Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - In the hustle and bustle of a final college semester, the rush of exams, graduate school applications and searching for the perfect job or career opportunity doesn't leave much time for anything else. A newly established program through the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation allows graduating seniors to give back directly to UWP before they even leave campus. Known as Senior Say, graduates have the option of designating an allocation of $20.06 to an area of their choice including development initiatives for the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture (BILSA); College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science (EMS); College of Liberal Arts and Education (LAE); an athletics department fund or general campus operations.

"The money the students choose to allocate comes from the Platteville 1866 Fund, one of more than 500 accounts the UWP Foundation manages," said Angela Gasior, a UWP foundation development officer for the College of EMS and coordinator for the Senior Say program.

Fifty percent of monies raised for the 1866 Fund directly support student areas affected by state budget cuts such as cultural enrichment, entrepreneurial activities, extra-curricular activities, research and general student success skill programs. The other 50 percent is invested in a guaranteed endowment fund from which the interest is used to help fund these same initiatives.

In its first semester, the Senior Say program already has over 100 participants. "We anticipate attending classes where most students are seniors to raise awareness of the initiative and hope to reach our goal of 200 allocations prior to graduation," commented Gasior who also plans to contact those who participate to let them know the impact of their allocation.

She added, "We wanted to find a way to engage seniors with the Foundation before they leave campus. This is a perfect way to raise foundation awareness and get students involved in what we do without asking them to commit personal funds. It's a simple way to be involved in campus improvements while garnering student support."

The Foundation has already received comments from Senior Say participants that future support to UWP is important to them. "I appreciated my educational opportunities and want to give something back to UWP in thanks for what the university has given me," said one graduate. Added another, "I want to help out my college and future engineers by allocating funds that could help improve our program."

Any graduating students interested in participating in the Senior Say program or UWP faculty members who would like someone to speak to their class about this program, should contact Gasior at (608) 342-1231 or via e-mail at gasiora@uwplatt.edu

Contact: Angela Gasior, UWP Foundation, (608) 342-1231,gasiora@uwplatt.edu Prepared by: Rachael Lehr, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,lehrr@uwplatt.edu