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2024 University of Georgia graduates embody a culture of giving
Senior Signature campaign raises more than $100,000 for students, campus funds.
Every spring, the University of Georgia graduating class contributes a gift to the university to mark their legacy on campus for generations of students to come. The Class of 2024 has continued this tradition with a strong showing of support for their soon-to-be alma mater. For the fourth year in a row, over 3,000 student-donors contributed to the Senior Signature campaign.
This year, 3,201 members of the 2024 class contributed over $100,000 through Senior Signature, the university’s class gift program that has been in place since 1991. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students participate in the campaign.
“My fellow members of the Class of 2024 have demonstrated the importance of devoting time and energy to their passions,” said Caroline Reedy, outgoing president of the UGA Student Alumni Council. “We all know how important it is to leave things better than we found them, and the Class of 2024 has truly shown their commitment to campus, even as they are getting ready to leave it.”
The minimum Senior Signature donation is $30 and serves as an opportunity for students to learn how financial support can be designated to a variety of funds across campus. Each student donor is invited to direct $20 of their gift to an area of campus that made a positive impact on their time here. This year, students contributed to 621 funds at UGA. Among those funds were the Undergraduate Student Emergency Fund and the Sunshine Fund, both geared toward supporting holistic student well-being on campus.
The remaining $10 of a student’s donation is combined with other class members’ gifts to provide grant funding to a student organization of the group’s choice. This year, student donors selected XChanged Life to receive the grant during the upcoming academic year. The organization plans to host an event tailored to exchange, international, and UGA students, with the aim of exposing more international students to American culture, facilitating cultural exchange, and promoting greater interconnectedness among the student population at UGA.
In addition to supporting future generations of Bulldogs, student donors’ names will be engraved on the Class of 2024 plaque in Tate Plaza, just steps away from Sanford Stadium, Tate Student Center and Memorial Hall. The plaque will be installed ahead of Spring Commencement.
The tradition of student giving
Reedy and fellow members of the UGA Student Alumni Council engage their peers throughout the year to connect with alumni and to participate in campus traditions that enhance the student experience. They also strive to impress upon other students the importance of giving back philanthropically to UGA.
Their efforts, which include hosting fundraising events, peer-to-peer education via social media and email, and tabling on campus during the 2023-2024 academic year, help to engage their peers throughout their time at UGA.
“Students have a lot of opportunities to give back beyond the Senior Signature program,” said Reedy. “Initiatives like Beat Week, Dawg Day of Giving, and other special fundraising campaigns give students the opportunity to leave their mark on this university in a way that best suits them and their experiences here.”
To learn more about Senior Signature, go to alumni.uga.edu/seniorsignature.
Get to know the Georgia Women Give executive committee
Georgia Women Give is a nationwide, women-directed fundraising group inviting more women to become philanthropists and engage more deeply with the University of Georgia. Founded in the spirit of The First 12, the first women to attend UGA, the group is committed to philanthropy, community and learning.
GWG concentrates giving and increases impact by asking donors to designate their gifts to any of three specific funds: a merit-based scholarship fund, a study away support fund and an unrestricted fund that will send money to high-priority areas as directed by an executive committee.
The Georgia Women Give executive committee is comprised of:
Elizabeth Correll Richards, Chair, Atlanta, GA
Cortney Beebe (AB ’98), Naples, FL
Suzy Deering (BSFCS ’92), Bluffton, SC
Ali Gant (AB ’01, MPA ’11), Chattanooga, TN
Erika Lane (BBA ’93), Athens, GA
Stephanie Powell (BSED ’94, MED ’97, EDS ’99), Statham, GA
Diane Smock (AB ’74), Greenville, SC
We asked them a few questions about who they are, their connection to UGA, and more.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
Cortney Beebe: I was in charge of the 2005 Superbowl for Alltel in Alltel Stadium. We took 500 customers and clients, split up and stayed in three locations for three days and I didn’t lose anyone. All were alive and accounted for on Monday morning.
Diane Smock: The Upstate Mediation Center is the sole provider of mandated mediation services on a sliding fee scale to litigants who otherwise would not have access to mediation. When it lost its funding, I was hired to oversee its closing. Instead, I was able to secure sustainable funding and otherwise improve the internal operations. Twenty years later, the UMC is still in operation and is thriving.
What’s your favorite UGA-related memory?
