THE PENDULUM
NEWS
WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 6. 2010 // PAGE 3
Campaign, student-led committee work to
encourage seniors to give back to tiie university
Caitlin O'Donnell
News Editor
To Khirey Walker, he wouldn’t be
the person he Is today without the four
years he spent as a student at Elon
University. The senior took to the stage
Sept. 16 in Rhodes Stadium alongside
President Leo Lambert and shared with
about 300 members of the senior class
the importance of giving back to the
university that had invested so much in
him.
“The main thing 1 wanted the other
seniors to remember is the transitioning
phase and how Elon still will be a part of
us, even after we graduate,” Walker said.
“As a future alumni, it is imperative that
we remember our time here at Elon and
try to help individuals after us to have an
equal or even better experience during
their four years."
With Walker’s speech at the Senior
Class Celebration, the university
officially announced this year’s senior
class giving campaign, which is working
toward a goal of having 20 percent of the
class of 2011 give back to Elon.
John Barnhill, assistant vice president
for University Advancement, said
unlike past years, students have the
opportunity to support all of the annual
funds, particularly Elon's greatest needs.
This list includes the Elon Experiences,
student scholarships and the four schools
at Elon — Elon College, the Love School of
Business, the School of Communications
and the School of Education.
“Students will be able to pick between
those groups and what they care most
about,” he said. “A number of students
will pick the Elon Experience they care
most about, or if they graduated from the
business school, they'll give to business
and so on.”
For the, first time, seniors who give
will also automatically be enrolled in the
IGNITE program, the university’s giving
program for young alumni.
According to Alex Nicodem, a 2009
graduate working with the campaign,
events will be held for IGNITE members,
and seniors will have the opportunity
to attend. At homecoming this year,
a sustainability tour of Lindner Hall
will be held for young alumni and new
student members of IGNITE.
"Students will be able to network with
those young alumni as well as get to know
them,” Nicodem said. “More importantly,
you’re giving them a chance to talk to
those going through the transition from
a student to a young professional. It
might be able to help move them in some
direction.”
This theme of transitioning is one
that Nicodem said works throughout the
entire campaign.
“By connecting with IGNITE, we get
seniors in the mindset that it’s their
turn,” he said. “For 21 years, my parents
paid for everything and made donations
to everything. Now, it’s our turn to
start giving and relay that message to
(seniors).”
Barnhill said the most effective way
to get the word out is through word-o^
mouth among students rather than rely
on university administration.
As a result, a senior class giving
committee of current Elon students was
formed to not only assist with planning
events, but to reach out to their peers.
“The more successful the committee is
in reaching their friends and getting the
word out, that’s what counts,” Barnhill
said. “We want it to be owned by the
students.”
According to Nicodem, the committee
members span a multitude of
organizations on campus.
Natalie Lampert, a senior at Elon who
is involved with the committee, said
Nicodem hand-picked members because
of the different areas they're involved in
on campus, the people and groups they
know, the connections they have formed
and their personal strengths.
“That was really cool to see,” Lampert
said. “It means we’re all engaged in
meetings, we all have a purpose to be
there, we’re all on the same page. Talk
about getting things done.”
After Walker shared his story, Lampert
said the committee is working on moving*"
forward. At this point, they have set up
a website and are planning more events
for the fall that will encourage seniors to
give back.
“One thing we’re working on is the ‘tap
five’ idea,” she said. “(You) give back and
then tell five, just five, of your friends
why they should give back, too. And then
have them tap five of their friends.”
Nicodem said the committee is also
currently formatting a copy of Walker's
speech that will be sent through e-mail
to the entire senior class.
“We're looking forward to Khirey’s
video because it will reach all of the
seniors," he said. “The (campaign) hasn’t
exploded yet, but we’re working on the
message now."
Michael Nowak, senior class
president and member of the senior
giving committee, said seniors will get
SENIOR
giving.
Seniors have the
option of contributing
to annual funds:
*Elon's Greatest Needs
*Elon Experiences
*Elon Student Scholarships
*Elon College of Arts and
Sciences
*Love School of Business
^School of Communications
^School of Education
*School of Law
*Phoenix Club
GRAPHIC BY SARAH BETH COSTELLO
reminders about giving online and also
at tables at various events on campus.
