The class of 2013 broke the university record for senior class gift participation last Thursday.
The Senior Class Gift Committee achieved 52.3 percent class participation in this year’s campaign, breaking last year’s record of 50 percent. In doing so, the class secured a $51,000 challenge gift to GW’s Power & Promise Fund to support student aid from GW trustee Nelson Carbonell, B.S. ’85, and his wife, Michele, building off of last year’s challenge.
“It has been an incredible experience to see the class of 2013 come together to give back to GW,” said senior class gift co-chair Christopher Kim, B.S. ‘13. “On day one, collecting 1,193 gifts seemed impossible. But thanks to the philanthropy of the senior class, we have achieved our goal.”
Individual GW seniors allocated their gifts to departments, student organizations, scholarships or schools. The record-breaking participation rate was announced at the fourth annual Class Day in University Yard Thursday, which featured a toast by President Steven Knapp and included remarks by W. Russell Ramsey, B.B.A. ’81, chairman of the GW Board of Trustees; GW trustee Nelson Carbonell, B.S. ’85; Mr. Kim; and Julia Simon, B.A. ’13, the other co-chair of the senior class gift program.
“This is the most people we’ve had at a senior toast, and I think it’s a real testament to our class and what we’ve accomplished throughout the year academically, socially and philanthropically,” she said.
At Class Day, Mr. and Mrs. Carbonell honored their 51 for 51 Challenge, continuing for a second year the tradition of challenging the class to reach their goal in return for scholarship funding in their honor. In his remarks, Mr. Carbonell urged students to continue to pay it forward so that future Colonials may have the same scholarships and opportunities. Nearly 250 seniors embraced that commitment by giving at the Luther Rice Society level, which recognizes a $50 gift this year and a pledge for an additional $50 a year for the next four years.
In his toast to the class of 2013, Dr. Knapp commended the graduates for their record-breaking participation and early commitment to philanthropy. He also welcomed them into the worldwide community of GW alumni.
“After all our hard work this year I am so excited for the class of 2013 to be welcomed into the Alumni Association,” added Ms. Simon. “Being a young alum is a distinct phase in our continuing journey as lifelong Colonials, and I look forward to connecting and re-connecting with fellow GW alumni in the years ahead.”