Senior Class Challenge invites seniors to donate money

Every year, the senior class works to raise money to beat the amount of participation of the class before it. Only 4.5 percent of the senior class has donated so far, and the goal is to reach 11 percent by the end of the year, according to senior Matt Brownlee, Senior Class Challenge student director.

“Our focus this year is on participation, not a set dollar amount,” Brownlee said. “Last year’s class had 11 percent participation and raised roughly $17,000. We’ve already passed that dollar amount, but now we’re shooting to break 11 percent,” Brownlee said.

According to Brownlee, seniors have been participating in the SCC since 1989.

“The Senior Class Challenge is a student-run program that gives our class a chance to leave a lasting impression on JMU as graduating seniors,” Brownlee said.

“The unique aspect of this year’s challenge is that each donor gets to choose exactly where [his or her] donation goes,” he added.

According to the SCC Web site, www.jmu.edu/seniorchallenge/history.html, classes in the past have donated as an entire class to certain projects or areas. The Class of 2003 donated to the Sept. 11, 2001, Memorial, the Class of 2000 donated to the Leeolou Alumni Center and the Class of 1995 donated to a class scholarship and a garden in the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum.

“Giving back to JMU allows JMU to keep giving students an amazing education in up-to-date facilities,” said senior Melissa Diffley, the committee head for advertising and publicity for the SCC. “SCC is asking seniors to donate so we can establish a strong Alumni Association and keep up the amazing tradition already established by past graduates.”

Senior Katie Coleman, a member of the SCC steering committee, agreed with Diffley. “Our goal this year is 100 percent participation from students. It is a challenge to get more seniors involved and less of a focus on how much money is raised.

“All state institutions are given money from the state, but with that and tuition, [only] bare minimum costs are covered.”

Seniors can drop off pledge cards in SCC boxes in the library and the University Recreation Center, on the commons or online at www.jmu.edu/seniorchallenge until graduation.