Natasha Olejar ’14

The first time Natasha Olejar ’14 visited Syracuse University, she fell in love with it despite the torrential downpour on her campus tour. She was accepted to the Whitman School of Management and knew it was the perfect place to pursue her retail management studies.

While she has many fond memories as a student, joining the Syracuse University Marching Band was one best decisions Olejar made.

“Every game day the band performs a show in front of Hendricks Chapel, and that was always my favorite part—seeing everyone walking around the Quad in orange, cheering on the band—you could feel the Orange pride and spirit!” she says. “If SU won, people rushed down to Varsity Pizza where the band played some more, and we’d all dance around having the time of our lives. Varsity had a flag on the wall for each team we’d play in a season, and band members would flip the flag upside down whenever we won. After my very last football game as a marching band member, my best friend and I flipped the flag at Varsity, cheering along with all the fans crammed in there!”

Today Olejar works for The TJX Companies, Inc (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods), as a planning analyst in TJ Maxx’s handbags and luggage departments. The New Jersey native moved to Boston a year ago, hardly knowing anyone, and she looked to the SU Alumni Club of Boston to make connections.

“I was so excited to get involved that I emailed the club about a week after I graduated,” Olejar says. “I attended a meeting, and a board spot opened up shortly after, so I took on the role of community service chair.”

In July, Olejar took on a bigger leadership role within the club—agreeing to serve as co-president with Samantha Lordi ’07. Together, the pair is focused on continuing to host a variety of great events, but to get more creative and reach a broader audience.

“Our events are all successful, but there are always ways to improve and draw even more alumni to participate,” Olejar says. “I’m most excited to grow this club—Boston has the second largest alumni population, and I’d love to get as many involved as possible. It’s always great to connect with new people, and most of us love any excuse to talk about ’Cuse!”