STUDENT volunteers will helm Graduation Class Gift this year for the first time, to seek donations from final-year NTU students to give back to their alma mater. These donations collectively make up Class Gift 2008.

This is the first time peer-to-peer solicitation of donations has been introduced. Representatives from the various schools have been nominated and will participate as Class Gift ambassadors who will be seeking donations from their schoolmates.

Ms Marina Tan Harper, Director of the NTU Development Office, emphasized the importance of the grassroots support from the graduating students that will hopefully excite the community and leverage for more donations.

“Everyone has a stake in maintaining NTU at its best. The students’ participation will leverage others in the community to give. Private donations lift the university to the next level of excellence,” she said.

Yandi Andhita, 21, chairperson of the committee for Graduation Class Gift 2008, is also in favour of student participation.

“It is good that students are involved in seeking donations from their friends, as they can explain to them why they should donate,” he said.

Of last year’s graduating class, 27% donated $95,000 to the Graduation Class Gift. Students can designate their donations either to the NTU Endowment Fund or the School General Fund of their respective schools.

Lita, 21, a second-year Civil and Environmental Engineering student, was among those appointed to be Class Gift Ambassadors.

“It is a good idea that the Development Office approached the various school clubs first for the pioneer batch. After gaining more awareness for the campaign, the position of Class Gift Ambassador can be open to anyone who is interested and more will apply,” she said.

However, she said that there may be difficulties in seeking donations from the final-year students as most of them do not have many lessons in school.

Lai Jes Mie, 24, a final-year student from the Nanyang Business School, acknowledged the difficulties, but felt that the involvement of the Class Gift ambassadors have helped greatly in overcoming the problem.

“Most of the students in their final year have only two days of school, but as I’m a final year student myself, I have more opportunities to approach them when we have class together,” Lai said.

A final-year student at the Nanyang Business School, Sherry Toh, 21, is grateful for the chance to give back to her alma mater.

She will be donating $75, as she wishes to dedicate a message to a professor who has helped her a lot. For gifts of $75 and above, a special message of thanks will be displayed on campus televisions during Convocation Week.

“I feel a great sense of pride to be part of the NTU community. It makes you think about what the school has given you for the past few years, and what you can give back now,” she said.