Young Friends of Tufts Advancement (YFTA) is a Shared Interest Group of the Tufts University Alumni Association. This group comprises volunteers who graduated in the last fifteen years (2007-2021) and are committed to connecting Tufts young alumni to the University through engagement and philanthropy.
Learn more about our current Illumination campaign for Financial Aid and how you can get involved!
What does YFTA do?
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Spring Illumination Campaign
The Spring Illumination Campaign aims to connect our young alumni back to the Hill through nostalgia from the senior candle lighting ceremony. Our YFTA members host events in cities across the country to toast to Tufts, light a candle, and harken back to days on the Hill. Young alumni are encouraged to give to Financial Aid in honor of the graduating class during and after these events, which are matched by challenge funds by other members of the Tufts community in the month leading up to the annual Illumination ceremony at Tufts.
April 2022 Young Alumni Illumination Socials
April 5 | 6:00 PM ET | Castle Island Brewing, Boston, MA
April 6 | 7 PM ET | Pretty Ricky's, New York, NY
April 7 | 6:30 PM ET | Dacha Beer Garden (Shaw), Washington, DC
April 13 | 6:30 PM PT | Harper & Rye, San Francisco, CA
April 14 | 7 PM PT | Arts District Brewing, Los Angeles, CAUnable to attend any of our events, but want to get involved with Illumination? Make your gift to the Illumination Fund for Financial Aid to support future Jumbos!
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Regional Events
YFTA members serve as boots-on-the-ground planners in major cities across the country. They assist Tufts University Advancement in choosing venues and experiences that cater to our young alumni. From happy hours at breweries to comedy shows to service days and more, our YFTA members help plan 2-3 events per year that provide opportunities for our young alumni to connect off of the Hill.
Past Events
Legoland - Boston, MA
ImprovAsylum - New York, NY
Nationals Stadium Tour - Washington, DC
The Exploratorium - San Francisco, CA
The Groundlings - Los Angeles, CA -
#TuftsGivingTuesday
Launched in 2012, #GivingTuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (US), is a global day dedicated to giving back. Each year, Tufts has gotten more involved—last year over $4.27 million was fundraised for Tufts through 9,347 donations.
#TuftsGivingTuesday is an important Tufts tradition for students, alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff to support what matters most to them—and to you —at Tufts.
On #TuftsGivingTuesday, YFTA members encourage their peers and classmates to contribute to Tufts and make an impact through the dozens of challenges focused on financial aid, student life, athletics, the unexpected hardship fund, DEIJ initiatives, first-generation student support, and much more.
Our Co-Chairs

Meagan Edmonds, A14
"I volunteer with YFTA to connect with other Jumbos and collectively give back to the university so we can support future generations of Jumbos."

Hans Tercek, E18
"I volunteer with YFTA to build community among fellow young alumni and assist current students with their transitions into the workforce."
YFTA Members
BOSTON
Moises Cohen, A11
Rob Gallagher, E08
Amanda Garces, A11
Michael Lambert, E13
Michaela Morris, A19
Max Schmulewitz, A18
Siobhan Shamlian, A20
LOS ANGELES
Abdiel Garcia, A14
Lizz Grainger A13
NEW YORK CITY
Matt Carlin, A18
Dana Cheriff Comenitz, A12
Mauri Honickman, A16
Suze Kaufman, A17
Harry Kong, A20
Jubril Lawal, A14
Stephanie LoGiudice, A18
Martha Meguerian, A15
Sophia Michelen, A09
Lilly Paro, A20
Duncan Pickard, A10
Hans Tercek, E18
PHILADELPHIA
Tammara Gary, A16
SAN DIEGO
Ryan Rosen, A17
SAN FRANCISCO
Jack Eidson, A15
Maggie Kullman, A12
Ben Sack, A17
SEATTLE
Olivia Japlon, A13
WASHINGTON, DC
Perry Choren, A08
Meagan Edmonds, A14
Matt Harrigan, A09
Maureen Kalimba Isimbi, E20
Mackenzie Loy, A13
Becca Leviss, A19
Lesley Wellener, A15
- Assistant Director, Young Alumni Giving
- lindsay.ragazzini@tufts.edu
- 617-627-2653
