Once an owl, always an owl

When Christian Fulghum (’77) stepped into the role of Director of Alumni Engagement and took over the office of Alumni Relations, he only planned to stay for a year. He hoped to make some small tweaks to the department and then move on. But nine years later, he’s still here.  

“What’s kept me here is that so much of the Overlake that I believe in is still here.”  

Prior to this role, Fulghum attended Overlake from 1975-77 where his graduating class had only 34 students. Since his return to Overlake, he has been growing the Department of Alumni Relations to where it is now.  

While his work includes running the alumni board, hosting reunions for different groups of classes, and alumni gatherings in different cities across the country, it also includes programs that serve Overlake’s ‘future alums.’ Fulghum has created what he calls ‘The Virtuous Circle.’ When Seniors are preparing to leave Overlake, he tells them, “’you are about to be done with high school, but you are an owl forever.’ My hope is that they understand the value of that.” He goes on to remind them that they are going out into the world, and they will have the opportunity to turn around and give back to the owls who are still here and that their peers or even the younger students could be their coworkers or business contacts one day. 

One of the first opportunities to give back is the Grads Return program. This is a chance for recently graduated owls to come back and share their college experiences with Upper School students. Talking with current college students gives the best picture of what life after Overlake might look like in the near future.  

Making a Life Day is Overlake’s reimagined career day. Post college owls get to come back and talk about what they are doing with their lives. The event emphasizes the wide variety of things alums are doing that fire up their particular passions and create a full life.  

One unique and enjoyable event is the Distinguished Alumni Award assembly. This is the only time a selected alum gets to speak to the entire Overlake community and share what they’re pursuing. Students expressed a desire to hear from alums who are right in the midst of their career rather than someone who is further along, as they felt it was more relatable.  

All of these events feed the alumni department’s goal of serving all our owls, past, present, and future. “There’s a long tradition of owls coming back and giving back by sharing what they know. It is part of the virtuous circle,” Fulghum says. He also loves connecting with students one on one. He has found alums to come speak to clubs and classes, connected students to potential internship opportunities, and connected alums to each other through regional gatherings.  

Fulghum has decided that come June of 2025 he will be at the end of his time in this role. But he doesn’t plan to leave the school anytime soon. He plans to immediately join the alumni board and continue to help the school grow. He has big hopes for the school. “A thing I intend to do in my lifetime is to raise 100 million dollars for this place in a transformative endowment.” Fulghum hopes the school continues to bolster its financial aid program which allowed him to attend Overlake in the 1970’s.  

With approximately 3,500 current alumni, Overlake is a wealth of connections and community. If you can imagine it, there is an owl willing to share their story. So, reach out to the alumni office and see how they can best serve you or learn more about their work in building connections at their website here.