One small act, one lasting impact

Over the years, you’ve probably seen Ohio University flag, yard sign, bumper sticker or license plate that instantly signaled “There’s a Bobcat here.”

Maybe you smiled, waved or even shouted “OU, Oh Yeah!”

A few years ago, one of those green and white signs inspired alumna Lisa (Linard) Lam to make an important connection.

On a summer day in 2022, Lam was running errands in suburban Boston when she spotted an OHIO flag in someone’s yard. Assuming it belonged to an admitted student, the 1994 Scripps College of Communication graduate decided to send a welcome note along with a few OHIO stickers she’d received from the Ohio University Alumni Association.

Living far from Athens and Ohio, she centered the note on “How much I loved OU, how they should say yes to everything, eat at the Burrito Buggy, etc.,” she said. “I giddily dropped it in the mail.”

Fast forward to spring 2026, and a card from fellow Bobcat Devin Norris, complete with sticker, arrived in Lam’s mailbox.

“I’m writing to tell you that I just graduated from the happiest place on earth. Our Ohio University,” the 2026 Scripps College graduate wrote. “I have to tell you that when I got your card four years ago it did a lot to calm my nerves about going so far away from home. You were my first introduction to what kind of people I was in store to meet becoming a Bobcat. … I’m so happy to join you in the alumni family.”

Lam shared, “it brought happy tears to my eyes!” The two have since connected on LinkedIn, gotten together for coffee, and plan to keep their Bobcat connection going in Massachusetts.

In case you’ve ever wondered whether it matters when you smile and wave, send a postcard to an admitted student or recent graduate, leave a windshield note, post to Facebook asking “who’s this” with a photo of a bumper sticker, or yell “Go Bobcats!” across an airport terminal—it does. The story of Lam and Norris is one of many Bobcat moments out there.

With nearly 300,000 alumni living around the world and more than 30,000 current students donning their green and white, you’re bound to run into one of them, too. You never know when a small wave, note, sticker or a small Bobcat gesture will make a lasting difference.

The Ohio University Alumni Association connects Bobcats to one another and their university, forever.

"If you need some OHIO stickers to share or a flag to fly, we hope you will contact us at alumni@ohio.edu," said Jenn Bowie, executive director of the Ohio University Alumni Association and associate vice president for alumni relations. 

OHIO alumni are also invited to watch for when current students put up their OHIO yard signs and graduation decorations, and to keep sharing support and encouragement throughout the OHIO community.

"Keep shouting 'OU, Oh yeah!'" Bowie said. "And remember to tag @ohioalumni on Facebook and Instagram, and send your photos and stories to alumni@ohio.edu. We can’t wait to hear from you!"