More seniors contribute to class gift

The class of 2013 is on the right track to overcome its predecessor’s fundraising shortcomings, senior class organizers said.

Simon Scholl, chairman of the senior campaign, said this year’s campaign is on track to meet the goal set by the class of 2011 — which had the highest ever participation ­of students donating — heading into today’s Commencement Information Day.

The class of 2012 fell short of its goal of 48 percent.

This year’s senior campaign has exceeded last year’s participation, with 17 percent of seniors contributing to the senior class gift so far, in comparison with last year’s 11 percent at this time.

Campaign leaders have made their goal 48 percent participation with an average gift of $20.13.

“I am confident that we’ll meet the 48 percent goal and hope we can even be the first class to break 50 percent participation,” Scholl said.

Senior Class President Tim Palmer said he is hoping to make the event a milestone in fundraising for the senior class gift.

“All of our senior marshals will be present collecting gifts to the campaign and we are hoping a large number of seniors will decide to donate,” he said.

Scholl said his team hopes to finish up the month similar to the class of 2011, which went into April with 25 percent participation.

He said once they reach 25 percent, they only need 800 more seniors to participate to meet their goal.

Senior Class Vice President Nora Chan said she believes the success of the campaign is attributed to an increase in fundraising events.

“These events have served as benchmarks for our fundraising,” she said.

Scholl said the most successful event was “Beat Duke Week.”

The campaign established a competition with Duke to see which senior class could capture the highest percentage of students giving to the campaign before the second basketball game against Duke.

“We found the event to be very successful and we collected a little over 200 gifts in four collection days in the Pit,” Scholl said.

Scholl said campaign leaders are not discouraged by the campaign’s shortcomings of 2012.

Palmer said this year’s goal was set high to encourage a culture of giving back among seniors.

“I think it’s important to give because UNC’s continued success benefits every graduate, and Carolina’s standing is a reflection on all Tar Heels,” he said.

Contact the desk editor at university@dailytarheel.com.