“Without student giving, the university
wouldn’t run,” he said. “There's a point
in the year when tuition stops paying
and the giving then kicks in."
Nowak said the committee would
rather see everyone give $1 than have a
group of 300 raise $3,000.
“The amount doesn’t matter; it’s about
being unified as a senior class," he said.
To Jim Piatt, vice president for
University Advancement, that message is
one of building a culture of philanthropy
among the Elon community.
“One of the things we would really love
to share with the seniors and all students,
for that matter, is how important private
gifts to the university really are," he
said. “As they transition into becoming
alums, a big piece of that is what their
relationship with the university will be
after they graduate."
According to Piatt, the percentage
of alumni giving to the university says
a lot of about the foundation of the
institution.
“When we make large proposals
to outside (groups) and even outside
individuals, one of the things they always
look for is giving to the university,” he
said. “It sends a really important message
about how important giving is in our
culture. If we don’t have evidence that
our own alumni support the institution,
(they) may say 'if your own alumni don’t
support you, why should we?’”
Barnhill said a large number of alumni
are doing monthly payroll or credit card
deductions, giving $10 a month rather
than a gift of $100 at one time. He said
it’s comparable to giving up a cup of
coffee.
“If people put it into perspective like
that, it’s doing it over time,” he said.
“Many think a small amount doesn’t
make a difference. Everybody can
participate and every gift matters. We
Just need to keep sharing that story.”
Though the goal is 20 percent, Barnhill
said they hope to reach 100 percent
participation.
“Looking at trends and history, that's
very difficult to do,” he said. “Part of
what we have to do is help students and
alums realize is that any size gift makes
a difference and it's the cumulative
impact of that.”
According to Nicodem, 18 percent of
seniors gave to Elon last year.
“When we look at the number of other
colleges who've made the switch from
gifts to campaign, their numbers shot
up by 20 to 30 percent,” he said.
Seniors are currently being asked to
give $20.11, representative of their year
of graduation.
“If someone can give less than that,
that’s fine, if someone wants to make a
bigger impact, that’s fine too," Barnhill
said. “Everyone has different resources.
If we think of it in terms of personal
participation, every person who gives
Students and alumni voice
opinions on the importance
of giving back to Elon:
“As future alumni, it is imperative that
we remember our time here at Elon and
try to help individuals after us to have an
equal or even better experience during
their four years." - Khirey Walker, senior
“I love Elon and have experienced so
much through being here, and just as
Elon’s made it possible for me to do
so many neat things during my years
here, I want to help make sure Elon can
continue doing the same for students
after I’m gone." - Natalie Lampert,
senior
“Even if everyone gives one dollar, that
would be something." - Michael Nowak,
senior class president
“I graduated from Elon and when I think
back about what transformed my life, it
wouldn’t have been possible if someone
hadn't believed in the institution
and supported it." - John Barnhill,
assistant vice president for University
Advancement
“One of the things we would really
love to share with the seniors and
all students for that matter is how
important private gifts to the university
really are.” - Jim Piatt, vice president for
University Advancement
counts as 100 percent.”
Lamport said the key part of the
campaign and giving committee as a
whole is to encourage- seniors to give
back to the university they’ve called
home for four years.
“The key thing is that every little bit
counts, and it’s really true,” she said.
“The point is to give, even if it’s just
$5. That’s a couple cups of coffee and
spending this is way more satisfying."
In his speech. Walker drew attention
to the changes that have taken place on
campus since the senior class arrived.
“We need to consider how far the
university has come since this class
arrived in fall 2007," he said. “With the
creation ofLindner Hall, the revitalization
of Alumni Gym and the construction of
the new Alumni Field House, we have
been a part of Elon’s transition in the
growth phase."
More than that. Walker said Elon has
provided memories, friendships and
relationships that he hopes will last the
rest of his life.
“The conversations, people and
overall adventure as a student here has
really prepared me for the outside world
because I was able to grow and develop,
not only as a student, but as a man," he
said. “Elon lives inside each and every
person that attends here and having the
opportunity to give back and show the
appreciation is the least we can do."
Now hiring an Assistant Business ManagA^r!
Are you interested In advertising and business in the news?
Are you organized and detail oriented?
Are you a Business or Communications major?
Are you a sopnomore or junior seeking involvement in the leading
campus news source?
This position may be for you*