For Pitt Business Class of 2026 graduates, August does not mean back to school. The end of summer means the beginning of the career they always dreamed of and a life in a new city. That’s why the Pitt Business Alumni Relations Team hosts “Welcome to Our City” events every August, with a goal to have alumni currently living in popular cities come together to welcome new graduates.
The 2026 events were held in New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These locations are among the most popular postgraduate locations for our graduates.
Sydney Sparks (BSBA ’25) attended the NYC event in 2025 to begin building a network in one of the most populated cities in the country. “This event allowed me to feel connected to Pitt even while being miles away from Pittsburgh,” she says. “The transition from being a student to working full-time isn’t an easy one, and after about a month in my new role, I was still adjusting. It was comforting to find a sense of familiarity through being surrounded by people who shared that same connection to Pitt—a place that has always felt like a second home.”
Matt Restrepo (BSBA ’21) loves being a connector. “It’s great to make the newbies feel welcomed,” he says. “I’m just trying to be a friendly face in a big city.”
Both believe networking is crucial to finding a home in a new place, in the office and on the city streets. Sparks says, “Networking is key, and for recent and young alumni, this is an amazing opportunity to connect with other professionals with whom you already share a common bond.”
Both recommend attending an alumni event in your area to both reinvigorate nostalgia and meet new Pitt people. Where are we headed this year? Find an event near you and register today.