Graduating senior challenges class to give back

As Katarina Chan prepares to graduate from UC Davis next month, she’s challenging her class of 2011 peers to contribute at least $20.11 to the university as a special remembrance.

“I learned that the Senior Class Challenge is a long-standing tradition of seniors giving back to support various areas such as scholarships, fellowships and campus improvements at UC Davis,” says Chan, who is double majoring in design and sociology.

In addition to supporting the class challenge with her own financial contribution, Chan — who is from San Francisco — is also the marketing intern for the giving program.

Begun in 1982, the class challenge encourages graduating seniors to make an affordable contribution to their alma mater, while setting a pattern for remembering UC Davis in the future.

“We realize that there are many things seniors are thinking about, but one of the things it’s certainly not too soon to think about is giving back to your campus and creating that habit of lifetime giving,” says Cam Stoufer, who oversees the program as director of annual and special gifts.

Honor someone with a gift

With a gift to the class challenge, students can say a special thank you to their parents or to a dedicated member of the UC Davis community who has helped make their journey to graduation possible. Parents and relatives of seniors can also help celebrate the milestone of graduation with a gift.

This year, 4,220 undergraduates are slated to graduate from UC Davis—meaning a significant contribution to UC Davis if most give $20.11.

Money from the class challenge is used for a variety of programs, including student scholarships, faculty awards and specific projects within each college.

For more information or to give to the class challenge, visit Senior Class Challenge.