Elizabeth Correll Richards: In 2017, UGA played Notre Dame. Both of my children were students at Georgia and all their friends wanted to go to the game, but it was expensive. So, I rented an RV, loaded 13 sophomores and seniors in the RV with my husband and drove to South Bend, Indiana, where we rented a house near the stadium. It was a weekend for the books.
Ali Gant: Without a doubt, it was the summer of 1999. I was so lucky to be selected as one of 12 Orientation Leaders. That summer shaped the rest of my life: the way I lead both small and large groups, the way I can work as a part of a team of dynamic individuals and, most importantly, the fact that I met my husband. We didn’t get married for five more years, but that summer planted the seeds for the rest of my life.
What constitutes a perfect day for you?
Cortney: No alarm, a stack of pancakes, a good workout (optional), then pack a cooler and spend all day on the beach with an amazing book. Then, a hot shower, dinner with my hubby and great friends, and head to bed early. Rinse and repeat.
Diane: Waking up early to enjoy coffee, the New York Times (in hard copy!), and chatting with my husband before our busy days begin. Spending the day hiking in the nearby mountains with a few friends, then coming home to sit by the fire while enjoying a glass of wine or cup of tea and getting lost in the pages of a good book.
Stephanie Powell (left) and Diane Smock at the 2024 Georgia Women Give spring event’s signature luncheon.
What trait do you consider to be your “superpower?”
Erika Lane: My superpower lies in my organizational skills and ability to self-motivate. Balancing the daily demands with the beautiful things in life that keep you going: family, friends, travel and a little tennis.
Suzy Deering: Being a Christian female in male-dominated industries. It allowed me to be empathetic and vulnerable which truly was a superpower.
Elizabeth: The ability to stay up late. It never bothered me when my kids pulled an all-nighter or needed a late-night ride. I am generally up until 3 a.m. – but don’t schedule anything for an early morning, I hate those!
Elizabeth Correll Richards speaks at the 2024 Georgia Women Give spring event’s panel discussion.
Who is the woman you most look up to? Why?
Stephanie Powell: Laura Bush and Dolly Parton. These ladies are both classy, iconic women who know how to get a job done with grace and grit.
Suzy: My grandmother was an amazing God-loving soul who stood tall and strong and provided unconditional love and a listening heart. I’m grateful my mom followed her mother’s footsteps and continues to fill that role. My mom is one of the strongest women I know.
What traits do you value most in your friends?
Erika: When it comes to friendships, I value honesty, trust, and openness. Someone who will show up at your door with a bottle of wine – sometimes to laugh, sometimes to cry and hopefully many times to celebrate.
Ali: I appreciate friends who, first and foremost, value kindness above all else. I also value friends who send me funny memes.
Ali Gant speaks with an attendee of the annual Georgia Women Give spring event luncheon.
What were your favorite things to do with friends during your time at UGA?
Diane: As soon as the weather started to warm up after a chilly winter, several of us would wake at sunrise, pile into a car, and drive for hours to Sea Island, Tybee Island or even Panama City beach for a weekend of sun and fun, then drive back on Sunday night, sunburned and happy.
Stephanie: During my time at UGA, you could find me Between the Hedges on game days as a Georgette, at the Zeta house, Spanky’s, listening to live music at the Georgia Theatre or (believe it or not) at Legion Field, which was a fun gathering spot for outdoor concerts and student events.
Lisa Sarajian is living la vie en rose
A passion for the arts led Lisa to study abroad. Now, she helps Bulldogs who want to do the same.
When Lisa Sarajian (BBA ’82) was a student, Athens felt imbued with a certain kind of magic. The city’s music scene was reaching its peak with the emergence of beloved bands like R.E.M., Pylon and the B-52s. As a freshman, Lisa spent her time after classes listening to bands play on Legion Field, exploring the growing downtown area and taking walks through UGA’s beautiful historic North Campus.
An international business major with a passion for the arts, Lisa loved immersing herself in Athens’ cultural scene. She could frequently be found wandering the galleries of the Georgia Museum of Art and attending free classical music concerts on North Campus. Music was at the center of life in Athens and the sound of live concerts spilled out onto sidewalks everywhere… on campus, downtown and in public parks.
“I just found there was always something fun to do,” Lisa said.
