Announcement of the Senior Class Gift
by Meredith Atwood ’09 (South Dennis, Mass.) and Donterio Porter ’09 (Little Rock, Ark.)
Donterio: The last time we sat together as a class was four years ago at our induction ceremony. That evening, we were reminded of the theme for our freshman year: “Built by Rasp and Bicycle,” or concepts of what make a house a home. I’m sure we all expected Denison to become a home to us, but to what extent, we had no idea. We were brought together here geographically, but over these four years, we came together by the home that we created.
Meredith: And what a home it has been. We’ve had some amazing times together. From the Slayter Sizzle during August O, to getting involved all over campus, to all of our Senior Events this year for the Senior Class Gift, and then Senior Week, we leave our home here with a lot of great memories. And in appreciation for our time here and for the home we have made, our class has had the opportunity to make a Senior Class Gift. Our gift, like many classes before us, goes directly to the Denison Annual Fund for general scholarships and financial aid.
Donterio: Most of us have been financially supported through this fund, and that support comes in part from classes that have gone before us and gave so that we could have the same opportunities and resources as they had. This way of giving back, both now and in the future, helps us to stay involved in this community that we will always be a part of. We hope that our Class continues to give back to Denison long after today. We are proud to say that our current class participation rate is 42 percent, and we have given over $5,271.
Meredith: We could not have accomplished this without the support of our dedicated Senior Class Gift Committee. We would like to thank our committee and especially our two Student Coodinators, Lia Evans and David Zeile. If all the members of the Committee could please rise and be recognized for your hard work. (Pause for applause). We would like to extend our appreciation to the Denison Alumni Council for contributing $2,925 to the matching gifts challenge. We would also like to express our thanks to the Annual Fund, the Alumni Relations office, and in particular, our Senior Class Gift Committee Advisor, Assistant Director to the Annual Fund, Lori Pongtana.
Donterio: We encourage you to read in your programs the list of seniors who have generously given to the gift this year. In addition, there is a list of those who we have given in honor or memory of, including faculty, staff, parents, and students. We would not be here for all of those people, for they have truly impacted our lives every step of the way. For students who have yet to participate, you have until the end of June to contribute towards this special fund. We welcome your support!
Meredith: And so, Class of 2009, thank you for sharing a home with us for these four years. We wish you all the best of luck and know that you will do wonderful things. Congratulations!