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The Facts: N.C . State aims to garner financial support from its alumni. Donations from Thomas Laundon , engineering alum, will be going towards the awareness of dual degree programs at the University.
Our Opinion: The donations from alumni are on the right track of garnering the right type of support for the University, and should continue head on.
While many times alumni support is seen as nonexistent or meaningless, the amount N.C . State receives each year from individuals and corporations has a huge impact on students’ lives. N.C . State’s diverse group of alumni supporters offer gifts each year to support the University. This is the right direction for our alumni relationship, and should continue.
Engineering alum, Thomas Laundon , donated $125,000 to a scholars program to support the program his two sons were interested in. Last year, the College of Management was renamed to honor a $37 million donation from Lonnie C. Poole Jr ., and Randall B. Terry Jr ., all of whom never attended N.C . State, began supporting the College of Veterinary Medicine after one of his nine golden retrievers became ill.
These are few of the many stories and tributes to those who have donated and supported various aspects of the University. While the resources from tuition and state-allotted funds fuel the operating task of N.C . State, alumni donations provide the necessary funding for projects on campus and meet the needs of academic development, including curriculum improvement. With the state budget shrinking each year, the extra flow of money provides some much needed support for the University.
Whether it is from an individual or a corporation, financial gifts provide numerous opportunities for our University, and should be encouraged. As students who will shortly be entering the work force, these impacts should be remembered and used to encourage future donations to the University. The donations from former students are affecting the lives of the students of today; therefore, the students of today should support the students of the future.
The three different kinds of alumni organizations the University has in place touch nearly every aspect of student life. Annual Giving offers help to the academic mission of the University, supporting technological improvements and research partnerships, increased scholarships and funding for community service. The Alumni Association is a membership-based organization to assist in alumni interests and relations to campus. The Wolfpack Club supports athletic facilities and scholarships for the University. No matter where the interests of the benefactor lie, N.C . State allows different avenues for any type of financial support.
No matter how much the gift is worth, where it goes or who it is from, any type of support is good support and should encouraged as an investment in the future of our education.
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