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XChanged Life strengthened by UGA’s 2024 Class Gift

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On Friday, March 14, XChanged Life hosted a The Great Gatsby-themed formal at Memorial Hall, made possible by the support of the 2024 Class Gift and Senior Signature donors. The event was designed to create a memorable experience for international and exchange students at the University of Georgia. As the club’s primary mission is to strengthen connections between international and local communities, the formal served as a celebration of this goal.

“The event was inspired by the fascination many of our international members have with the tradition of American school dances,” said Alyssa Wood (AB ’24, AB ’24, MIP ’26), president of XChanged Life. “It provided an opportunity for our members to experience something they’ve previously only observed from afar.”

Group photo of XChanged Life students. (Photo: Submitted)

Group photo of XChanged Life students. (Photo: Submitted)

XChanged Life is a student organization dedicated to enriching the experience of exchange and international students. Through engaging activities, such as dinners, hiking trips and skate nights, XChanged Life can facilitate social interactions and foster strong connections among students.

“I was first introduced to XChanged Life at the involvement fair when I was a sophomore and was interested in the idea of meeting people from around the world,” said Wood. “Coming from a small town, I saw this as a unique opportunity, so I decided to join the organization.”

The Class Gift is a grant funding opportunity for student organizations, made possible through donations from UGA’s Senior Signature giving campaign. Coordinated by the Student Alumni Council, the Class Gift and Senior Signature campaign allow each graduating class to leave a lasting impact on UGA. The Class Gift is available each year for student organizations to apply for funding for the following academic year. Senior Signature donors vote on the final Class Gift recipient.

“When I think about the Class Gift and organizations like XChanged Life receiving it, I think about how this is the fruit of philanthropy,” said Willis Tripp (BBA ’24, MACC ’26), SAC president. “To be in a position where you can give back and help enable others to do things they might not have been able to without the generosity of others is truly amazing.

Willis Tripp (right), Student Alumni Council president, with students at the XChanged Life formal on Friday, March 14th, 2025.

Willis Tripp (right), Student Alumni Council president, with students at the XChanged Life formal on Friday, March 14th, 2025. (Photo: Submitted)

Senior Signature is an annual giving campaign for graduating students to give back to UGA by contributing to areas that were meaningful during their time at UGA. Each student is asked to contribute a minimum of $30, with $10 supporting the Class Gift initiative and $20 directed to a fund of their choice. This contribution is a tradition that has been ongoing since 1991, with students’ names engraved on a plaque displayed on campus.

Learn about Senior Signature

Lost class ring reunited with owner 50 years later

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In June 2024, Jack Swift ’26, an accounting major from Sugar Hill, GA, received an unexpected email during his first few days interning with the UGA Office of Alumni Relations. The message was from William Martinez, a resident of a small town near Valencia, Spain. Martinez had recently discovered an old ring in his grandparents’ home and became curious about its origins. After tracing the ring back to the University of Georgia, he contacted the alumni office in search of answers. 

Monitoring the alumni email was Swift’s responsibility, so he felt it was his duty to take on the task. As a member of several campus organizations, including the Student Alumni Council, whose focus includes promoting class rings and other time-honored UGA traditions, Swift’s curiosity and support from advisors fueled his enthusiasm for the project.  

“At first, I was surprised that someone would go to the effort of emailing the university from another country, another continent,” said Swift. “I thought that was interesting, and I wanted to look into it and learn more. I decided to devote some time, commit and see what could come from it.” 

On the ring was the owner’s name, the year they graduated from the University of Georgia, and the Greek letters of their fraternity. Using this information, Swift thought to look through a Pandora yearbook from the 1960s and was able to trace the ring back to its owner, Fred Baker III (BBA ’67).

Fred Baker’s fraternity photo from the 1967 Pandora Yearbook.

Fred Baker’s fraternity photo from the 1967 Pandora Yearbook.

“It was pretty emotional when Jack called,” said Baker. “My daughter and I were sitting together listening to the voicemail from Jack and were left in total disbelief.”  

Attending UGA was a spontaneous decision for Baker. He enrolled at UGA in 1964 and fell in love with Athens. After graduating, Baker pursued various careers, including serving in the military. He spent some time stationed in Germany, after which he decided to travel the world. In 1970, he found himself in Spain and it was during this time that the ring was lost.  

“I owe a lot to Jack and Mr. Martinez for doing this,” said Baker. “Neither of them had to take the time to research and find me, but they did, and that’s pretty admirable.” 

Fifty-four years later, Swift was able to return the ring to its original owner. This was a full circle moment for Swift; he began his internship with this task and was able to return the ring to its rightful owner just before it ended. 

Fred Baker reunited with hist lost class ring in 2024.

