Laurence Seigler ’59

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Laurence “Larry” Seigler serves the university in many ways and his efforts add to the quality of the UCLA experience for students, alumni, faculty and staff. Those involved on campus often differentiate between the work of the Alumni Association and the UCLA Foundation by describing the role of the Association as “friend raising” and that of the Foundation as “fund raising.” Seigler has been a strong contributor in both of these spheres.

A trustee of the UCLA Foundation and longtime member of The Chancellor’s Associates, Seigler served as the highly effective chair in the formation of the West Los Angeles Volunteer Committee of the Associates. His energy, personal effort and commitment produced a thriving volunteer group and substantial gifts for the university during his tenure. Under his leadership, the West Los Angeles Volunteer Committee exceeded its ambitious fundraising goal by nearly 30% and gained more than 25 new members.

Seigler has served as chair of the Alumni Association Student Relations Committee and as member of the Bruin Woods Gift Committee, the Parents Fund Steering Committee and the Student Awareness Committee. He is a member of Royce 270 and Bruin Hoopsters. He is also an active member of Friends of English, Bruin Athletic Club and the UCLA Athletic Department Hall of Fame Committee.

While on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, Seigler developed the New Student Welcome Calling Program, a volunteer effort that organizes alumni to call each incoming freshman and transfer student during the summer before he or she arrives on campus. Seigler’s volunteer team of more than 125 alumni has been contacting every reachable new student since the program’s inception in 1993. Alumni, staff, parents and faculty have personally welcomed approximately 16,000 new freshman and transfer students, including thousands of moms and dads.

Seigler did not simply conceive of a program and step back; he stepped forward and put hundreds of hours into the program. Parents and students have remarked about the wonderful experience of receiving such a personal welcome. Callers have affirmed their own involvement with the University and experienced a renewed pride from talking with bright young scholars whose enthusiasm about UCLA is remarkable. There is no finer example of service to the university.