Student Groups Answer Call for Alumni-Outreach 'Phone-a-thon'

Published 01.28.2002

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Alumni News

When the Office of Institutional Advancement at Pennsylvania College of Technology begins contacting alumni next month to update records and build support for the Annual Fund, the effort will link current students with former students of the College and its two predecessor institutions.

The three- to four-week "Student/Alumni Outreach Phone-a-thon," which begins Feb. 18, will enlist the help of two student organizations: the Newman Club and the Student Ambassadors, that have volunteered to help make calls to alumni of Penn College, Williamsport Area Community College and the Williamsport Technical Institute.

"This is a great new project for Pennsylvania College of Technology," said Phone-a-thon coordinator Jim Finkler, Penn College's annual giving officer. "Our goal is to build stronger ties with alumni and give current students an opportunity to connect with former students. This project is as much about 'friend raising' as it is about fund raising."

The students will phone alumni, confirm and update addresses and other personal information, and ask them to support current and future students by making a gift to the Penn College Annual Fund.

"We're very happy that two student groups the Newman Club and the Student Ambassadors agreed to help us in making the calls," Finkler said of the organizations.

The Newman Club is a Catholic organization on campus offering students, faculty and staff a variety of religious, intellectual and social activities. The Student Ambassadors lead campus tours for visitors and represent the College at official functions throughout the academic year.

The Newman Club's participation will serve as a fund-raiser for that organization as well, since the Office of Institutional Advancement will make a donation to the club for its assistance.

"We are glad to do our part as a student organization and as future alumni of this fine institution," said Newman Club President Andy Miller.

The Annual Fund, Finkler said, is a major part of the College's effort to help students meet the cost of higher education. Many potential grant sources are influenced by the degree of alumni participation in an institution's Annual Fund, he added.

"Contributions to the Annual Fund help provide scholarships and help Penn College enhance the already-high quality of its programs," Finkler said. "Annual Fund contributions can mean the difference between success and failure for a student struggling to meet college costs."