities at your company or organization with the network. These opportunities can be shared directly on the AMIGOS LinkedIn Group or by emailing [email protected].
Virtual Alumni Mixers
Join virtual alumni mixers and “lunch and learns” to meet other alumni working in your field or profession. See the above calendar for more information.
Support Fundraising Events
AMIGOS relies on the support of our dedicated donor community to make our programs possible for more youth across the Americas. Help the next generation of alumni join AMIGOS, by supporting fundraising benefits.
Go Deeper with AMIGOS
Serve on a Chapter Board
Since 1965, chapter board members have given their time and passion to ensure that students across the United States can participate in these life-changing programs. As an alumn, you can give back to the organization and future volunteers as a volunteer chapter board member. Stay connected to today’s youth and build your own community.
AMIGOS chapters provide mentorship, build community, and empower students to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Fundraising support, financial assistance, and a robust training program are just some examples of the year-round support that our chapters provide. When a student joins the chapter as a volunteer, they connect with a strong and vibrant local community of alumni, families of alumni, professionals, and many others who are committed to youth leadership and service.
As an alumn, you can give back to the organization and future volunteers as a volunteer chapter board member. Stay connected to today’s youth and build your own community.
Chapter boards typically look to enroll new members over the summer before the next recruitment cycle kicks off in September. Find out if there is a chapter near you.
Check out the Calendar of Events and Activities!
Connect
Alumni Achievements
Appreciating and honoring the best of AMIGOS alumni! We are proud of 30,000 alumni who have joined AMIGOS over the past five decades. Each year, we will recognize alumni for your exceptional contributions to our communities, for your professional accomplishments, and for the impact you continue to have on AMIGOS.
Rising Social Entrepreneur Award
This award recognizes an alum under 40 who is a pioneer in addressing social issues facing our global community.
Meet the 2023 Rising Social Entrepreneur Award winner, Julia Cedarholm (’11, ’12, ’13, ’14)
Julia was nominated by several of her fellow alumni and won the 2023 award for the work she’s done in the financial sector since her AMIGOS experiences. Julie shares, “My AMIGOS experiences were very different in different ways. Some were more challenging than others, but every single one was incredibly enriching and rewarding.” Read Julia’s full interview here.
Lifetime Leader Award
This award recognizes an alum whose lifelong contributions to their community embody the AMIGOS vision of a world where all people are lifelong leaders sharing responsibility for our global community.
Meet the 2023 Lifetime Leader Award recipient, Tomás Magaña, MD, MA (’80, ’88)
Tomás Magaña, MD, MA Dr. Magaña is a leading expert in the design and implementation of health workforce pipeline programs for youth and young adults. He is a board-certified pediatrician with expertise in the care of vulnerable children and adolescents, including those impacted by the juvenile justice and foster care systems, immigration, and community violence.
He co-founded the FACES for the Future Program in 2000 to improve health outcomes for at-risk adolescents, respond to imperatives for building a diverse and culturally responsive health care workforce, and address workforce shortages in healthcare professions. Dr. Magaña also serves as Director of the UCSF Latinx Center of Excellence’s Aspiring Physicians Program at San Francisco State University. As a first-generation college student, he worked hard during his formative years and understood the importance of advocating for youth leadership as an intervention to create a better community.
Tomás’ journey with AMIGOS began in 1980 when he volunteered in Honduras which was then followed by serving on the Project Staff Team in Paraguay in 1988. Over the decades, he has worn many hats in AMIGOS as a chapter leader, national board member, and parent himself. He has always lifted up our mission and purpose with his calls for action on creating greater accessibility to our programs.
Philip C. Johnson Alumni Service Award
This award recognizes an alum who has shown exceptional leadership and service to the AMIGOS organization throughout their lifetime.
1991 – Giana Suarez Ward
1992 – David Gullickson
1993 – Barry Zeluff
1994 – Mariann Marshall
1995 – Emily Untermeyer
1996 – William (Bill) Arnold
1997 – Catherine (Cathy) Arnold
1998 – George Thompson Jr.
1999 – Deanne (Dee) Redwine
2000 – Dana Martin
2001 – Katherine (Katie) Stokes
2002 – Peter Bornstein
2003 – Alumni Leading AMIGOS Chapters
2004 – Vickie Loemker
2005 – Andrew Springer
2006 – Pamela Abernethy
Steve Cook
2007 – Diane Lorence
2008 – Edward (Ed) Cazier III
2009 – Peter Benziger
2010 – Mary Stelletello
2011 – null
2012 – Bart Putterman
2013 – Katherine Lorenz
2014 – Andrew Howick
2015 – Doug Alexander
2016 – Elizabeth Blowers-Nyman
2017 – David Baron
2018 – Dorn Wenninger
2019 – Mike Kercheval
2020 – null
2021 – Joe Crownover
Bill Arnold Leadership Award
This award recognizes an AMIGOS volunteer or project staff member who demonstrates exceptional leadership, consistent with the selfless example set by Bill Arnold and others throughout the long and continuing history of AMIGOS. The award will provide a stipend for the recipient to pursue an educational or civic engagement opportunity.
2021 – Angely Francisco
Meet Angely and learn about her year as the 2022 Bill Arnold Fellow.
2022 – Dalia Hernandez
Meet Dalia and learn about her year as the 2022 Bill Arnold Fellow.
2023 – Wesley Nesbitt
Meet Wesley and learn his aspirations as the 2023 Bill Arnold Fellow.
Nominate an outstanding alum:
Help us recognize the best of the best by nominating an AMIGOS alum for either the Rising Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award or Lifetime Leader Award. You can nominate yourself or someone else. These awards will be given out each fall.
<a href=”https://amigosdelasamericas.formstack.com/forms/nominate_an_outstanding_alum” title=”Online Form”>Online Form – Nominate an Outstanding Alum</a>
Recent Alumni
My AMIGOS Pride
You love AMIGOS and the impact it had on your life. Show your pride and spread the word! Make an impact for future volunteers by supporting AMIGOS and purchasing gear or fundraising today.
AMIGOS Gear
Check out the new alumni section of the AMIGOS store. Find apparel, drinkware, everyday accessories, and more. A portion of your purchase supports our programs and students. Check out the store today!
Raise Funds for AMIGOS
Support future young leaders by fundraising for AMIGOS!
Whether you are fundraising in honor of a special milestone, your birthday, or just because you want to give back to AMIGOS, we appreciate your efforts!
Option 1: Create your personal fundraising page on AMIGOS Peer to Peer Fundraising Platform. Simply create a profile and you can start fundraising.
Option 2: Utilize Facebook’s fundraising feature and select “Amigos de las Americas” as your nonprofit beneficiary.