Class of 2008 Going Out With A Bang

3Ls set new record of giving with Class Gift

As the Class of 2008 joins the ranks of loyal USC Law alumni, its members are showing momentous support of the law school by participating in the 3L Class Gift. They have set a new record of 93 percent participation in the Class Gift, a pledge drive in which graduating students make an annual donation for three years after law school.

Nearly 200 graduating students pledged, showing their dedication to the school and ensuring that the opportunities they enjoyed while at USC Law will be available to future students.

"The Class of 2008 has been incredibly involved in everything USC Law has had to offer us for the past three years, and we have exceeded a lot of expectations individually and as a group, so it is not at all surprising that we once again hit a home run with the Class Gift,” said Shiri Klima, 3L president and Class Gift co-chair. “That said, it does still make me incredibly proud to be surrounded by such dedicated and hardworking classmates."

Contributions made to the Class Gift are directed to the Annual Fund or to a number of different groups or causes, such as a student organization or the Class of 2008 Scholarship Fund.

Each pledge is significant because it is a commitment from a graduating student to continue to give back and improve USC Law as alumnus in the same philanthropic spirit as alumni and friends that have gone before them, said Emily Page, assistant director of development and graduate relations.

Their multi-year pledge will also help boost USC Law’s annual alumni participation, which can impact the amount of money the school receives and the schools rankings.

Class gift co-chairs Klima, Karim Aoun, Student Bar Association President Marc Berman and Amir Torkamani and a committee of 35 graduating students led the campaign. They spiced up the effort this year by dividing the class into four teams for some friendly competition to reach the highest participation rate.

Class Gift participants will be recognized in an upcoming Donor Report. To see a list of students who made a pledge visit: http://law.usc.edu/3LClassGift/.