UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — This week, Penn State seniors have the chance to vote for their class gift and leave a legacy to their alma mater. Voting for the 2016 Class Gift begins Monday, Oct. 5, and runs through Friday, Oct. 9.
Seniors can vote in-person at the HUB from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, or vote at www.giveto.psu.edu/voteclassgift online. Voting and pledging information are available online and at the voting tables.
Students graduating in May, August or December 2016 are eligible to vote for the 2016 Class Gift. Seniors who pledge their general deposit to the Class Gift Campaign by Oct. 9 will have their vote counted twice.
The three proposals on the ballot are:
—Celebrate our diverse Penn State family: Penn State is committed to providing an educational experience that is inclusive and accessible to all. Diversity of population allows for diversity of thought and provides an understanding of, and empathy for the varying perspectives, conditions, and experiences of our fellow human beings.
Promoting these values, the class of 2016 would commission the creation of an artistic mural representing the University’s diverse population in all of its many aspects. Space is available in the HUB-Robeson Center to house this testament to the lives and values of the Penn State family.
—Promote healthier and happier students at Penn State: Penn State’s Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides a vital service every day by helping students manage a range of personal and mental health challenges. College is an exciting time for many students, but the challenges of college life and young adulthood can be stressful.
The need for additional funding is growing as more students recognize the essential support that CAPS is able to provide to them. By creating a permanent, annual source of funding to support CAPS, the class of 2016 can help ensure that accessible and timely care is available to all students if and when they should need it.
—Remember our history to strengthen our future: The Penn State community is bonded by ties of tradition and loyalty. These core tenants have become part of our pride in our alma mater and woven into the fabric of our daily experiences at the University.
To express these sentiments, the class of 2016 would commission a mosaic representing our pride through the depiction of classic Penn State iconography. It would be located at a prominent site on campus.
The Class Gift Committee will reveal the gift selected by the class of 2016 on Wednesday, Oct. 14. The event will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. on the ground floor of the HUB.
"There will be food and guest speakers to help announce the gift that 2016 has selected as theirs," said Chris Durkin, director of events. “We wanted to create an event for the gift announcement to get the class of 2016 excited about what legacy they will leave behind."
Amelia Whiting, director of student outreach, said, “I'm excited about the gift announcement because seniors will get to learn how our class will give back to the Penn State. It will be a great time to learn more about the Class Gift campaign and how to 'Start your Legacy.'"
The students of the 2016 Class Gift Committee Executive Committee are: Ramon Guzman, executive director; Alissa Janoski, director of marketing; Lisa Vandetty, director of fundraising; Chris Durkin, director of events; Haley Kerstetter, director of logistics; Amelia Whiting, director of student outreach; Meghan O'Hara, associate director of student outreach; and Kelsey Mulac, associate director of student outreach.
Follow class gift information on Facebook or @PSUClassGift on Twitter and Instagram. For more information on senior class gifts, visit http://www.classgift.psu.edu. Questions can be directed to Ramon Guzman at director@psuclassgift.org or Geoff Hallett, class gift adviser, at gdh15@psu.edu or 814-865-0198.