It may sound counterintuitive to teach incoming students what it means to be alumni before they've even set foot in a classroom. But as advancement professionals seek new ways to build passionate alumni bases prepared to devote time and financial resources to their alma maters after graduation, many alumni offices and associations are finding that the earlier the seed of awareness is planted, the stronger the tree of engagement grows. Early alumni-student interactions can help alleviate students' nervousness about what awaits them on campus and beyond. Showcasing the strength of an institution's alumni body also can support strategic initiatives. Advancement leaders go about fostering early student-alumni engagement in different ways, but each method shares an underlying premise. As early as possible, show prospective and incoming students that they're part of a long, important legacy that has helped make their educational experience, and that of future generations, possible.