Graduating seniors make their mark on campus
Brick sales help students to show appreciation, some say

By Jessica Cervantez
Staff Reporter

Goals of the Senior Appreciation Program are to preserve memories of graduating seniors and to begin alumni support, but they are having a difficult time attracting students, said Karen Nichols, an administrative assistant in the annual fund office.

The program allows graduating seniors in the fiscal year of 2001 who want to leave a permanent mark to purchase bricks for $50.

The goal of the program is to attract a minimum of 300 students, and they still have a long way to go, Nichols said.

Nicole Flores, a senior psychology major, said she plans to purchase a brick.

Chrissy Braden Staff Reporter Kelvin Sham, a freshman electrical engineering major, walks by the bricks for the class of 2000 Wednesday outside the Mary Couts Burnett Library. The goals of the Senior Appreciation Program allows graduating seniors who want to leave a permanent mark to purchase bricks for $50.

“It’s a fabulous idea,” Flores said. “It’s a unique way to be remembered at the university.”

Gwen Notestine, an annual fund officer, said students who purchase bricks also have the option of honoring three people who have impacted their lives.

These individuals are noted in the commencement program, and they each receive a certificate, she said.

“It’s a great program, and it is a good way to show appreciation to the university,” Notestine said.

Several students said the program would be more effective if it did not involve purchasing a decorative brick.

Monica Dziubinski, a senior business management major, said purchasing a brick as a donation to the annual fund is a low priority on her list.

“I never really got attached to TCU,” Dziubinski said. “At this time of year there are so many other things to spend money on. Tuition is already so high. I don’t think, as an alumna, I want to give any more money to TCU because they make me do things like pay 8 cents for a copy.”

Notestine said the actual buying of the brick is not the focus of the program. Instead, she said it allows students to start the habit of contributing money to TCU.

“We want to educate students to realize, although tuition is seen as sky high, (tuition) only covers about one-half of the money needed,” Nichols said. “We have to find a balance.”

Notestine said alumni support helps build the foundation for the future of TCU.

“It is absolutely necessary for the growth of TCU,” Notestine said.

In previous years, one-half of the proceeds from the program went to scholarships for rising seniors. However, Nichols said, the scholarship fund was discontinued due to difficulties in deciding how the money should be awarded.

Now 50 percent of the cost goes to the purchase of the brick while the other half is donated to the TCU annual fund, she said.

Blaire Willingham, a senior biology major, said installing the donated bricks is a hassle because it tears up the sidewalks.

“TCU needs to be more productive with time and money,” Willingham said.

However, Nichols said the benefits of the program outweigh these minor inconveniences. Students who support the university now are more likely to continue their alumni support in the future, which is a major stepping stone in keeping a TCU degree valuable, Nichols said.

She said students are now given more choices when purchasing the bricks such as recognizing a fraternity, sorority or sport in which they participate.

“In years to come it will be something to come back and see,” Nichols said.

The deadline to purchase a brick is Feb. 28. Forms to purchase a brick can be picked up at the Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center.

Jessica Cervantez
j.s.cervantez@student.tcu.edu