Spring Break
Senior gift has long-lasting potential
Tradition of senior class giving a gift back to OSU becomes inspiration for inception of a scholarship endowment fund
Makenna Bishop
Issue date: 5/21/09 Section: News
Many schools hold an annual tradition where the graduating seniors leave a gift for the university. At OSU, that tradition hasn't taken place in recent years.
Beginning with last year's graduating class, the OSU Foundation started the Senior Gift Giving Council, bringing the tradition to OSU in the future.
The council is made up of seven students, the majority of which being seniors. Together, the members of the council are working and fundraising toward their goal of implementing an endowment for future students. They hope to see the scholarship continue to grow, and they that hope a scholarship from the class of 2009 will be awarded each year.
Kate Morris, a senior in human development and family sciences, is the student intern of the annual senior giving council. She said they wanted to have a senior gift that wasn't a bench, a tree or a plaque, but something that could give back to the university.
"Getting a scholarship endowed means it would last forever," Morris said. "Students can take pride in making this gift that can become a really important legacy."
Emily Kralj, a senior in accounting, is the chair of the council. She said the funds need to reach $25,000 in order to accumulate interest and make the scholarship a lasting gift.
"We want to set the stage for graduating seniors," Kralj said. "By fundraising so near to graduation, we hope to instill the idea of giving back and philanthropy into their lives, so they remember its importance in the future."
The scholarship will be administered by the Alumni Association and will be awarded to a student who is academically worthy and financially needy. As the scholarship begins to grow, the future hope is for the scholarship to benefit multiple students each year.
Last year, a similar gift was started, but because the program was new, it did not meet its goals. This year, the council has high hopes for the senior gift. The council has set the goal of raising $15,000 while collecting donations from at least 300 seniors.
Beginning with last year's graduating class, the OSU Foundation started the Senior Gift Giving Council, bringing the tradition to OSU in the future.
The council is made up of seven students, the majority of which being seniors. Together, the members of the council are working and fundraising toward their goal of implementing an endowment for future students. They hope to see the scholarship continue to grow, and they that hope a scholarship from the class of 2009 will be awarded each year.
Kate Morris, a senior in human development and family sciences, is the student intern of the annual senior giving council. She said they wanted to have a senior gift that wasn't a bench, a tree or a plaque, but something that could give back to the university.
"Getting a scholarship endowed means it would last forever," Morris said. "Students can take pride in making this gift that can become a really important legacy."
Emily Kralj, a senior in accounting, is the chair of the council. She said the funds need to reach $25,000 in order to accumulate interest and make the scholarship a lasting gift.
"We want to set the stage for graduating seniors," Kralj said. "By fundraising so near to graduation, we hope to instill the idea of giving back and philanthropy into their lives, so they remember its importance in the future."
The scholarship will be administered by the Alumni Association and will be awarded to a student who is academically worthy and financially needy. As the scholarship begins to grow, the future hope is for the scholarship to benefit multiple students each year.
Last year, a similar gift was started, but because the program was new, it did not meet its goals. This year, the council has high hopes for the senior gift. The council has set the goal of raising $15,000 while collecting donations from at least 300 seniors.
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