Class of 2021: Senior Giving Campaign

The Class of 2021 was full of PC pride at the Senior Wine & Cheese event where they celebrated a landmark giving campaign and presented their gift to President vandenBerg. The campaign had the highest participation rate in its history, exceedingthe last record-holding class’s participation (PC ’17) by two percentage points. Thecampaign began February 25 with the Campaign Kickoff on the Alumni Green,continued with an April 10 Tailgate, an April 30 Golf Tournament, and wrapped upwith the Senior Wine & Cheese on May 5.

NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• 103 TOTAL DONORS

• $7,980 TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED

• 70% CLASS GIVING PARTICIPATION

• 4 FUNDRAISING EVENTS

Campaign co-chairs Reagan Osbon and Rylee White left us with words of what motivated them, memories, and words of wisdom, as they looked back on the Senior Giving Campaign and their time at PC. We are grateful for their leadership in the Campaign, on campus and among their classmates. We also extend our gratitude to the Senior Giving Campaign committee members and the entire Class of 2021 for showing great perseverance and character during their junior and senior years.

Reagan Osbon, Senior Campaign Co-Chair

WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN TO BEGIN WITH AND THEN WHY DID YOU WANT TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE WITHIN THE SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN?

For three years, I walked by Alumni Green every day and even told potential students on tours about our Senior Giving Campaign and that one day, they too could leave their own lasting impact on campus. When Ashtin gave me a call asking me to work hands-on with the campaign, I was excited to help our class come together after an incredible four years to give back to the college that we all love. When I realized that I had the opportunity to take on a leadership role, I was ecstatic. I know that I had some incredible peers, and the opportunity to help select who I would be working with was such an incredible chance to get to know them better and to truly build a special team, which we did.

WHY DID YOU FEEL LIKE THE SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CURRENT SENIOR CLASS AT PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE?

Presbyterian College has given me so much. It has given every Blue Hose so much. The opportunity to give back is too great to pass up. But even beyond that, it gave me the opportunity to grow closer with my classmates, build my resume, and build important connections within the PC community.

WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE THE HIGHEST CLASS GIVING PERCENTAGE AT 70% IN THE HISTORY OF THE SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN?

Simply put, we’re the best to ever do it. I challenge any other class to match our enthusiasm and passion for Presbyterian College. It was certainly a highpoint in my college career, and something that I will never forget. Looking back, it was such an excellent exclamation point on my four years and really opened my eyes to the fact that the Blue Hose care on a level that most college communities don’t.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THE SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN?

Easily the Senior Wine and Cheese. It was the first chance that our class could gather in a social setting, drink some free beer and wine from the College, and really just experience college again. COVID-19 really messed up our experiences together. We missed our Senior Opening Convocation in our caps and gowns, we missed presenting our capstones and research projects that we worked so hard on in person, and our last Christmas at PC. The list goes on and on. But we had the chance to come together in fellowship and celebration. In addition, we presented our new President, Dr. Matt vandenBerg, with a check representing our hard work. It was such a special moment.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE CLASS OF 2022 SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN?

Enjoy every moment. You were asked to be a part of this committee because someone believes in you and that you can bring something to the table, but don’t forget to enjoy it. The Senior Giving Campaign is one of the last chances that you have with your fellow class leaders. Grow the relationships that you have with people, but also begin new ones if there are people on the committee that you don’t know as well. Outside of the committee, enjoy everything you can about being a senior. You’ve worked hard enough the last three and a half years, so you’ve earned the right to have fun, even on fundraising committee.

Rylee White, Senior Campaign Co-Chair

WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN TO BEGIN WITH AND THEN WHY DID YOU WANT TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE WITHIN THE SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN?

When Reagan Osbon asked me to join him in co-leading this campaign, I was honored to be considered for the role and immediately accepted. I had heard of the Senior Giving Campaign and its brick-selling incentive but it was not until I realized all that the Senior Giving Campaign committee is responsible for that I became passionate about leading this initiative. I felt a commitment to my class for multiple reasons. PC instilled the importance of service to me during my time there, and I feel that donating back to our college before graduation puts the cherry on top when it comes to our service-led spirit. I also saw this as an opportunity to ensure that Presbyterian College traditions that coincide with the Senior Giving Campaign, such as Countdown to Graduation, Senior Wine and Cheese, and the bricks at Alumni Green, were continued despite a national pandemic.

WHY DID YOU FEEL LIKE THE SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CURRENT SENIOR CLASS AT PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE?

The Senior Giving Campaign was especially important for our senior class, as can be seen through the fact that it holds the highest class giving percentage, because it represented a sense of normalcy that we all craved so badly during our last year at PC. My committee and I utilized this campaign to organize events and gatherings that we had missed during the end of our junior and beginning of our senior year. We planned and marketed our traditional functions and even created new events, such as the Campus Golf Tournament and Food Trucks & Football. While my class handled the changes that came along with the pandemic well, it grew our appreciation for our experiences at PC and made us all the more thankful to call it home.

Co-chairs Reagan Osbon and Rylee White unveil Senior Gift.

Co-chairs Reagan Osbon and Rylee White present the gift to President vandenBerg.

WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE THE HIGHEST CLASS GIVING PERCENTAGE AT 70% IN THE HISTORY OF THE SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN?

I am incredibly grateful for the support my classmates gave me and the entire Senior Giving Campaign committee. I think it well represents how tight knit the Class of 2021 is and our love for Presbyterian College.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THE SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN?

My favorite memory from the Senior Giving Campaign is the Senior Wine and Cheese. This was the first event Dr. vandenBerg and his family hosted at their house, making it even more special. This was one of the first gatherings many of my classmates and I had been to in over a year, and it did not disappoint.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE CLASS OF 2022 SENIOR GIVING CAMPAIGN?

My three pieces of advice would be:

1. Be passionate about the campaign! It is an exciting position to be able to encourage your classmates to become donors and plan events for your class. Buy into it, and your class will follow.

2. Recruit a diverse group of people for the Senior Giving Campaign Committee. Reagan and I hand-picked our committee, looking for people that would be passionate about the campaign, that were well liked and driven people, and that covered different areas on campus. Try to find people that, together, will be able to reach your entire class.

3. Practice communication skills! Reagan and I created chairs within our committee to delegate specific responsibilities to. This worked great for us, but make sure to also keep these committee members in the loop and make them feel appreciated.

Class of 2021 Senior Campaign Committee Members

Committee Members:

Reagan Osob ’21 Co-Chair

Rylee White ’21 Co-Chair

Jahnnie Conner ’21

Sydney De Jong ’21

Brent Glasgow ’21

Heather Grice ’21

Abigail Harrison ’21

Dom Jones ’21

Madison Ladines ’21

Abby Lehman ’21

Micheal Malinovsky ’21

Sarah Marshall ’21

Sydney Ribelin ’21

Tess Sanots ’21

Sarah Smith ’21

Brooke Tallman ’21