Thousands of Gators lauded the seven-year capital campaign’s success in raising more than $1.5 billion.
Julio Avendano, a second-year political-science student, and Vanssa Villamil, a second-year health-science student, display their BEAT T-shirts for Saturday’s Gators football game. The shirts are only available to Student Alumni Association members for the six toughest home football games and the Georgia game. Photo by Cinnamon Bair.
Pierre Elivert doesn’t just attend the University of Florida. He gives back to it.
A pre-med student, the Fort Lauderdale junior is the first in his family to attend college. He works full-time and attends school full time, putting himself through school. Yet he still finds the spare cash to support his university.
“It’s a Gator movement to me. You’re either part of it or your not,” he said. “I’m always down for supporting UF.”
“It’s a Gator movement to me. You’re either part of it or your not,” Pierre Elivert said. “I’m always down for supporting UF.” Photo by Cinnamon Bair.
Elivert was one of thousands of students who joined President Bernie Machen, donors and other UF officials to celebrate the end of the university’s capital campaign, Florida Tomorrow. The seven-year campaign wraps up today after raising more than its $1.5 billion goal (the official total will be announced tonight) to help support scholarships, fellowships, construction and other initiatives at the university.
“This campaign has been so enabling for students,” Machen told the gathered crowd, noting that $46 million has been raised for undergraduate scholarships alone. “I want to thank all of you students who have helped us with the Florida Tomorrow campaign.”
READ MORE ABOUT HOW FLORIDA TOMORROW DONORS WERE THANKED
Students, in fact, played a big part in the campaign. More than 24,000 students have made donations to UF in the last seven years, raising more than $1.6 million.
Among those who have benefitted is Aynesse Geffrard, a fourth-year accounting major and Florida Opportunity Scholar recipient who spoke to the crowd. The scholarship program, founded by Bernie and Chris Machen in 2006, helps students from low-income families who are the first in their families to go to college.
“Support from donors made it possible for me to be here today,” she said. “All of this is possible simply because of you.”
It’s stories such as Geffrard’s that inspire Elivert to give, the pre-med student said. He didn’t receive a Florida Opportunity Scholarship himself, but he’s glad the program is available to help other students.
“The donors who helped her through college, that’s what it’s all about,” he said. In fact, Elivert said he made another donation this morning after attending the event.
“I’m hoping to contribute a lot more once I get out of here,” he said. “It’s a good return on your investment.”
— Cinnamon Bair*
*UF Alumni Association member
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We recently caught up with some Florida Opportunity Scholars program students and graduates. Check out the “License to Dream” post to see how the scholarship has helped them.
Visit our online giving site to help support the program.