Fred Baker reunited with his lost class ring in 2024.

“I am lucky that it stumbled across my desk and that I was able to put a lot of time and effort into it,” said Swift. “I knew it was something that was important to Mr. Fred, so that made it important to me.” 

Class rings represent the bond between the University of Georgia and its graduates, serving as a reminder of the global connection within Bulldog nation. Whether you graduated 50 years ago or are a current student with 60 or more credit hours, you can be part of this tradition alongside other Bulldogs spanning generations across the world. 

Be Part of the Tradition

Meet the Student Alumni Council

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The Student Alumni Council is a board of approximately 40 undergraduate student volunteers with an executive committee. Through the generous support of donors, SAC is able to provide programming and education to students to help connect their peers with university traditions, philanthropic opportunities and alumni.  

SAC hosts programs and events to connect with students throughout the academic year, providing them with the opportunity to find their passion on campus and connect with alumni throughout their journey. In our organization, members learn crucial skills like project management, effective communication and event coordination. SAC members also learn and share the impacts that donors have on our university experience. They make the commitment, too — SAC has a 100% giving rate each year! Each SAC member is ready to share what it means to be a Bulldog, from the university’s rich traditions to its incredible alumni network. As volunteers, these students are ready to help their peers connect with opportunities across campus.  

Here are four examples of ways we engage with students throughout the year: 

FRESHMAN WELCOME 

UGA’s Freshman Welcome has been a tradition on campus since 2011. Every year, we welcome first-year students in Sanford Stadium the night before classes begin. This event signals the start of the incoming class’s journey as a Bulldog and it’s the only time they will all be together as one group until they return to the stadium for commencement.  

ALUMNI NETWORKING  

“Alumni” is in our name, but it’s also a part of our history. Today, SAC offers a variety of opportunities to connect students with alumni. All students are welcome to attend Dialogue with a Dawg, one of our alumni networking programs. Each dialogue is hosted by at least one alumni and facilitated by a SAC member. It’s a great way to gain career insights, ask questions about life on campus and meet fellow students. 

BEAT WEEK 

Every fall, SAC works with UGA’s Office of Annual Giving to celebrate Beat Week. Together, students and alumni go head-to-head with an SEC opponent for a week-long giving challenge ahead of a football game. The results? A week packed with giveaways and impact followed by a weekend of high-stakes sports. Go Dawgs!

FOUNDERS DAY 

Each January, the University of Georgia celebrates its history as the birthplace of public higher education in America. Founders Day is a celebration of UGA’s academic excellence, which brings together our school and college partners from across campus through student events. You can find us at Tate Student Center celebrating with Hairy Dawg, games and giveaways. Happy Birthday, UGA!   

Interested in learning more about SAC? Contact us!  

Welcome, Class of 2027!

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Freshman Welcome is among the first UGA traditions a student participates in when they arrive on campus. Held annually, typically on the eve of the first day of class, this special event invites all incoming students (yes, all 6,000+) to Sanford Stadium for a party, pep rally and class photo on Dooley Field. Oh—and did we mention they form the Power G?! The next time that many of these students will take the field is during Commencement four years later, book-ending their collegiate journey.

The UGA Student Alumni Council proudly coordinates this tradition, and are thrilled to welcome to campus the Class of 2027. Go Dawgs!

 

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UGA National Student Speech Language Hearing Association receives 2022 Class Gift

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Each year, the University of Georgia’s graduating class leaves their mark on campus through Senior Signature, a program that empowers students to create a positive impact on a school, college, campus organization or scholarship that shaped their experience at UGA. Through a $30 gift, students are able to designate $20 to an area of their choice with the remaining $10 benefiting the Class Gift, which is awarded to an on-campus organization each year. All Senior Signature donors are eligible to participate in selecting the organization that receives funding from their Class Gift.

The Class of 2022 selected the UGA Chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) as the recipient of their Class Gift. The NSSLHA is a group of students with a shared interest in communications sciences and disorders. The organization is based in the Mary Frances Early College of Education and focuses on fundraising for the UGA Speech and Hearing Clinic to support clients in need of financial assistance and to purchase clinic materials or equipment. In addition, the NSSLHA participates in community-service projects each year through local elementary schools.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association used the funds they received through the 2022 Class Gift to provide training in Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing for graduate students pursuing careers in speech-language pathology (SLP). “Having this training will allow me to participate in swallowing evaluations during my clinical internships, that I would not have been allowed to participate in without the training,” says graduate student Ansley Messina. By providing access to additional certifications, the NSSLHA is able to prepare students for their professional career, give a competitive advantage in the job market, and lessen their students’ financial burden after graduation.

