Updated: May 3, 2010

Senior Class Gift campaign raises $41K sets new participation rate record

More than 55 percent of the Class of 2010 donate to establish an endowed scholarship for future Bryant students.

Pratik Parikh’10 (Garfield, NJ) talks enthusiastically when looking back at his last four years at Bryant. During that time he served as a resident assistant, was inducted into  Bryant's chapter of the national leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa, and was a member of the Multicultural Student Union – even filling the role of president as a senior.

The accounting concentrator starred in the classroom as well. Recently he was accepted into the University of Rutgers Business School where he will pursue a Master’s in Government Accounting. Next January, he will begin working at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He could think of no better to give back to Bryant than by taking part in the efforts of the Senior Class Gift Committee, which set out to raise money to establish an endowed scholarship.

“I thought that by joining this committee, I would be able to make a positive impact on the students who will be attending Bryant in the future,” he says.

Through the work of the committee and the generosity of the members of the Class of 2010, nearly $41,000 was raised. The class also set a new participation rate record of 55 percent, which tops the record set just last year by the Class of 2009.

Leading by example, Parikh was one of the students who made a donation. “Our gift allows students to come to Bryant and experience everything the University has to offer.”

Active alumni

Another committee member, Jessica Bolton ’10 (Belgrade Lakes, ME), believes the class gift is a way for students to show how much they enjoyed their last four years at Bryant and establish a foundation to build upon as alumni.

“The generosity displayed by our classmates shows we are a strong class and that we will continue to give to Bryant to support future students,” says Bolton.

Daniel Hackenson ’10 (Webster, MA) donated to ensure future students can take advantage of the same opportunities he had. “This is an outlet for us to contribute to Bryant’s continued success as we begin out careers,” he says.

After graduation, Hackenson will begin working at the Hanover Insurance Group, in the company’s Future Leaders Program. While he will no longer be on campus on a daily basis, he expects to be an active member of the alumni community.

“Bryant has provided me to so many opportunities and connections that I want to cherish long after Commencement,” he says.

Creating a legacy

Johnny Wells ’10 (Bronx, NY) got involved with the work of the Senior Class Gift Committee to be part of the group that ensured the Class of 2010 left an important legacy for future generations of Bryant students.  By donating to the class gift, seniors will see how important their generosity is to making sure future classes enjoy the same educational experience they did, explains Wells.

“Being able to see how our gift will benefit the University in the future will instill a drive in us to regularly donate to continue to make a difference,” he says.

Wells won’t go too far after graduation as he plans to begin Bryant’s Master of Professional Accountancy program before starting his career in the accounting field.

Senior Gift Committee member Leanna Lam ’10 (Quincy, MA) says the class gift is a perfect way for the Class of 2010 to say ‘Thank You!’

“Being a member of the senior class gift committee,” says Lam, gave me the opportunity to give back to the Bryant community that has given me many wonderful friends, a great education, and countless memories.”

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Senior Class Gift Committee

Co-chairs

Meghan Aloisio (Gloucester, MA)
Chris Lussier (Spencer, MA)
Alex MacKenzie (Newton, MA)

Committee

Nickie Archambault (Southington, CT) Phil Bock (Hardwick, MA) Jess Bolton (Belgrade Lakes, ME) Morgan Buell (Waterbury, CT) Christopher Claude (Medford, MA) Ledia Dulaj (Norwood, MA) Denise Elias (Trumbull, CT) Jillian Grembowitz (North Clarendon, VT) Liana Grieg (York, ME) Dan Holland (Tewksbury, MA) Stephanie Kirk (Pompton Lakes, NJ) Leana Lam (Quincy, MA) Kristin Legier (South Windsor, CT) Jordan Letendre (Spencer, MA) Tiago Machado (Milford, MA)

Jaclyn Maher (Londonderry, NH) Jessica McGee (Adrian, MI) Nana Yaw Oduro-Frempong (Accra, Ghana) Emiliano Omeri (Tirana, Albania) Pratik Parik (Garfield, NJ) Kate Piwonski (Northfield, CT) Jenna Poulin (Methuen, MA) Bryan Regele (Rutland, MA) Yohan Sachdev (Mumbai, India) Jason Sarbanis (Hampstead, NH) Garret Staples (Scarborough, ME) Hope Stratford (Southampton, NY) AJ Toto (Bedminster, NJ) Johnny Wells (Bronx, NY) Kayla Wheaton (Reading, MA)