Senior class looks to give back

As GCSU’s senior class for 2010 begins to wrap up its final fall semester, something new is just beginning, a tradition that will continue with graduating classes to come. This tradition will be known as the Senior Class Giving Campaign.

The goal of the campaign is to teach seniors about philanthropy and to give back to the university they are graduating from.

Mandy Peacock along with Herby Agnew is heading up the project which they said they have thought about for a few years, and this year they finally got the push from Amy Amason to move forward.

“The idea is for seniors to give back to the university,” Peacock said, “because all the programs they put to use were able to happen due to the funding of those before them and we want for the seniors to be able to help the future classes to come like the ones before them did.”

There are no monetary goals, only goals for participation rates, they said.

“We are hoping for 20 percent participation right now. We would love 100 percent, but for now we will do something attainable,” Peacock said.

The students involved are known as senior leaders and are trained in various ways to get the message across, they said.

Student Government Association President Zach Mullins, although he is a junior, has found value in this project as well.

“As the Student Government president, I have a duty to represent the student body in a variety of ways,” Mullins said. “The contributions that are made through the Senior Class Giving Campaign will have a direct impact on students through a variety of means.”

The contributions that are made will go directly to the Heritage Fund, where a donor can designate where it will be used on campus.

“Financial donations are a vital aspect of the operation of Georgia College and the continuance of our mission for academic excellence,” Mullins said. “The contributions raised through the campaign directly benefits students by providing funds for academic engagement, student research and travel, mentorship programs, scholarships and numerous other essential university functions for the success of our students.”

To student Keri Allgood, a senior mass communication major, the project is a way to give future students the same experience as she had.

“The Senior Class Giving Campaign is important to me because I’ve enjoyed my experience at Georgia College so much that I want to ensure that future generations at GCSU will have the same benefits I did,” Allgood said. “I want to get involved in this because I think it’s important to take pride in your university. I hope that future classes will see that any donation, small or large, makes a difference and truly gives back to the school we know and love.”

The project was created not only to encourage students to give back, but also to help establish pride and create a tradition of giving back, organizers said.

“Students are responding well. Everyone seems excited and passionate about the project, especially because of donors that are giving to the future of the university,” Peacock said.

Regardless of how the student body responds to the project, organizers have plans to continue to increase the activity – and they hope the participation of students – each year.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 20 2009. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry