Spring Break
Senior gift ready to make comeback
Yael Reed Wachspress
Issue date: 4/9/07 Section: News
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San Jose State University's graduating seniors once again have the opportunity to give back to the school and future students before their commencement.
The senior gift, which used to be a tradition, is being re-established at SJSU, said Robin Bates, manager of annual giving and special gifts.
According to Nancy Stewart, director of annual giving and special gifts, the committee has not been active over the course of the last five years. However, she has only been with SJSU for about four years, and is trying to get people back into the swing of giving.
"I would encourage people to participate," said Janikke Klem, director of the development division of student affairs. "… It goes back to our students."
Examples of gifts given in the past were a tree, a bench or some sort of monumental representation of something, which includes providing funding for memorials such as the John Carlos and Tommie Smith statue.
According to the SJSU commencement's documents, the senior tradition of giving a gift back to the university has not been active since 2002.
At that time, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library was new to SJSU and graduates stepped forward with donations to help fund for materials on behalf of the project.
Their gifts were also in honor of Jason Dahl and Andrew Garcia, alumni of SJSU, who perished on United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
"We're trying to build a campus life and culture where people love being here," said Nancy Stake, director of media relations. "Right now with everyone focused on our sesquicentennial year, it's nice to bring back these traditions."
Faculty, staff, family and friends of graduates are able to give back donating $20.07 or more to three programs at SJSU.
"We thought it would be better to put it into another program that benefits the students," Stewart said. "The graduates get to choose where the money goes. We liked the idea of giving them a choice."
The first program is the Connect, Motivate and Educate society, a program that funds foster youth with admissions, financial aid and housing assistance.
The senior gift, which used to be a tradition, is being re-established at SJSU, said Robin Bates, manager of annual giving and special gifts.
According to Nancy Stewart, director of annual giving and special gifts, the committee has not been active over the course of the last five years. However, she has only been with SJSU for about four years, and is trying to get people back into the swing of giving.
"I would encourage people to participate," said Janikke Klem, director of the development division of student affairs. "… It goes back to our students."
Examples of gifts given in the past were a tree, a bench or some sort of monumental representation of something, which includes providing funding for memorials such as the John Carlos and Tommie Smith statue.
According to the SJSU commencement's documents, the senior tradition of giving a gift back to the university has not been active since 2002.
At that time, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library was new to SJSU and graduates stepped forward with donations to help fund for materials on behalf of the project.
Their gifts were also in honor of Jason Dahl and Andrew Garcia, alumni of SJSU, who perished on United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
"We're trying to build a campus life and culture where people love being here," said Nancy Stake, director of media relations. "Right now with everyone focused on our sesquicentennial year, it's nice to bring back these traditions."
Faculty, staff, family and friends of graduates are able to give back donating $20.07 or more to three programs at SJSU.
"We thought it would be better to put it into another program that benefits the students," Stewart said. "The graduates get to choose where the money goes. We liked the idea of giving them a choice."
The first program is the Connect, Motivate and Educate society, a program that funds foster youth with admissions, financial aid and housing assistance.
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