Case Study: 2025 Alpha Chi National Convention

Overview

The Alpha Chi National Convention stands as the organization’s hallmark annual event, bringing together high-achieving scholarship candidates from diverse academic disciplines.

With 225 participants, the convention fostered engagement, networking, and knowledge-sharing through a mix of formal sessions, interactive discussions, and competitive presentations.

Historically held in person, the event required a seamless and immersive experience for all attendees. To meet evolving needs, Alpha Chi partnered with Gatherly to create an interactive digital environment, ensuring accessibility and engagement beyond physical limitations.

Gatherly’s Digital Event Venues Gatherly provided a customized digital environment designed to complement the convention’s structure and objectives. Key features included:

• Welcome Lounge & Information Desk: A central hub where attendees access event details, navigate the platform, and receive real-time support.

• Presentation Halls: Spaces for pre-recorded student video presentations, research competitions, and live Q&A sessions, structured to encourage audience interaction.

• Networking Lounges: AI-powered matchmaking and region-specific breakout rooms to facilitate meaningful connections among scholars, alumni, and professionals.

• Graduate School Fair: Virtual booths offering information, downloadable resources, and direct engagement with representatives from various graduate programs.

• Development & Speaker Sessions: Interactive spaces designed for mentorship, skills development, and expert-led discussions.

• Games Lounge & Social Areas: Built-in engagement tools fostering informal interactions and networking beyond academic discussions.

• Green Room & Help Center: Dedicated technical support areas ensuring a seamless experience for presenters and attendees.

  
  

Impact

The integration of Gatherly transformed the Alpha Chi National Convention into a dynamic and inclusive event.

With a total duration of 9 hours and 30 minutes, the event saw 225 attendees participate, with an average attendee engagement time of 1 hour and 46 minutes.

The platform facilitated 261 conversations across 17 unique digital floors, fostering a vibrant community and ensuring active engagement throughout the day.

This approach has resulted in:

• Increased Accessibility: Attendees from various regions and institutions participated without geographical constraints.

• Enhanced Engagement: Interactive features encouraged active participation, networking, and collaboration.

• Streamlined Experience: Dedicated spaces for different activities ensured smooth event flow and an optimal attendee experience.

• Sustained Impact: Digital resources, recorded sessions, and ongoing engagement opportunities extended the convention’s value beyond the event itself.

  
  

Conclusion

The Alpha Chi National Convention exemplifies how technology enhances scholarly engagement and community building. By leveraging Gatherly’s immersive virtual environment, the convention maintained its prestige while evolving into a truly hybrid experience, ensuring every participant gained meaningful connections and valuable insights.