Although some Ohio University seniors have yet to begin paying off tuition loans, the university already is asking them to give a little more.
The Senior Class Council is soliciting donations for the class gift, an endowment for the University Professor program.
The endowment recognizes former political science professor
J. Frank Henderson, who died in December.
Henderson received the University Professor Award five times between 1975 and 1995.
Fund-raisers have collected $8,482 in cash gifts from seniors, but the fund needs a minimum of $15,000 to endow the program, said Larry Lafferty, OU director of development and annual giving.
Our class council wanted to choose a gift that would have a lasting impact on the university while also representing OU's bicentennial
Mick said. We want to be able to pay the students that sit on the selection committee (for the University Professor) because they spend a lot of time searching to honor a professor.
The Senior Class Council annually presents OU with a class gift, but senior Don Finley said he finds this year different from others.
Honestly I think it's probably one of the better senior gifts that we've done
he said. It really gives back to the university.
Previous class gifts include the College Green gate and the water fountain outside of Chubb Hall.
Finley said he donated a one-time pledge to the fund and plans to donate as an alumnus.
Donations also will help award scholarships to students in the political science major.
It's a two-pronged approach that will award both the student selection committee and political science majors
Lafferty said.
Senior Class Council has until spring of 2006 to raise the needed total of $15,000.
We feel very comfortable and confident that we'll reach our goal within the given time period
he said. This year has turned out to be a combined effort of students and faculty. Each class is different in momentum
and I've been very pleased to work with such a strong
enthusiastic group.
Students can pledge for three years with payments due in November 2004, 2005 and 2006. The average student gift this year has been a three-year pledge of $50 a year, Lafferty said. One-time gifts typically range from $25 to $50.
Pledges and cash gifts can be made at http://www.ohiou.edu/campaign/giving.html.
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