“Receiving training in Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) was incredibly invaluable, especially as someone who is interested in pursuing a career in medical speech-language pathology. Not many students, or even professionals within the field receive this training for an evaluation tool that is crucial in determining an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan,” says graduate student Sam Schonhardt. “The course challenged me to integrate my academic knowledge with professional skills in a hands-on format, and it greatly improved my preparedness for my internship in an acute care hospital where FEES is utilized daily. I’m incredibly grateful to the faculty, staff, and students who made this training possible through the 2022 Class Gift.”

UGA student organizations are eligible to apply for the Class Gift each Spring to receive up to $6,000 in funds for the following academic year. One organization is chosen per year. The deadline to submit an application for the 2023-2024 academic year is Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

 

Class Gift FAQs

 

Submit a Class Gift Application

Fresh Express – free student market opens on campus thanks to parent and student donors

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For students, by students

“Dedicated to nourishing bodies, empowering minds, and creating a community of compassion.”

This is the mission of Fresh Express, a student-led market created to address food insecurity on UGA’s campus by providing produce and non-perishables to students.

The market, located in Joe Frank Harris Dining Commons on East Campus, is open on Thursdays and Fridays. In partnership with UGArden, Fresh Express provides produce to students who may be struggling to afford healthy meals during the semester. After serving students at tabling events during the Spring semester of 2022, the Student Government Association (SGA), with financial support from the 2021 Student Alumni Council Class Gift and Parents Leadership Council, celebrated its grand opening on August 31. Students interested in utilizing Fresh Express are encouraged to visit the Fresh Express website to register for a pick-up time.

Financial support for Fresh Express

Senior Signature

The Class Gift is coordinated by the Student Alumni Council and funded by Senior Signature, an annual giving campaign for UGA seniors to give back to campus by contributing to areas that were significant to their experience at the university. $10 of each contribution goes towards the Class Gift, which benefits one on-campus organization voted upon by Senior Signature donors. UGA student organizations are eligible to apply for the Class Gift each Spring to receive funds for the following academic year.

With the collective support of Senior Signature donors from the Class of 2021, Fresh Express is able to meet student needs across campus — but Senior Signature’s impact does not stop there. The Class of 2022 selected the UGA Chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association as the recipient of their Class Gift. During the 2022-2023 academic year, this organization will receive up to $6,000 to support graduate students pursuing careers in speech-language pathology.

Parents Leadership Council

Fresh Express also is supported by funding from the Parents Leadership Council, a group of UGA parents who give back to undergraduate student organizations. After applying for a grant from the PLC, SGA was awarded $12,750 to assist with the establishment and day-to-day operations of Fresh Express and the SGA Professional Clothing Closet. The PLC grants are awarded annually to fund scholarships, support critical undergraduate student needs, and assist registered student organizations with projects and programs that enhance the quality of life for students. Over the past 10 years, the Parents Leadership Council has awarded $4.6 million in grant support to a variety of initiatives across campus–from student life and financial assistance to well-being and service learning. Grant applications for 2023 open in October.

Because of Fresh Express and the generosity of UGA students and parents, students facing food insecurity can focus on learning and getting involved on campus. If you are interested in making a difference through Senior Signature or Parents Leadership Council, visit the pages below to learn more.

Senior Signature
Parents Leadership Council

 

 

UGA Class of 2021 sets new Senior Signature participation record

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The University of Georgia Class of 2021 set a Senior Signature record with 3,009 students making a gift to the university prior to graduation. This is the fifth consecutive year that the graduating class broke the preceding class’s participation record and the highest donor count in the program’s 30-year history.

Students are asked to contribute to UGA through the Senior Signature program during their final year on campus. In appreciation for giving back to the university, students’ names are included on a plaque in Tate Plaza in the heart of campus.

“This record is a true sign of the senior class’s Bulldog tenacity,” said Kevin Nwogu, Student Alumni Council president-elect who also helped lead this year’s campaign. “They managed challenges presented by the pandemic alongside preparing for graduation—and still made room to give back to their soon-to-be alma mater.”

Senior Signature allows students to select any fund on campus to receive a portion of their gift—and students often select a program or department that enhanced their college experience. This year’s minimum donation was $30 in honor of Senior Signature’s 30th anniversary.

This year, the Student Alumni Council, which educates the student body on how philanthropy at UGA improves lives, launched a new component to Senior Signature in which donors to the program vote on a student organization to receive a grant from the Senior Signature endowed fund. The hope is that this new initiative will build a ‘philanthropic cycle’ in which students donate, direct and receive funds—building an understanding of the power of private support at universities like UGA.

Senior Signature was established in 1991. Since then, more than 40,000 students have donated to UGA through the program—their names still visible on the plaques in Tate Plaza.

Learn more about Senior Signature at alumni.uga.edu/seniorsignature.