SJSU asks graduating seniors to give back
Scott Reyburn
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: News
The season of giving might have been during Christmas time, but SJSU is bringing it back in style via the senior gift.
Nancy Stewart, the director of annual giving and special gifts development, said the senior gift offers the opportunity for graduating seniors to give back with a donation. Through voting, SJSU decides whether to give the gift to the Joyce Hunter-Mabry Scholarship Endowment, the Educational Opportunity Program or The Student Emergency Fund.
Nhu Anh Can, a senior hospitality, recreation, and tourism management major and intern for the SJSU Alumni Association, said she believes the senior gift is a great idea that benefits for the future.
"The senior gift is a way for seniors to give back to the university, because it helps both the university and students," Can said. "It also helps put money back into the university to assist students after the class of 2009 leaves San Jose State University."
Stewart said the votes are counted and whatever fund gets the most votes is given the money that was contributed for the senior gift.
"In the past it has been $3,000, plus or minus, and this is only the third year that we have done this particular program, so it's still new in a lot of ways," Stewart said.
Stewart said the letter and messages informing students about the senior gift went out to those who filed for graduation in May and in December. Students who are getting their bachelor's degrees as well as master's candidates were included in the group of graduates to be notified about the senior gift.
The starting amount for a donation begins is at $20.09, which is intentionally linked to the graduation year, Stewart said.
"What we are trying to do is to get those that are graduating and heading off in the world to give back to those that follow behind them," Stewart said. "Hopefully give back to something that's going directly to a student group or student fund."
Students are not the only ones who can donate, Stewart said. People can honor someone with their gift, so a parent or family member can honor their student and a faculty or staff member can honor a student, and other variations.
Nancy Stewart, the director of annual giving and special gifts development, said the senior gift offers the opportunity for graduating seniors to give back with a donation. Through voting, SJSU decides whether to give the gift to the Joyce Hunter-Mabry Scholarship Endowment, the Educational Opportunity Program or The Student Emergency Fund.
Nhu Anh Can, a senior hospitality, recreation, and tourism management major and intern for the SJSU Alumni Association, said she believes the senior gift is a great idea that benefits for the future.
"The senior gift is a way for seniors to give back to the university, because it helps both the university and students," Can said. "It also helps put money back into the university to assist students after the class of 2009 leaves San Jose State University."
Stewart said the votes are counted and whatever fund gets the most votes is given the money that was contributed for the senior gift.
"In the past it has been $3,000, plus or minus, and this is only the third year that we have done this particular program, so it's still new in a lot of ways," Stewart said.
Stewart said the letter and messages informing students about the senior gift went out to those who filed for graduation in May and in December. Students who are getting their bachelor's degrees as well as master's candidates were included in the group of graduates to be notified about the senior gift.
The starting amount for a donation begins is at $20.09, which is intentionally linked to the graduation year, Stewart said.
"What we are trying to do is to get those that are graduating and heading off in the world to give back to those that follow behind them," Stewart said. "Hopefully give back to something that's going directly to a student group or student fund."
Students are not the only ones who can donate, Stewart said. People can honor someone with their gift, so a parent or family member can honor their student and a faculty or staff member can honor a student, and other variations.
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