The Legacy of 2013

Its coming to that time of year again. UD seniors are itching to complete their time at UD so they can start building their legacy as young professionals in the working world. It is also a bittersweet time of year where the class of 2013 is already missing campus life and thinking about the legacy they will be leaving. The tradition of the Senior Class Gift is a way to make a visible legacy for UD seniors. Specifically the 2013 seniors are raising funds to support scholarship assistance for other students through the UD Annual Fund. The Annual Fund support areas such as technology enhancements, student life, campus beautification, library purchases, staff and faculty resources and scholarship assistance. Without contributions to the Annual Fund, tuition would be much greater than it is today. Many think that their tuition covers the full cost of education, but in reality the average student only pays roughly half of the actual. Gifts from local business, UD professors and staff, friends and alumni help to cover the gap. The class of 2013 is joining the fight to help UD students with the cost of their tuition. Aside from working to keep tuition low and doing the right thing there are a variety of reasons that seniors should take notice. This year, an anonymous alum donor will match the Senior Class Gift dollar to dollar up to $1,000! This is a great opportunity to make a $20 gift a $40 gift. UD has been blessed with large donors; while the average senior cant afford to give one million dollars the average senior class can make a big impact. Large donors want to give to UD because there is a wide net of support and foundations give grants based on how many (not how much) alumni give back. Finally it is important for seniors to participate so we can continue UDs reputation. The more money UD is able to raise the better reputation the university has. Thus the more value your degree holds makes UD students stand out more when starting their careers! In previous years, senior participation has been solid but the University hopes to see more seniors involved and sharing their pride for their university. Ben Snyder, Assistant Director for Annual Giving, stated that it would be great to see the participation level at 25% of the senior class; who would not want to help a classmate, a friend?. The student participation is important; it shows that you cherish the education, network and memories created while attending the University of Dubuque. As a way to encourage senior participation and also to say welcome to the University of Dubuque alumni community, the Alumni and Advancement Office is hosting a Senior Send-off and a Senior Banquet. The Senior Send-off is a great, expense-free opportunity for seniors to enjoy food, fun and friends before finals. Mark your calendars for this event on March 12th. As the spring semester progresses, seniors can expect to hear from peers for more information and updates regarding the class gift and senior nights. For more information, contact Ben Snyder at 589-3161 or at bsnyder@dbq.edu.

The Belltower