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[Music]
College students working hard in front of a computer screen isn't unusual,
but these UAA sudents are doing something special.
They're connecting with alumni to raise scholarship funds.
Lets listen in.
[People Talking]
[People talking]
It goes to help undergraduate students recieve some form of financial aid or scholarship support,
and so we're just calling and asking a lot of our alumni to help support UAA,
and our goal this semester is to raise $50,000 towards the UAA fund,
and it would be really great if you were a part of this success.
They work on the second floor of the campus Admin building
in a room called The Student Phonathon Headquarters.
They use new computer software that catalogues their work,
speed dials numbers, and records responses.
Now it's easy.
I love it. I can just click and go.
If they want more information, we send information to them.
Right, I mean it definitely makes a lot more calls than we usually have been able to do.
All we have to do is click a button instead of dialing ten digits or even more
you know, out of state has their own codes so...
Demo or whatever. And it's what I'm about to know and
I just used this for the first time in English with...
The student workers say the new software
has made their fundraising more efficient and effective.
The biggest special that I ever got was a $3000 gift,
and this was a person that I've talked to in previous years.
I've been here for three years so that's six semesters.
And so when I asked for a $2000 gift,
She actually jumped for a $3000 gift,
and the conversation actually went really well
because I've talked to so many alumni
where I forget who's who,
but since she was a big donor the first year, the second year, and then my third year,
that made it a lot easier to connect with her,
and she talked about her personal life a little bit,
and then her company,
and how she really enjoyed UAA
and how she wanted to help the growth of the community.
The students work afternoons and evenings
calling alumni across Alaska and the United States.
They update contact information,
fill alums in on current campus news,
and ask for a pledge.
Being able to receive a gift from an alum
actually touches base with my personal aspects of my life
so I really genuinely appreciate the gift that I do receive
because I do let them know that I am a scholarship recipient.
As this year wound down,
the Phonathon workers had much to celebrate.
By the time they met Chancellor Fran Ulmer for their annual phototogether
and enjoyed a year-end pizza party,
the students had met their goal of raising $125,000 in alumni donations to UAA.
With the help of their new technology,
they were able to increase alumni giving by 30% over last year.
It made for a sweet ending to their year,
and a sense of gratitude.
Thank you.
Thank you!
Thank you.
Thank you alumni.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
[howl]
[Music]