WESTFIELD – Westfield State University Alumni Relations has created a program that incorporates student, parent, and alumni involvement as a way to build relationships and raise funds for new activities and scholarships. The Lifetime Owls program was implemented in the fall and has so far brought in over $38,000 in membership fees since the start.
This program is dedicated to supporting the students of Westfield State and the Alumni Association. In order to make this happen, 60 percent of funds go to running the program (marketing, programming, yearly scholarships, etc.), while 20 percent go to either the Student Government Association or the Alumni Association (depending on whether the member is a student or alumnus), 10 percent to an endowed scholarship, 5 percent to athletics, and 5 percent to new initiatives in academic departments that support bringing alumni back to campus to interact with undergrads.
A presentation of funds was made to the different areas of focus on Match 27. Since the start of the program, Student Government has received $5,415, the Alumni Association received $2,220, and athletics $1,908.75. President Evan Dobelle was there to help present the checks.
That day also included the drawing for student scholarships. Each year, four members of the Lifetime Owls program, one student from each class, have their names drawn from a lottery and are the recipients of a scholarship. The senior scholarship, worth $2,500, was drawn this past fall and was awarded to Ariana Colella. The other three scholarships were pulled at the spring event: Brittni Peck, class of 2014, will receive a scholarship worth $1,750, Hannah Eager, class of 2015, a scholarship worth $1,200, and Joshua Tarr, class of 2016, a scholarship worth $750.
The endowed scholarship program will start this June with $3,800.
In addition to the perk of being entered into a yearly scholarship raffle, the one-time fee gives the members discounts on events and the alumni store, while also offering exclusive programs like receptions with President Dobelle, events in Boston and fun, interactive, on-campus activities. The fee is $75 for students and $100 for parents and alumni.
As of March 15, 468 people have joined the program.
Kathi Bradford, Director of Alumni Relations said, “The Lifetime Owls program focuses on creating lifelong relationships between our undergraduate students, parents and alumni.”