Lisa’s favorite Saturday afternoon activity was going to film screenings. A native of Marietta, Georgia, she hadn’t had as much access to the arts as she had wanted to growing up, and the thriving cultural scene she had become a part of was absolutely invigorating for her. Moving out of the suburbs to live in Athens opened up her world.
“It was my first introduction to foreign and independent films,” she said. “I would take some French classes and go to a French film festival.”
When Lisa learned about an opportunity to study abroad in France for the summer of 1979, she was thrilled. The trip, which focused on the arts, led her to Normandy, Paris and the Loire Valley.
“It was such a transformative experience for me,” she said. “I knew that I wanted to bust out at some point and see the world and broaden my horizons and I would not have had that opportunity otherwise.”
After graduating from UGA, Lisa went on to her first job, a role in finance she gained with the help of UGA’s career services department, now centralized in the Career Center. She worked in a few different jobs in the finance and advertising industry before moving to New York City to start her job at Standard & Poor’s, where she worked for almost three decades.
Lisa remembers her study abroad trip as one of the most meaningful experiences of her time at UGA, but she also understood firsthand how finances could be an obstacle for students hoping to study abroad. She had been unable to work a summer job that year, which was an important source of support through her time at UGA.
Lisa wanted to make it possible for more students to have a life-changing experience abroad like she did, so she created a study abroad scholarship.
“I was drawn to this opportunity as a way to give back and to give other people that opportunity as well, particularly kids who would not otherwise have the means to travel,” she said.
After her retirement in 2015, Lisa went back to school, earning certificates in gardening through the New York Botanical Garden and studying French. Today, she lives on the Upper West Side of New York City. She is a board member and consultant for various nonprofits in her area, including The Trust for Public Land, and an active member of the West Side Community Garden, where she maintains a plot. She stays connected to her friends from UGA with regular lunch dates, and she returns to France as often as she can.
Project Red grows campus impact thanks to student donors
Period poverty, or a lack of access to proper menstrual products and the education needed to use them effectively, has affected billions of people around the world. Project Red hopes to change that, one free biodegradable menstrual product at a time – and with the support of thousands of Senior Signature donors, the student organization is ready for the challenge.
Project Red, a UGA student organization formed in May 2020, works with UGA’s Facilities Management Division to place free biodegradable menstrual products in all-gender restrooms in 11 central locations on the UGA campus. The group also fosters discussions about menstrual health and period poverty, conducts research to identify needs and menstrual equity concerns among the student body and serves as a model for other organizations throughout the Southeast.
Project Red was initially supported by a grant from Aunt Flow, a menstrual product provider, and a 2020 Campus Sustainability Grant from UGA’s Office of Sustainability. As the organization grew and awareness of its work increased, Project Red’s resources struggled to meet demand. It needed financial support to continue to make an impact.
That support came in 2023, when Project Red was chosen to receive the 2022-2023 Class Gift. The group used the $6,000 donation to purchase two new dispensers, 15,000 menstrual products, and a series of promotional materials. It also reserved funding for future expenses to expand their reach on campus and continue to combat period poverty at UGA.
Senior Signature
The Class Gift is coordinated by the Student Alumni Council and funded by Senior Signature, an annual giving campaign for graduating students to give back to campus by contributing to areas that were significant to their UGA experience. Each student’s minimum contribution is $30, with $10 supporting the Class Gift initiative and the other $20 being directed to a fund of the student’s choosing. UGA student organizations are eligible to apply for the Class Gift each spring to receive funds for the following academic year. Senior Signature donors vote on the final Class Gift recipient.
“By being able to select the class gift, students are making their mark on UGA,” said Emily Neece ’25, the Student Alumni Council’s vice president of philanthropy. “The graduating class gets to support something that will help other students and leave a legacy.”
With the collective support of Senior Signature donors, Project Red is able to continue to meet student needs across campus — but Senior Signature’s impact does not stop there. The Class of 2024 will select another organization as the recipient of its Class Gift. During the 2024-2025 academic year, this organization will receive up to $6,000 to support their work within our campus community.
Celebrating a legacy of giving
This year’s Heritage Society Tailgate (on November 4 prior to the UGA vs. Missouri game) was a tremendous success. It is always a great time when our members gather for food, drink and game day fun. Check out the photo gallery from this year’s festivities. As always, it’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog!
