Senior gift doubles past figures

By Emma Stenzel
Managing & Advertising Editor

Three weeks after launching its Senior Gift Campaign, the Saint Mary’s University Class of 2012 has already more than doubled past donation figures.

As of April 13, 42 percent of the senior class had pledged a total of $3,181.14 in a one-year commitment, well surpassing the average one-year senior class gift total of about $1,200 in past years, according to statistics provided by the Senior Class Gift Committee.

“We could not be more pleased,” said senior Emily Munns, co-chair of the committee. “People have been very responsive about this so far, and we never imagined we’d receive this kind of support already.”

With the theme “Birds of a Feather Give Back Together,” the committee began the campaign by holding an evening event in the Cardinal Club where SMU seniors were invited to make a one-year pledge to be fulfilled June 1, 2012-May 31, 2013.

Along with the kick-off event, Munns said the Senior Class Gift Committee set up tables, visited classrooms and sent emails to raise awareness about the importance of giving back to their alma mater and encourage seniors to pledge.

Rather than selecting one project, this year’s class gift will be given to four different areas at SMU: Financial Aid, Athletics, Friend of the School of the Arts and the Saint Mary’s Unrestricted Fund.

“We wanted seniors to choose where their money should go,” said Munns. “When I personally made my donation, I kept in mind what has impacted my life at SMU and how I wanted to contribute to that in the future.”

Seniors may pledge until April 27. The Senior Class Gift Committee will thank all seniors who contributed toward the fund at the Senior Gift Benefactor Reception on May 8 at 5-6 p.m.