The UGA Student Alumni Association recently completed a record Senior Signature fundraising campaign, donating $90,516, the highest total in Senior Signature history.
The Senior Signature campaign gave graduating students the opportunity to donate to a school, college, department or scholarship on campus that significantly improved their collegiate experiences. Participating students’ names were included on the Class of 2015 Senior Signature plaque that was installed in UGA’s Tate Student Center Plaza prior to spring Commencement on May 8.
The concept for the campaign stems from a student-led fundraising effort that was launched in 1920. Of every $50 Senior Signature gift, $20 goes to the Georgia Fund, which supports UGA Alumni Association programming and critical areas such as scholarships, endowed professorships, graduate fellowships and international study. An estimated $36,000 of this year’s Senior Signature total was given to the Georgia Fund.
The Class of 2014 donated 1,264 gifts for a grand total of $63,000. This year, both giving and total amount raised increased by 43 percent, with 1,807 graduating students participating.
“UGA’s Senior Signature program is a point of pride and the student gifts can go anywhere on campus,” said Meredith Gurley Johnson, UGA’s executive director of alumni relations. “This year’s campaign saw donations for 63 different schools, colleges, departments, academic programs, scholarships and more. We could not be more proud of our students beginning their philanthropic legacy, which will build a culture of giving.”