Want to attend next year and celebrate your commitment to UGA? All it takes is becoming a member of the Heritage Society. Learn how you can help ensure UGA’s future, make a positive impact, cement your legacy and maybe even enjoy tax benefits. It’s easier than you might think! Contact the Office of Gift and Estate Planning for more information about joining the Heritage Society. As you can see from the photos, they’re a fun bunch.
UGA giving challenge leaves Gators seeing double (Ls)
The University of Georgia and the University of Florida squared off twice this past week—once on the field in Jacksonville, and once in Beat Week 2023, a head-to-head giving challenge—and the Bulldogs came out on top in both.
Beat Week is a week-long giving challenge where UGA and another university compete to see who can drive their supporters to make more gifts over the course of a week. UGA went head-to-head with Auburn University for the past three years—with the red and black winning each time—before taking on Florida.
With a strong reputation in the fundraising world, UF was looking for a win, but the Bulldog faithful kept UGA in the lead throughout the week. Georgia’s Beat Week victory was nearly as resounding as the one in EverBank Stadium.
UGA – 4,156
UF – 3,339
Donors of all stripes contributed to the win—alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the university—and UGA staffers from all corners of campus worked for months to mount the effort that earned the university its fourth consecutive Beat Week win.
Beat Week raised over $1.5 million to numerous areas at UGA, including scholarships, research, academic programming and much more. Kirby Smart’s Dawgs proved their No. 1 ranking on Saturday, but Bulldog Nation proved theirs all through the week.
Thank you to everyone who made Beat Week a win! Go Dawgs! And Later, Gator!
Leadership program accepting nominations
This story, written by Charlie Bauder, was originally published on UGA Today on Aug. 3, 2023.
The University of Georgia continues to accept nominations for rising 10th and 11th graders to participate in the inaugural Youth LEAD Georgia class in January 2024.
This past January, UGA received a $1.5 million pledge from Chick-fil-A Inc. to support the development of Youth LEAD Georgia, a new UGA-led statewide youth leadership program, as well as an annual youth leadership summit at UGA.
Students participating in Youth LEAD Georgia. (Photo by Charlie Bauder)
“Communities of all sizes continue to nominate outstanding youth to participate in the program,” said Matt Bishop, director of the UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, which is creating and implementing both Youth LEAD Georgia and the annual summit. “We are excited about the interest in Youth LEAD Georgia and look forward to assembling an inaugural class that represents all corners of the state.”
Nominations will remain open through Sept. 1 and nominated youth will have until Sept. 30 to complete their application.
An adult must nominate students, after which the student and their parent or guardian will receive an email with a link to the application form. For the selection committee to consider students, they must complete the entire application form.
Youth LEAD Georgia participants. (Photo by Charlie Bauder)
There is no cost for student participants. Meals, transportation for tours and program activities, and program materials are available through the pledge from Chick-fil-A. Those selected for the inaugural Youth LEAD Georgia class will be expected to attend all sessions and will be invited to the annual summit in July 2024 at UGA.
During Youth LEAD Georgia, Fanning Institute faculty will work with the youth to build their leadership skills, develop awareness of issues facing Georgia and explore ways to apply their knowledge to issues within their communities. Also, youth will learn more about postsecondary opportunities, businesses and industries in Georgia.
To support youth in applying those leadership skills, Rodney Bullard, CEO of Atlanta-based nonprofit The Same House, has made a $100,000 gift over the next three years to UGA. Bullard’s gift will provide funding for Youth LEAD Georgia participants to plan and implement specific projects in their respective communities.
“This new gift to UGA’s Youth LEAD Georgia program will not only benefit our participants but also help these youth have a meaningful impact in their communities,” said Bishop. “We appreciate Rodney’s commitment to the program, and we look forward to working with both him and Chick-fil-A moving forward.”
Such an effort aligns with the mission of The Same House, Bullard said.
“Inspired by other leadership programs, Youth LEAD Georgia is exactly the kind of program of collegiality and collaboration that we want to foster in tomorrow’s leaders and as a legacy to the state of Georgia,” Bullard said. “It covers three of our key focus areas: youth, education and training, and community improvement and development through the service projects the participants will undertake over the next three years.”
Bullard, along with fellow Georgia businessman and colleague Fred Hicks, has been instrumental in shaping the programming and curriculum.
UGA will announce the inaugural Youth LEAD Georgia class this fall.
Those wishing to nominate a youth for Youth LEAD Georgia may do so here.
For more information on Youth LEAD Georgia, click here.
