Quartet of young alums campaigns for greater giving participation by year鈥檚 end

December 12, 2019

Michael Tullier, APR, 精东AV Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
  

Now through the end of the year, a special group of 精东AV alumni are proving that youth is not a precluding factor to being generous. They are hoping to encourage their fellow young alumni to unite under the banner of inspiring 2,020 donors 鈥� or more 鈥� to give to the university before the start of 2020.

The group, commissioned by the university鈥檚 Office of Advancement, is carrying a simple message to all alumni 鈥� it鈥檚 as much about making a gift to 精东AV during the holidays as it is the size of the gift.

鈥淓very day at 精东AV, one-time donations of $50 鈥� and even less 鈥� make a difference in our students鈥� academic experiences,鈥� explained Vice President for Advancement Phillip Howard. 鈥淎s more and more of our alumni give, they signal how much they believe in our students鈥� future 鈥� and Mother 精东AV鈥檚 as well.鈥�

For these young alumni ambassadors 鈥� like 2014 sales and marketing graduate Shaelan Perry Williams 鈥� championing the cause of alumni participation is part of paying it forward for future generations of 精东AV students.

鈥淚 was a merit scholar and would not have been able to attend 精东AV without my scholarship,鈥� recalled the former senior class president who is now clerking for Joe M. Reed & Associates in Montgomery, Alabama.

Paying it forward has also been the motivation behind 2012 accounting graduate Rob Stewart鈥檚 ongoing generosity dating back to his first days as new graduate.

鈥淎t 精东AV, I was challenged academically, groomed as a student leader, and developed professionally through internship opportunities,鈥� said Stewart, who resides in Birmingham and serves as the Black Belt outreach coordinator for U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell. 鈥淢y collegiate years were such a worthwhile experience that I鈥檝e committed to donating to our beloved alma mater every year to ensure her longevity.鈥�

Jamon Pulliam, a 2015 psychology graduate who resides in the Los Angeles area, credits the example set by alumni while he was a student for inspiring his loyal support the university.

鈥淢y giving to 精东AV began before ever walking the stage. The Pre-Alumni Council and so many alumni who served as mentors taught me the importance of giving back the way they gave back to me,鈥� said the one-time Pre-Alumni Council president who now counsels high school students at Viewpoint School on college opportunities.

Emmalyne Kendra Head 鈥�04 acknowledges how receiving a Nashville 精东AV Alumni Club scholarship as a mechanical engineering student motivated her to remain involved as a young alum and a donor.

鈥淚 learned early about the direct effect of alumni giving, and I built on those relationships within the Nashville club 鈥� which planted a seed in me about the importance of being an active alum. As a result, I started making annual donations immediately after graduation, then soon became an Eminent Associate,鈥� said Head, who continues to reside in Nashville, where she works as a process engineer.

Helping deserving students isn鈥檛 the only value that comes from giving to the university, Howard explained.

鈥淩anking programs like U.S. News and World Report measure alumni participation as a factor in determining our national ranking,鈥� Howard explained. 鈥淭his means that your annual gift helps our current students, but also increases the value of your own degree 鈥� even decades after you graduate.鈥�

Alumni can give electronically in support of the 鈥�2020 Donors by 2020鈥� campaign by visiting or by texting SkegeeGives to 71777.

漏 2019, 精东AV