2006 Grads Gain Alumni Momentum
Our graduating students appreciate the support alumni and friends have provided, and the graduating class of 2006 is acknowledging this by encouraging all students to leave a graduation gift to the School of Business. This spring, two of our graduating MBA students, Nathan Meredith and Richard Collumb, led an effort to encourage their classmates to help create a culture of giving by making a financial pledge to the School at graduation. The graduation campaign emphasizes the importance of getting involved in annual giving regardless of the size of gift a student is able to make.
More than 700 business students graduated this spring. These students have benefited from the generosity of alumni who have donated their time to serve on advisory boards within the School, been guest speakers in classrooms or for student organization events and offered advice and guidance. They’ve also benefited from alumni and friends who have chosen to make a financial investment in the School of Business to help recruit and retain the best talent, create leadership opportunities for students and develop world-class academic programs. The graduates of 2006 want to be a part of that giving culture.
Several members of our Dean’s Advisory Board were so impressed with this effort they offered matching gifts to encourage more students to get involved. These types of efforts help our students see how they can have an impact on the experience future business students have at the University of Wisconsin. It’s exciting to hear phrases like ‘giving back’ and ‘staying involved’ when students are discussing their post-graduation plans.
The Dean’s Advisory Board has pledged a $300 match to any gift of more than $150 pledged by a 2006 MBA graduate before August 1, 2006. Currently, the MBA class has achieved 19 percent participation, and has pledged $5,650 to be matched with $6,600, for a grand total of $12,250. The goal for the MBA campaign is to achieve more than 25 percent participation by August.