Class of 2009 hopes to surpass previous classes
This year’s 3L Class Gift campaign is underway and the Class of 2009 means business.
For five years, graduating classes at USC Law have successfully topped their predecessors in class gift participation. The Class of 2009 has the tallest hurdle of them all: they will attempt to surpass last year’s 93 percent participation rate.
The 33-member 3L Leadership Committee divided the class into four teams (Solid Gold, The Blue Couches, Red Rad Chinchillas, and Jolly Green Dragons) in hopes that by competing with each other to raise money the class as a whole will succeed. The team with the highest percentage of students pledging their support for the next four years will win a dinner for their team at El Cholo.
The team captains are the 3L Class Leadership Committee Chairs: Paula Mayeda, Celina Munoz, Breann Robowski and Aly Parker.
The main purpose of the class gift is to leave a legacy of supporting the things that mattered to the Class of 2009. 3Ls may designate exactly which programs or funds receive their donations.
For example, many 3Ls will be donating to a scholarship fund in memory of the late Professor Charlie Whitebread. Whitebread taught most of the students in the Class of 2009.
Another goal of the program is to increase the school’s alumni participation rate, the number of alumni who make a gift to the school each year. Participation is seen as a measure of alumni support and can impact the money the school raises from grants and major donors.
Finally, alumni support is essential because it helps offset the costs of operating USC Law. Only about 60 percent of these operating expenses are covered by tuition, according to figures presented at a 3L class meeting. The remaining 40 percent comes from fundraising efforts.
The Class of 2009 hopes to have every 3L make a pledge and join the ranks of alumni and friends who continue to make the education and programs at USC Law possible.
Students have until April 17 to submit their pledge forms, which are available below the 3L poster in the lobby (which will track the campaign’s progress), or by contacting a member of the 3L Leadership Committee.
In addition to the team t-shirt everyone in the class receives, 3Ls pledging their support will be given gift mugs and recognition in alumni publications, in the annual donor book and on a poster at commencement.
For more information about the program and the teams, visit the Class Gift homepage.
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