While there are many ways to measure the success of a college institution, one surefire way is through the achievement of its alumni. At Ringling College of Art and Design, we certainly have a great deal to be proud of and one of the pinnacles of our triumph is our amazing graduates.

At Ringling College, we fully know and celebrate the fact our alumni are a very bright, shiny thread in the fabric of our institution. In recognition of this, we recently unveiled a brand new installation in our Keating Center called the Alumni Wall of Honor. Last Friday afternoon, an eclectic and lively group gathered to celebrate the ten chosen alums featured on the honor wall for this year—a collective ranging from the class of 1995-2014 who represent our diverse majors and who are out there changing the world doing some incredible and inspiring things in their respective fields. There is also an area dedicated to recognizing our Alumni Leaders—the many graduates who give back to the College either financially or through volunteer efforts. We are so very grateful for their steadfast support and dedication to their alma mater.

This wonderful tribute is especially meaningful to me as president because I am ever proud of who our students “grow up to be.” And this installation, designed by Jeff Bleitz, head of the Graphic Design Department, and facilitated by Susan Borozan, director of Alumni Relations, is a lasting testament to our mission of educating our students to be the creative leaders of tomorrow. This rings even more true with me as both the proud father and husband of two Ringling alums. (Please note: I am also the proud father of two New College graduates as well.)

To the point, the awards and accolades Ringling College students collect during their time on campus is always impressive. But wow, the things they do upon graduation are just as incredible, if not more so in some cases. As students, they win Student Academy Awards and Addy Awards, E3 Game Awards and Telly Awards; as alumni they win actual Oscars, Emmys, prestigious fellowships and innovation awards to name a few. The list goes on and on—and believe me, it is extraordinary. This is because our students and alums are just that: extraordinary. This is why our graduates get great jobs leading to great careers. After all, more than 100 recruiters from across the country come to our campus each year to seek and hire our soon-to-be-alumni.

At Ringling, we greatly pride ourselves on our rigorous curriculum and pedagogical approach to art and design, as well as our tremendous capacity and tenacity for preparing our students to attain the creative careers of their dreams. We owe this success primarily to our esteemed faculty who teach these students and the dedicated staff who help guide them through their academic journey. As a result, when they graduate, they are ready—ready to take on whatever comes their way with creative spirit and confidence.

On a local level, there is one issue that bothers me. Too few of our alumni remain in Sarasota. Too many of our graduates leave. Between 80 to 90 percent of our graduates depart for other areas in pursuit of jobs rather than staying near. Why? Because job opportunities in the disciplines we teach are too few in this region. The community and the College have been working with all the institutions of higher education in this area to establish greater options for all of our talented students. While we have grown and improved job prospects in recent years, I know there are opportunities for further potential at our fingertips.

Without a doubt, retaining and attracting a greater number of our inspiring alumni would benefit our region in tremendous ways, for it would take that bright, shiny thread that’s enriched our Ringling College community for four years and weave it deeper into the vibrant fabric of our greater Sarasota community for years to come. This would be a true measure of success and a win-win for all.