Seniors are up to the challenge

They may be going their separate ways, but graduates in the Class of 2008 were united when it came to supporting their college.

The class set a new Wheaton record for Annual Fund participation by a graduating class, with 324 seniors—90 percent of them—contributing to the senior class gift.

Thanks to the efforts of class gift officers Margaret Wheeler, Martha Cornwell and Laura Blanchard, the class came together to meet and surpass a challenge posed by Roxanna "Rooney" Booth '90, whose class held the previous record. Booth offered to match the seniors' giving dollar-for-dollar if they could double the 27 percent participation achieved by the Class of 2007.

"The gift chairs took it upon themselves to go beyond that and beat the Class of 1990's record of 89 percent," said Assistant Director of Annual Giving Rebecca Fernandes, who oversaw the senior gift campaign. "I'm really proud of them, and I feel very lucky that they were so persistent and motivated."

Rooney Booth is "gratified beyond words" at the success of the project. "The three gift chairs made it happen," she said. "They inspired their classmates to come together and do something important and change history at Wheaton."

Reflecting on how she helped her own senior class set a giving record 18 years ago, Booth said, "It was a seminal moment in my life. I saw that you can make a difference, you can change the course of events, you are powerful, if you set your mind to it and work with others toward a common goal. I wanted to see if I could share this lesson, and have history repeat itself in a good way."

The three seniors and Fernandes met weekly to generate creative strategies for their campaign, such as soliciting via Facebook and offering Rosecliff tickets to those who gave $10 or more. And they discovered a fundamental truth of fund raising: Never stop asking.

President Crutcher and Dean of Students Sue Alexander made their own challenge to the class, pledging to jump into Peacock Pond if the seniors reached 98 percent participation.

"We didn't quite get there, but I think it motivated a lot of people to give," said Fernandez. "The senior gift campaign is important, because it educates students about the value of philanthropy and giving back. They are the future of Wheaton."

Together the seniors contributed a total of $2,828 to the college. And their gift chairs kept working until the very last minute.

"Their last gift came in while they were waiting in the Commencement line," Fernandez said.

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Editor's note: Overall, alumnae/i giving to Wheaton this year stands at just 27 percent. Only you can change that. Our books close on June 30, so please make your gift today at www.wheatoncollege.edu/giving.