The 2011 class gift is a continuation of a University tradition and source of class unity that began around 100 years ago.
Notable senior class gifts include the 2009 Kay Yow Memorial in the Coaches Corner, the 1999 Pride Wolf statue in the Murphy Center and the 1987 outdoor classroom on the Court of North Carolina.
While many recent class gifts have been scholarship endowments, the senior classes of 2010 and 2011 have set their goals high with their gifts.
Kristy Craig, a senior in political science and the 2011 senior class president, says the 2011 class gift will be the construction of a new campus gateway at the Dan Allen Drive/Hillsborough Street entryway, similar to the one located at Pullen Road, and feature similar detailing found at the Watauga Walkway.
“This gift is our opportunity to leave our mark at the University in a way that will show future generations the importance of giving back in a constructive way,” Craig said.
“What makes the 2011 gift significant is the location and potential impact of the gift,” Craig said. “The Dan Allen [Drive]/Hillsborough Street gateway is often the primary entrance that students and parents use when they are visiting Main Campus for the first time. The current entryway does not display the quality of our campus as a whole.”
The goal of the 2011 senior class gift is for the new entryway to display the quality of the campus as a whole, and to ensure that the University is providing the best possible first impression to students and visitors to campus.
Craig says that the 2011 gift is unique in that the 2011 senior class at-large selected it.
“The really great thing about our class gift is that seniors are taking a part in the designing phase of the entryway,” Craig said.
“The Senior Class Council is actively searching for a senior from the College of Design to offer ideas and ensure that creativity is not lost through the planning, and that this gift is reflective of our generation,” Craig said.
The primary focus of the fundraising for the 2011 gift is through student donations. Students will be able to donate as little as $20.11 to $200. Both levels of donations will grant students an invitation to attend the Senior Class Brunch with special guest Chancellor Woodson, while the $200 level donations will have the student donor’s name inscribed at the 2011 entryway.
This is similar to that of the 2010 class gift, which then gave student donors an opportunity to have their name inscribed in the Bell Tower bell.
The Office of Annual Giving has been involved in raising funds for various senior class gifts through the Alumni Call Center with student callers.
“The N.C. State Call Center will be reaching out to seniors in late February to let them know more about our class gift, as well as provide with them an opportunity to donate,” Craig said, pointing students to seniors.ncsu.edu for more information.
James Xu, a senior in accounting, worked as a student supervisor at the Call Center when they raised the funds for the 2010 senior class gift, the 2009 Kay Yow Memorial and the long-awaited 2002 outdoor classroom on Centennial Campus near Engineering Building I.
“The 2010 Senior Class Gift was the adding an actual bell to the Bell Tower. I think it cost around $10,000 and we got way over that goal,” Xu said. “The extra donations will be in an endowment fund, and they will probably use that money when maintenance is required for the bell.”
Celia Wang, an alumna who graduated spring 2010 in industrial engineering, said the 2010 gift was one of the best class gifts.
“It’s a much bigger representation than some other senior class gifts that have been given to the University in the past. It’s very meaningful since the Bell Tower is a very important landmark of the University,” Wang said.
“Some senior class gifts way back in 1999 were also very good, such as the Pride Wolf statue in Murphy Center and the renovation of the Student Health Center,” Wang said. “Those definitely also enhanced the University, not only in the new facilities, but also makes the University nicer and more attractive.”
