Standing in the middle of Turlington Plaza, an intimidated freshman, surrounded by quick-footed upperclassmen, held out her campus map in search for her next class. When Century Tower chimed at noon, 15 members of the University of Florida Student Alumni Association ran excitedly toward Shayla Ellis exclaiming she had won a new Fossil watch -- all because she wore her SAA shirt on a special "T-Shirt Day." "I thought that SAA just told its members to wear their shirts so they could advertise the club," Ellis said. "But now, I'm a believer." This biweekly event, where two Fossil watches are given to random students wearing SAA shirts, is one of the many publicity tools that garnered another national title for the University of Florida, said Laura Lentz, the assistant director for membership and marketing at the UF Alumni Association. The university now has the largest Student Alumni Association in the entire nation, capping at approximately 6,200 members, passing Michigan State University and Colorado University in total members, she said. SAA has grown more than 846 percent in two years, she said. Lentz said the most effective approach for increasing membership was targeting first-year students at Preview, UF's two-day summer orientation, and through the First-Year Florida classes. Membership increased by 1,000 students during the Preview sessions alone, she said. "Freshmen are so excited to get involved in the university, and this organization puts them in the right direction," said Lauren O'Hara, a fourth-year education major and the current SAA vice president. She said her next goal is for UF to have the biggest and best Student Alumni Association in the nation. Activities, such as networking with alumni, fun socials, having leadership opportunities, becoming a Tradition Keeper and receiving a variety of free giveaways, are the main reasons why membership has increased significantly, she said. Lentz said every new member received "The Box," which includes a water bottle, an SAA T-shirt, pompoms and money-saving coupons from local businesses. Also, every incoming freshman received an F Book, a scrapbook of UF traditions, from SAA with hopes each student will become a Tradition Keeper before graduation, she said. The F Book also obtained a national honor this past year by being awarded the silver medal from the University and College Designers Association, Lentz said. While the F Book and SAA membership have become increasingly popular on campus, other organizations, such as student government, are beginning to encourage their own members to apply for SAA memberships and become Tradition Keepers. E.J. Walicki, UF student body treasurer, said he has constantly persuaded members of student government to purchase an F Book and apply for the Student Alumni Association. "SAA is such an important organization to this school," he said. "Everyone should take advantage of the different programs and utilize the many resources it has to offer students." After becoming an SAA member in fall of his senior year, Walicki said his biggest regret was not joining earlier. Likewise, Bryant Seamon, the current SAA publicity chair and a second-year applied physiology and kinesiology major, said he was skeptical of joining the first semester, but later joined after realizing the variety of networking opportunities that came with membership. "SAA is more like an opportunities organization," he said. "You don't have to do anything to be a member, but you have so much to gain by attending the many programs." Students are beginning to recognize the benefits of joining SAA, and new memberships have been increasing each week, O'Hara said. "There is no way to lose by joining," she said. "We are constantly getting better and stronger in our programs." Lentz said her biggest goal is to have every SAA member apply for membership in the UF Alumni Association once they have graduated. Students can register for membership at Emerson Alumni Hall or at the Alumni Association Web site, http://www.ufalumni.ufl.edu. Annual memberships are $20 a person, and lifetime memberships are $70 a person. | 
