Announcement of the Senior Class Gift

by Kyle Banahan '06 and Aaron Rosenthal '06, Class Co-Governors

Kyle: When we sat down to write these few words, so many thoughts went through our minds. Slayter Sizzler, June Orientation, fraternity and sorority recruitment, crazy OWU lacrosse weekends, exciting movies, D-Day parties and performances, Senior Research deadlines, Senior Week, and finally the Senior Class Gift. All of these had one thing in common which brought a smile to our faces: our class did all of these together. We experienced all of our triumphs and heartbreaks together, and that is something that a lot of other schools cannot say. At the beginning of this year, the Senior Gift Committee set the ambitious goal to beat Denison's standing Senior Gift participation record of 41 percent. We knew this would be a challenge, but having seen this class come together over the past four years and the remarkable accomplishments we have achieved, we knew that this was certainly a goal that the Class of 2006 could get behind.

Aaron: We are proud to announce that we have exceeded 41 percent, and currently, our participation sits at 53 percent, the highest of any graduating class in the history of Denison University! All this could not have been achieved without the hard work of our Senior Gift Committee, all of whom we would like to stand and be recognized. Thanks to all of you, we were able to convince, persuade and educate our classmates about participating in the Class Gift which will go toward scholarships, helping future Denison students to attend this amazing university. Special recognition goes to Mary Sheridan '06 for being our student coordinator. Without her dedication and organization, this percentage would never have been reached. We would also like to thank the Alumni Council for matching these gifts, the Annual Fund, the Board of Trustees, Vice President Julie Houpt, and finally we would like to thank our advisor, Jim Kenny, for not only being an amazing mentor, but a great friend as well. But most important of all, thank you Senior Class, because without all of you, this would not have been possible. In your commencement program the names of those who participated in the Senior Gift program are listed, and to all of you I say thank you for your generosity.

Kyle: We hope our Class of 2006 will continue to give to the Annual Fund every year beyond graduation, because the combined gifts of Denison alumni are what allow this campus to function, grow, and strive as a university. To the Class of 2006, thank you for leaving Denison a better place than when you first arrived. Congratulations and good luck.