Seniors challenge with new goal

The Senior Class Challenge, a student-run gift giving campaign, has helped graduating seniors donate more than $770,000 to JMU since 1989. Seniors get to decide where their money will go and which organizations it will help to fund.

This year, the 2005 Steering Committee has set a goal of 20 percent participation from the Senior Class.

This is different than the past goal of 100 percent participation goal. "Twenty percent is one out of every five seniors at JMU," Senior Class Challenge Captain Ashley Polo said. "This goal is much more realistic and attainable than the usual 100 percent."

Chrissy Deery, student director of the Senior Class Challenge, said, "If we reach 20 percent it will be the record high of participation in the history of the Challenge."

This year, the Steering Committee is putting together the first-ever Senior Gala Dinner Dance. This event, which will be held on Feb. 18, is a chance for seniors to get together. "It is also a chance to educate and motivate JMU seniors about the Challenge," Deery said. "Tickets for the gala will be on sale at the JMU Box Office from Jan. 31 to Feb. 11.

Andrew Kneale, a member of the Steering Committee, said, "It’s not the amount of money we get. It’s the amount of seniors we get to participate. That’s the key."

The amount of money each student is asked to donate is $20.05. Kneale said, "We realize we’re seniors in college and can’t afford too much, so we thought $20.05 was a nice amount."

Last year, the senior class raised $33,109, and the Class of 2003 raised $15,274, according to the Senior Class Challenge Web site.