Lucky draw leads to $1,500 in ATM challenge winnings
Linda Clifton brings to bear her magic touch at the ATM.
5:09 p.m., May 22, 2008--Linda Clifton, senior secretary in the Department of Anthropology, became $1,500 richer on Wednesday, May 21. Clifton won a chance to withdraw free cash for three minutes from a WSFS Bank automated teller machine (ATM) in the Trabant University Center after her name was drawn during the University's annual Benefits Fair on May 13.

Clifton, of Newark, Del., who invited Sandy Wenner from the same department to accompany her and provide moral support, waited nervously before the challenge began. “It's really unexpected,” she said of the opportunity.

With WSFS employee Clifford Murphy keeping time, Clifton slipped in the bank-issued ATM card and punched in the security code to open the transaction window. She withdrew the maximum $250 and repeated the request five more times.

With a wad of $20 and $10 bills in her hand, Clifton turned around with a broad smile and exclaimed: “Thank you! Thank you!”

“It's great!” Clifton, the mother of four grown children and five grandchildren, said. “Somebody in our department had done it and they got $500. I was really pleased to get anything.”

Clifton, who immediately banked the money and said that she could not trust herself to carry all that cash, is planning to use the money to pay down her credit card debt.

UD's annual Benefits Fair allows employees to meet with human resources specialists and representatives of benefit provider organizations to learn about UD benefits programs.

Article by Martin Mbugua
Photo by Tyler Jacobson