CHoose901 Alumni Sends Off the Class of 2026
A Night to Celebrate the Class of 2026
Backpacks. Mattress toppers. Earphones. Shower caddies. Notebooks. An iPad or two. On a summer evening at the Choose901 Alumni Takeoff, every gift told the same story: a community making sure its alumni don't head into their next chapter empty-handed.
The Takeoff is Choose901 Alumni's annual send-off for graduates heading to college, trade school, or the workforce. It's part networking event, part resource fair, part going-away party, built to connect alumni with each other and with community partners before they scatter across the country.
Gifts, Guests, and Good Food
This year, 60+ alumni came out to a room full of the Four Way, a Memphis soul food restaurant- one of the city's oldest and most beloved. It's been a fixture in the Soulsville neighborhood for decades and carries real history and hometown pride, a perfect choice for the food at a Choose901 event.
Every gift on those tables came from a Give901 donor. Ahead of the event, donors shopped an Amazon wishlist built around what alumni actually needed next: dorm essentials for those headed to campus, tools and gear for those starting apprenticeships or trade programs.
Choose901 Alumni Coordinator Nashayla Yancey says that distinction matters.
"We are investing in our alumni while supporting them as they head into their next journey," Yancey said. "It's really beneficial for our alumni to know that they have support while they're away, and that they have the entire Memphis community rooting for them."
Parents showed up too, many of them meeting the partners and mentors who'd be part of their student's support system going forward.
Connecting Alumni to Community
A Community Connection Hour gave alumni a chance to meet local partners who can support them in the months ahead, including Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group, RISE Memphis, Collective Blueprint, Amigo Community Center, Memphis Office of Youth Services, A Step Ahead Foundation, Bridgepoint Housing, and CodeCrew.
The night's centerpiece was a panel of alumni at every stage: some currently in college, some recent grads, some already in the workforce. They talked candidly about what to expect, what surprised them, and how the Choose901 Alumni program shaped their path.
The room was filled with love, support, great food, and meaningful connections before our students head off to college. Our panelists shared valuable and honest wisdom about what to expect, and one message really stood out: “When Choose901 or the Alumni Team reaches out, respond.” One panelist shared that answering those messages he’s received literally helped catapult their career.
Support Alumni Monthly
Every gift given during this event started with a Give901 donor saying yes. Monthly giving is how we keep saying yes, not just for one night, but for alumni all year long as they navigate what comes next.
