The graduating class of 2007 intends on leaving its mark on CU. This year, the senior class leaves behind three gifts for the university.
The main gift is the restoration of the historic lilac garden located outside CU’s Henderson Museum on Broadway and Euclid Avenue. Originally constructed in 1949, the garden has become a landmark on campus. The years have left their mark on the historic site and the garden is in desperate need of repairs and new lattice fencing panels. The plan is to place a variety of lilacs, seating arrangements and a plaque dedicated to the class of 2007.
“The lilac garden will be managed by Facilities Management who are housed over in east campus. What they will do is use the money that we give them as (funding for) management and to buy the lilacs,” said senior gift co-chair Samira Rajabi.
Garden renovations will likely be completed in 2008.
“They won’t break ground until after graduation and will probably not be done until next school year. So it will be ready for next year’s students to enjoy in the spring because it is a seasonal item. But as far as the park benches and the plaque, they will stay there year-round for people to enjoy,” Rajabi said.
The second gift is to allow CU to continue the tradition of the Senior Class Legacy Ball. According to the Senior Class Council, the ball is a unique way for seniors to come together and celebrate their time at CU. The gift will allow the Class of 2008 to continue the celebration that was introduced last year.
The final gift establishes a Senior Class Norlin Scholarship Endowment awarded annually to a rising senior student. This scholarship will recognize a student who has demonstrated outstanding academic or creative achievement during his or her college career.
“This year we will probably only have enough money to endow $1,000, but generally the Norlin scholarship is a $3,000 scholarship. Because it is the senior class gift, it will be called the Senior Class Norlin Scholarship,” Rajabi said.
The decision on this year’s senior gift came from a combination of student and community input.
“We sent out a couple of e-mails to seniors and we had a town hall meeting and we invited seniors to come choose what the gift would be,” Rajabi said.
Seniors were also given an opportunity to give input through Facebook.
The SCC made the final vote based on community and senior responses.
“We decided that the lilac garden will be most approachable and most memorable for seniors and students overall,” Rajabi said.
Still, it seems that many seniors are distant from the projects.
“I had no idea that the senior class gift was to restore the lilac garden. I don’t even know where that is,” senior communication major Maile Dietz said.
With the senior class gift marking its seventeenth year at CU, the hope is that students are becoming more connected to the tradition.
In the past, senior gifts have included the creation of blue safety lights around campus and on the Hill, the restoration of areas of the UMC, the renovation of Farrand Field, the implementation of a Senior Class Legacy Ball and the establishment of scholarships for students.
The gift for the class of 2007 is representative of all May, summer and December graduates.
“Essentially, the senior gift each year is fully funded by each graduating class. When you initially matriculate at CU, each student submits a $200 enrollment deposit. Everyone then is asked around the time of their graduation to donate this deposit, which otherwise would be returned, to the gift efforts. The money collected will be used to fund the gift,” said Joni Borzcik, president of SCC.
Additional contributions to the senior class gift can be made at The CU Fund
Contact Campus Press staff writer Elizabeth Cuje at elizabeth.cuje@thecampuspress.com
