Seniors in ‘giving spirit’
| 07 May 2003
The Class of 2003 is on a mission: to break the record for the largest gift ever given by a senior class, set last year by the Class of 2002. And with more than $47,088 in the kitty to date, they are on their way to catching their predecessors, who had raised $47,223 by commencement.
The gift will fund one of three campus needs: renovating the fountain Kroeber Hall fountain (a 1964 gift from the Class of 1914), endowing a scholarship, or sponsoring student work through the Undergraduate Research Appren-tice Program. Each student who donates has a chance to vote; the winning project will be an-nounced at the Commencement Convocation on May 15.
Some 1,500 seniors have donated so far — nearly 350 more than last year — responding to a campaign launched by a class committee that worked hard to build awareness of their goal.
“Our communications have been more intense than in past years,” said chair Allison Gontang. The seniors developed a brochure, sent e-mails, and hosted an event on Sproul Plaza in March to highlight the campaign.
Samia Y. Husain, a member of the gift committee, says she is involved because making a gift is “probably one of the most important ways students can leave their mark on Cal.” She says students today have a stronger feeling of class unity than earlier classes she has seen.
“People are in the spirit of giving,” says Gontang. “They’re really gung-ho about this. Making a gift to Cal is a nice unifying thing to do before we graduate.”
For details on the campaign or senior activities, visit seniors.berkeley.edu.