What a weekend! The New England Gator Club® had an incredible experience at the Alumni Volunteer Leadership Conference (AVLC), where four of our board members—Tyrel, Tyler, Sarah, and Maria—represented our club in Gainesville. We attended insightful sessions, connected with fellow Gators from across the country, and even walked away with two Clubbie Awards!

Left to Right: Tyler Lewis, Tyrel Clayton, and Sarah Sawyer with our Outstanding Club and Engagement Clubbie Awards

This recognition is a testament to all the hard work we've put in over the past two years, from expanding our events beyond football watch parties to strengthening our board, boosting our social media presence, and launching new initiatives like our scholarship program. And while we're thrilled about these wins, we're even more excited about what’s next!

Key Takeaways & What’s Next

Leadership, Culture, and the Bigger Picture

We had the privilege of hearing from Jeremy Foley, UF’s legendary former Athletics Director, who spoke about the power of leading with integrity, kindness, and gentleness. He emphasized that integrity isn’t just about making the right decisions—it’s about building a strong, lasting culture where people feel valued and inspired. His leadership philosophy resonated deeply with us as we continue to build a club that fosters a sense of belonging and purpose.

Meanwhile, Savannah Bailey shared insights into her work leading GatorMade, a life-changing program within UF Athletics. While it started with football, it's growing to encompass all student-athletes, ensuring they’re not just prepared for the game, but for life. From financial literacy education to elevator pitch training, GatorMade helps athletes build the skills they need to thrive, no matter where life takes them.

Savannah spoke about UF’s classic ad, the one that goes "Go Gators. Go start a Fortune 500 company. Go write the great American novel. Go cure cancer. Go to Mars. Go Gators."

Her mission is to make sure that when these young athletes hear “Go Gators,” they know it means all of that—not just football. It’s about making sure they feel valued as people, not just as athletes.

This conversation left us inspired to continue shaping a club culture that uplifts and empowers our members, ensuring that when we say Go Gators, it carries that same depth of meaning.

Unlocking LinkedIn’s Potential

We’ve been unsure how to best use LinkedIn for our club, but Shane C. Van Deree’s session on alumni engagement strategies gave us the clarity we needed. We now have a plan to amplify our presence on the platform—not just to promote our own club, but to elevate other Gator Clubs and UF as a whole. Expect to see a lot more content from us soon—so if you haven’t already, go follow us on LinkedIn!

Our Club in the Spotlight

A personal highlight of the conference was our very own Tyrel Clayton leading a session on using your website to support the Gator Club® mission. He spoke about everything from why Gator Clubs® need a website, to the nuts and bolts of creating a website and putting content on it.

We also had the chance to connect with other alumni groups, including the Gotham Gators, UF Association of LGBTQ+ Alumni, and UF Association of Hispanic Alumni. These conversations sparked some exciting collaboration ideas—so expect to see joint events in the near future!

Fun Moments & Behind-the-Scenes Adventures

Beyond the conference sessions, we took time to experience UF in ways few get to.

Century Tower Tour – We climbed all those stairs (so many stairs!) and learned about the carillon program. We even got to play the carillon! Sadly, not the one in the tower itself, but a digital version in the studio.

Heavener Training Complex – While some of us were climbing towers, others toured the new athletic facility, checking out the practice field, locker room, and UF’s impressive trophy collection.

A Performance from the Sedoctaves – At the welcome reception with Albert and Alberta, we were treated to a live performance from UF’s all-female a cappella group. A fantastic bonus to an already great event!

Sneaker Ball 2.0 – This year’s Clubbie Awards gala at The Gator Room was an absolute blast. The venue was perfect, the energy was high, and yes—my bedazzled sneakers fit right in.

What’s Next for the New England Gator Club®?

Coming out of AVLC, we’re more energized than ever. We’ve got big plans, new strategies, and a renewed commitment to building on our successes. Winning Outstanding Gator Club® of the Year is a huge honor—but we’re not stopping here. We’re just getting started.

If you’re as excited about our future as we are, we’d love for you to get involved! Whether that means joining our board, attending events, or just engaging with us online, there’s never been a better time to be part of the New England Gator Club®.

Go Gators!
Tyrel Clayton
President, New England Gator Club®

New England Gator Club® Shines at the Alumni Volunteer Leadership Conference