function validateForm () {
	//check First Name field is filled in
	if (document.alumniUpdate.firstName.value=="") {
		alert("Please enter your First Name");
		document.alumniUpdate.firstName.focus();
		return false;
	}
	
	//check Last Name field is filled in
	if (document.alumniUpdate.lastName.value=="") {
		alert("Please enter your Last Name");
		document.alumniUpdate.lastName.focus();
		return false;
	}
	
	//check Graduation Year field is filled in
	if (document.alumniUpdate.yearGraduated.value=="") {
		alert("Please enter your Graduation Year");
		document.alumniUpdate.yearGraduated.focus();
		return false;
	}
	
	if(isNaN(document.alumniUpdate.yearGraduated.value) == true){
		alert("Please enter a valid Graduation Year")
		document.alumniUpdate.yearGraduated.focus()
		return false
	} 
	
	substremail = document.alumniUpdate.personalEmail.value.split("@")
	if (substremail.length > 1)
	{
    	index = substremail[1].indexOf(".")
    	if (index == -1)
    	{
			alert("Please enter a valid email address");
    		document.alumniUpdate.personalEmail.focus()
    		return false
    	}
   		else
    	{
      		return true
  		}
  	}
	else
	{
		alert("Please enter a valid email address");
    	document.alumniUpdate.personalEmail.focus()
    	return false
	}

	//if all fields are filled in will return values
	return true;
	
}