Anna D’Alessio (left) and Scott Scheinberg (right), co-chairs of the 2013 Senior Class Gift Campaign, have achieved a record-breaking 27 percent senior participation rate, to date. They are pictured with UD President Patrick Harker.

Seniors give back

President celebrates record-breaking senior class gift campaign, thanks students

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8:04 a.m., May 15, 2013--Members of the Class of 2013 who participated in the University of Delaware's 2013 Senior Class Gift Campaign were invited to a donor reception at Patrick Harker's home Tuesday afternoon, May 14, to receive a personal thank you from the University's president.

Any student who made their first gift to the University as a soon-to-be alumnus through the campaign was invited to attend the reception celebrating the last day of classes and marking the first of many important milestones in the coming weeks for the Class of 2013.

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“The Senior Class Gift Campaign provides seniors with an extraordinary opportunity to make their first contribution back to the University,” said seniors Scott Scheinberg and Anna D'Alessio, campaign co-chairs.

Scheinberg continued, “To me, this meant giving back to certain programs and organizations that helped me develop as a student and as a person.”

Students had the opportunity to meet Harker, as well as connect with fellow students just 11 days before graduation.

“In just a couple of weeks, graduating seniors will begin a new chapter in their lives — an exciting chapter — and the Senior Class Gift Campaign gives them a chance to reflect on how their time at UD helped them reach this point,” said Harker.

“The campaign is meant to be the start of an active relationship between alumni and the University,” he added. “Students don't stop being Blue Hens once they graduate. They’ll always represent the Blue and Gold, and we hope they’ll continue to support the University throughout their careers.” 

UD’s Senior Class Gift Campaign is a “give where you're passionate” campaign, allowing students to make direct contributions to areas on campus that are important to them, ranging from a department to a student organization to club sports. 

To date, 1,032 seniors have made gifts to the University, more than any other senior class in UD history. If seniors have not yet participated, they are encouraged to contribute before May 20. Totals will be announced during Commencement on Saturday, May 25, at Delaware Stadium. Senior donors will appear in a scrolling honor roll during the ceremony. 

D'Alessio explained she wants future students to have the same experiences she had at UD and plans to give back to the University in whatever way she can, despite moving to California in the fall to pursue a graduate degree. "I think it is important to show that I care [about UD and future Blue Hens] and that I want us to prosper even though I'm not there."

A special competition hosted by the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council encouraged donor participation in this year’s Senior Class Gift Campaign. To date, seventeen fraternity and sorority chapters have achieved 100 percent participation in the campaign.

For more information, to view the online honor roll and to make a gift, visit the campaign website.

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