This year’s seniors may be the first class in 178 years to present a scholarship in its name immediately after graduating. With the assistance of alumni donors and the Wesleyan Fund, a general alumni donation fund, the class of 2010 plans to raise $25,000 to help aid the education of one incoming member of the class of 2014.
“The idea is to encourage students with unique skill-sets to matriculate here at Wesleyan and continue making Wesleyan a unique environment,” said Joseph Nsiah ’10, a member of the Senior Gift Committee.
So far, the reported collections total $10,300, representing contributions from 92 percent of the senior class. If the donations reach the goal of $15,000, alumni donors have pledged to contribute the remaining $10,000.
“If a student needs aid beyond what their particular scholarship provides, in this case $25,000, Wesleyan will build their financial aid package with other grant funds, loans and part-time work study,” said Marcy Herlihy, Wesleyan’s Director for Stewardship, in an e-mail to The Argus.
The Senior Gift Committee, consisting of Nsiah, Johanna Galt ’10, and Ankur Verma ’10, along with Anand Satchidanandan ’08, Assistant Director of the Wesleyan Fund, developed a strategy to develop scholarship and fundraising events.
Giving back to financial aid has long been a senior gift tradition and participation usually falls around 90 percent. Last year, the class of 2009 raised over $14,500 for financial aid.
“Funds from the Senior Gift go to the Wesleyan Fund, which helps cover the University’s annual budget including scholarships and financial aid, faculty teaching and programs, library and research, and even student services,” the committee wrote in a statement to The Argus.
So far, the class of 2010 and December 2009 graduates have hosted several fundraising events, including a phone-a-thon in December and a t-shirt contest. The committee is also helping to coordinate events during Senior Fun Days in April.
While the exact criteria for the scholarship is still being developed, the ideal candidate, according to the committee’s statement, would represent “the class of 2010’s class spirit, dedication and excellence.”
“This year, we wanted to leave a mark by having our class be remembered in a way that reflected our interests, ideas, and passions as a collective,” the committee wrote. “For the rest of the year, we want to focus on what has made our time here special, and getting the 2010 class to think of the legacy they leave behind.”
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