Planning is underway to decide the senior class’ legacy and encourage students to give back to the university.
Although there has only been one meeting with the administration and the planning is in its earliest stages Senior Class President Alexander Pennekamp discussed the possibilities of a “green” gift to represent the uniqueness of the class at the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting Sept. 23.
Pennekemp and the senior senators have met with the Green Team and are considering options such as solar panels a wind turbine and an organic student garden that would provide food for the Waves Cafe.
Senior engagement intern for Public Affairs and Advancement Alysha Akins stressed the importance of the senior gift which will be chosen in spring.
“The Senior Challenge is our opportunity to leave a legacy at Pepperdine by supporting the students who come after us. This initiative is one facet of the greater Pepperdine Fund Akins wrote in an e-mail.
Akins heads the Senior Challenge with the supervision of Lori Grubaugh, associate director and Alumni Affairs adviser.
I’m hoping the seniors distinguish themselves Grubaugh said. [Donating] speaks to how they value their experience at Pepperdine.”
Pepperdine has dropped 11 spots in the U.S. News and World Report national university rankings from No. 47 in 2003 to No. 58 in the 2010 edition which is partly due to low alumni giving which has fall from 20 percent to 12 percent.
According to Akins the fall semester serves mainly as the developmental stage. The spring semester is primarily when they begin to work with a solid plan or direction.
“We’re trying to develop a committee of people … [to] get the senior gift up and underway Akins said in an interview. The committee finalizes the ideas for the senior gift.”
In past years a committee comprised of a broad spectrum of seniors determined the options for the senior gift and submitted them to the senior class for a vote. However this is not necessarily the process this year.
According to Akins this could be seniors’ opportunity to leave a mark.
“The Senior Challenge is a great way for graduating seniors to get involved with the Pepperdine Fund by participating in a senior class collective gift to the university she wrote.Fifty percent participation or higher [in the Senior Challenge] is our aim.”
Grubaugh also expects significant senior involvement.
“I’m hoping the seniors distinguish themselves she said.
Akins said seniors will be representing seniors and the office is trying to get a diverse mix of students on the committee so they may act as representatives and decide what the senior gift will be.
Some seniors already have suggestions for improving the reception of the senior gift.
SGA would need to develop a proposal that they could present to the senior class so they could have a sense of ownership over the project said Kim Wong, a senior in the five year M.B.A. program.
Wong thinks that the senior class should have a chance to see the gift on campus before graduation.
One of the keys to organizing the senior gift is encouraging seniors to continue to give to Pepperdine after they graduate, without feeling harassed byphone calls.The SGA executive board has expressed in their meetings that they do not want the first call alumni receive from Pepperdine to be asking for money.
As a part of Student Alumni Organization now Pepperdine has provided me with many opportunities so in return of course I will stay connected to Pepperdine after I graduate in terms of donating financially Wong said.
However, not all seniors share Wong’s enthusiasm.
It’s very hard to encourage giving at Pepperdine Robert Vercio said. We’ve already paid $45000 a year. A lot of people consider that enough of a gift.”
Vercio believes that the best way to encourage alumni to give is “to remind them all the positive things Pepperdine has done for them.”
In the past admittance into the Alumni Associate’s Program has depended on unrestricted donations donations that could be used for any purpose. The policy now allows any donor of $1000 or more for any program to be a part of the Associate’s Program according to Grubaugh.
Grubaugh said she supports the newer policy.
“When you make a gift it’s a personal choice Grubaugh said. [When you give to Pepperdine] you know your gift is being taken seriously.”