Committee announces senior gift
In line with the university’s efforts to go green, this year’s senior gift could be a present for both the environment and students who enjoy spending time on the Quad.
“The senior gift for this year will be an outdoor water station with two drinking fountains and a water bottle-filling part out on the Quad,” said Blake Nemelka, the USU Student Giving Chair.
Each year graduating seniors present a farewell gift to the university. The Student Giving Committee chooses an idea based on suggestions from seniors and discussion within the committee. When a project is chosen, it is presented to the seniors, who are asked to donate to the final cost.
“It’s a reflection of how (students) feel their experience went here,” Nemelka said. “There are only so many positive things we can say about the university. This is an actual tangible gift we can give back to the university and say thank you.”
Past gifts include: the A on top of Old Main Tower, the “USU” sign on 400 North, the Hello Walk, the covered bike rack outside the library, and the most recent Block A renovation.
Nemelka said the inspiration for this year’s gift came after the original gift idea was suspended. The first idea involved refurbishing the old chimes that used to ring in Old Main Tower. When the Caine College of the Arts learned of this proposal, Nemelka said, college faculty asked that the chimes be postponed for a year, so renovation could be included in the expansion administrators have planned for the college.
Instead, he said, the committee took a different route. Suggestions by members led to a decision that drinking water should be available on the Quad.
“The Quad is utilized by so many students, especially during the early fall and late spring semesters. It seemed like a good idea to have water accessible to the students,” said Sian Smith, a member of the Student Giving Committee who had the idea.
Other members of the committee said they jumped on board.
“I thought it was a really great idea. It was like, ‘Why don’t we have one out there already?'” committee member Miles Erickson said.
The fountain will feature two drinking spouts, one spout designed for filling bottles, based on the new fixtures installed in the Taggart Student Center. He said the committee expects the introduction of this outdoor fountain to cut down on plastic waste via water bottles.
“Providing this amenity to students not only promotes wellness, but it encourages students to be more environmentally conscious,” the gift website states.
The committee members are not the only individuals who believe the development of this fountain is a step toward an environmentally friendly campus. Nemelka said groups like Blue Goes Green and Students for Sustainability have offered to help partially fund the cost of the construction.
“They are very excited about — however much the seniors raise — helping us the rest of the way,” Nemelka said.
Committee members said they hope the added support of campus organizations will encourage students to contribute to this gift.
“Blue Goes Green is going to help, so I think that is an (incentive) for students. It doesn’t take as much out of their pockets,” Erickson said.
Nemelka said the total cost for the fountain will be around $7,000. Though donations have already begun rolling in, he said the goal total is great enough that lots of people need to donate.
“Most everyone donates,” Nemelka said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s large or small donations — it’s an important part of higher education.”
Students wishing to donate can visit the senior gift Web page on USU’s site.
– brianna.b@aggiemail.usu.edu