The Class of 2020's gift to the university is our way of leaving our mark and legacy on the Forty Acres. The class gift designations are chosen by a student-led committee of graduating seniors who are dedicated to leaving the university an even better place than they found it. This is our last opportunity to come together as a class!
WHY GIVE BACK?
Leave a legacy for future Longhorns to receive the same world-class education and be part of the class gift tradition.
Receive a commemorative Class of 2020 Tower Pin to celebrate being part of a UT tradition.
Invest in the value of your UT Degree and help shape the university that you want future students to experience.
Your gifts will be matched by The Office of President Fenves, up to $50,000! When your gift is matched, the impact is doubled.
WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING
You choose the area you wish to support. You can choose from four funds that help the entire campus population, or from something else you are passionate about.
Student Emergency Services
Our entire community is coming together in this time of uncertainty and you can make an immediate difference to UT students facing unexpected hardships.Emergency funding keeps Longhorns on track to earn their degree. Your gift supports students facing lost wages, food insecurity or housing challenges, and helps provide laptops or internet access so students can complete their spring semester.
Library Tomorrow Fund
Reimagine the future of UT Libraries. The Libraries of tomorrow will be revitalized to include collaborative spaces with a larger digital infrastructure. Library spaces reflect the needs of students, faculty, and researchers. Building digital capacity will connect them with an unimaginable amount of research material. The Library Tomorrow Fund helps our libraries continue to be innovative, adapt to the ever-changing landscape of higher education and support the needs of our student body.
SureWalk
Keeping students safe and focused on their studies. SureWalk provides accompanied walks and free rides home to students staying late on campus as they study and work on projects. Available seven days a week to all students, SureWalk on average provides 170 rides per night, accomplished by the dedicated work of volunteers in the Longhorn community. This service is especially useful when the libraries extend their operating hours during finals schedules, as SureWalk is there to make sure students staying late on campus are provided a secure way home.
Bleed Orange, Live Green Sustainability Fund
Tackling one of the most complex and pressing topics of our time. The Bleed Orange, Live Green Sustainability Fund, part of the Office of Sustainability, is a way for students to lead the charge on a greener Forty Acres. Programs like the Green Fund, which allows for students to apply for and receive funding for green-focused projects on campus, are made possible by the work done in the Office of Sustainability. Led by a student-majority committee, the Green Fund truly allows students to lead sustainable initiatives. Projects dedicated to reducing UT's carbon footprint, improving our energy usage, making sustainable landscaping choices and constructing greener buildings are all possible through gifts to this designation.
Give to your passion at UT! Choose "Other" and write in the area of campus you want your gift to support.
BECOMING PART OF THE TRADITION
Every Senior who gives $20.20 or more will receive a commemorative Class of 2020 Tower Pin.. The pin represents that you gave back to an initiative you care about and partook in leaving a legacy with your fellow Longhorns!
WHY I CHOSE TO GIVE
The past four years I've spent at UT have been an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life -- from the late nights at the library to the game days to the friendships I've been able to make. I chose to give to the 2020 Senior Class Gift because I want the generations of students that will come after us to have the same experience. With our support, students will be able to walk home safely, use our library's resources, and make an impact on our environment. Through this gift, I hope to continue the cycle of giving that makes our university strong and our community proud! - Keerthana Chakka, Vice President of Internal Relations for the Student Foundation
UT is truly a life-changing place. I have received so much from it in the past 4 years studying here, either through a sense of belonging, or through the great academic resources that have prepared me well for my future studies and beyond. A wise man once said: “always leave a place better than you found it.” I wholeheartedly endorse that statement, and I believe that giving to 2020 class gift is the best way to empower those positive changes happening on UT campus. I am beyond excited to be part of the tradition, and to make positive impacts on the future longhorns, the university, and even the whole world. Hook’em! - Betty Sun, Member of the 2020 Class Gift Committee.
I have a double longhorn for a dad who has always instilled in me the value of giving back to those who have given to you. This is the reason I chose to join the 2020 Class Gift Committee. This University has given me so many opportunities over the past 4 years, and this is why I believe donating to the Library Tomorrow Fund and Surewalk is important. The research opportunities and other resources, including beautiful libraries to study in, that UT has provided to it’s students is invaluable. For four years, UT has prioritized me as a student, including my education and safety, and now it is time to show how much I appreciate that through my donation to the 2020 Class Gift. - Morgan Weaver, Alumni Relations Director for the UT Student Government
I am giving back because UT because I truly believe that there is nothing like what we have here. These past four years, I have always tried to make the most of my college experience so that when I leave here, an impact stays behind. To me, making a gift as I graduate is the perfect symbol of my dedication for this University and all of its amazing programs. One of those programs is the Green Fund, which provides grants to students who want to make this campus a more environmentally friendly place. I learned about the Green Fund when they were able to fund Gatorade coolers for the Longhorn Band so that we do not waste plastic by using individual bottles. Giving back to this important initiative ensures that I am helping UT make this world a better place. - Jake Wohleb, Member of the 2020 Class Gift Committee
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How is the Senior Class Gift different from tuition or endowments?
Tuition, which currently amounts to 21% of UT’s budget, helps cover the less apparent costs of facilities, utilities, faculty and staff salaries and student services. The Senior Class Gift intends to fund programs and entities that are not adequately covered by tuition.
How will my donation be recognized?
All donors will have the option to be on the virtual Donor Wall on the HornRaiser page. Seniors that donate $20.20 (or more) will receive a SeniorClass Gift pin. Wear the pin on your backpack, reusable tote or anywhere else to show it off!
Ambassadors who raise 10 or more gifts receive a graduation cord to recognize their impact.
How much am I being asked to give?
Our recommended donation is $20.20. With that being said, our primary goal is participation. We encourage students to participate in Class Giving by donating however much they currently can in a way that is most meaningful to them.
Who is in charge of the Class Gift?
The Class of 2020 Gift is a Student Government initiative, managed by the Class Gift Agency of Student Government and Student Foundation, with the support of the President’s office and the UT Development Office.
I am a parent of a Class of 2020 graduate. Can I donate?
Absolutely! Parents donating for Class of 2020 graduates should include their Longhorn’s name in the donation note. Parents not representing Class of 2020 students can donate as well!
I am an underclassman at UT. Can I donate? If so, why should I donate?
You can absolutely donate and start your tradition of giving back to UT!
Is there any other way to donate?
Yes! You can donate through Venmo. Send your donations of $20.20 or more to @UTSTUFO. *Please make sure to include your EID, and the name of the Ambassador, if there is one.
PIN PICK UP INFORMATION
Eligible donations ($20.20 or more) will receive a class pin. Pins will be mailed out in May to the address you provide when you donate. Check back later for specific mailing dates!
