Austin Peay State University students pay it forward with Graduating Class Gift Campaign
The initiative began in 2018 and has since raised more than $50,000 thanks to generous donations from students of each graduating class since. The 2024 graduating class has raised almost $11,000.
Recent graduates of Austin Peay State University have shown their gratitude to the university and support for upcoming students through generous donations to the Graduating Class Gift Campaign initiative. The APSU Division of Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy first started the initiative in 2018 as the Senior Class Gift Campaign but has since been rebranded to include graduates of all types, including undergraduate and graduate students.
According to an article on Austin Peay State University’s website, Kris Phillips, who serves as the Vice President for Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy, explained the initiative. Phillips was quoted as saying, "We're proud of our graduates for giving from one Gov to another. Donating to the Graduating Class Gift is a milestone in the Govs For Life Experience, and we're grateful to our graduates for starting a legacy of giving connected to Austin Peay."
Austin Peay State University aims to turn graduates into alumni who are engaged with the school community right when they finish their studies. The Division of Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy created the Senior Class Gift Campaign as a means to give recent graduates the opportunity to contribute to the school and its future students, and since the initiative began, it has received donations from 1,100 graduates. It has since been renamed to the Graduating Class Gift Campaign and was endowed in 2022 to ensure the fund has a lasting legacy.
According to the webpage for the Graduating Class Gift Campaign, the campaign appeals to recent graduates by saying, “Like many other students, you have been forever changed positively by APSU. This is your chance to come together as a class and acknowledge the many opportunities you’ve had.” Recent graduates who donate to the campaign will receive gifts at different tiers, from a donation of $20.24 (the student’s graduating year) receiving a vanity license plate to a donation of $100 receiving a commencement stole and a place on the Honor Roll of donors.
The money received via the Graduating Class Gift Campaign is used in many ways on campus, from the Govs Emergency Fund to the SOS Food Pantry and various student-centric support services.
Shani Samuels, a student graduating with a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, said of the opportunity to participate in the Graduating Class Gift Campaign, “APSU has enriched my life in countless ways. I believe that giving back, even in small ways, is my way of helping the university continue to enrich the lives of others.”
As of December 27, with four days remaining, the Class of 2024 has reached 92% of its fundraising goal, having donated just over $10,000 of its $11,000 goal. As a whole, since the program began in 2018, it has raised $50,000.
For more information about Austin Peay State University, visit the school’s website.