Senior Gift to Raise Money for Staff Emergency Fund

Every year since 1981, the graduating senior class has honored its time at Middlebury by presenting a class gift to the college. This year, the Classes of 2019 and 2019.5 voted to use their funds raised through donations to endow the Fund for Staff Support. The reserve will go towards aiding staff members in need of emergency assistance or support.

“We wanted our fund to give back to the people who are at the heart of running Middlebury, and who have done so throughout our four years here, but will also still be here when we leave,” said Senior Committee Treasurer Tricia Nelsen ’19. “We wanted our legacy to have an impact on the staff who aren’t here temporarily, but continuously make this place function.”

The tradition of giving a senior gift began in an effort by the college for students to learn the importance of philanthropy and leaving a legacy behind when they graduate. As the tradition has developed over time, the college has begun soliciting donations to match the senior gift. This has enabled students to raise even more for their class gift, allowing them to choose more meaningful projects such as scholarships and environmental support. 

Past gifts have included funding for nature trail maintenance and landscaping, benches and the clock outside of the McCullough Student Center, building the Solar Decathlon House, renovating the lounge in Proctor, buying an additional MiddRides van, purchasing new campus printers, and memorial scholarships honoring the memory of classmates.

This year, the five-person Senior Committee narrowed down the options for the class gift to five choices after an “overwhelming number of poll results.” In addition to funding for staff supports, other possible options included allocating the funding towards financial aid, the arts, sustainable energy, and internships and off-campus experiences. According to Nelsen, after a final vote, the majority voting seniors elected to fund staff support.

The Committee’s goal is to raise $10,000 in student gifts for the fund. They are suggesting seniors donate $20.19 in honor of their class year. Those who donate will receive an official class pint glass, designed by Jill Stauffer ’19. They are hoping to raise an additional $15,000 in gifts from alumni and parents and are soliciting donors to match funds raised by students.

The fund will be managed by the Chaplain’s Office and the Human Resources Office and distributed to Middlebury College staff members in times of need and emergency via an application. It will subsidize financial burdens such as emergency medical expenses, funerals, heating and other unexpected crises.

Beyond the monetary contribution to the project, the senior class gift is also a symbol of student support. It is the last opportunity as a student — and the first opportunity for a soon-to-be alumnus — to give back to the college and to be part of the greater Middlebury community.

“The staff should feel supported and appreciated by the student body,” said fellow Committee leader Angie McCarthy ’19. “The senior class gift is a way for seniors to show their appreciation for their time at Middlebury and those who made it happen.”

McCarthy suggested the gift will “hopefully strike a note with members of the entire community,” since everyone benefits from the services the college staff provides. McCarthy also noted that while the seniors are pleased the class gift will go towards staff aid, “students shouldn’t always have to be the last line of support.”

“I think this decision has a ton of benefits, primarily the ability to help staff when they need it, but I also think it helps show them how much we appreciate their hard work even though students can sometimes come off as unappreciative,” Nelsen noted. “It’s the least we can do.”

More information on the fund can be found at go.middlebury.edu/seniorfund.