Alumni donate nearly $300K during homecoming
This year’s homecoming was not only marked by excitement, merriment, pomp and circumstance, but it was also a testament to the generosity of alumni.
One of the highlights of homecoming weekend was the announcement of this year’s alumni giving, which was a total of $287,963.97.
Reggie McCaskill, president of the Winston-Salem State University National Alumni Association (NAA), presented WSSU Chancellor Bonita Brown a check for $100,000 on behalf of the NAA during Founder’s Day Convocation for student scholarships.
Donations from reunion classes included:
- $13,493.68 from the Class of 1999 (25th reunion) to support Red Sea of Sound;
- $23,913.29 from the Class of 1989 (35th reunion) to support WSSU;
- $74,000 from the Class of 1974 (50th reunion) to support student scholarships;
- $40,200 from the Class of 1984 (40th reunion) to support student scholarships; and
- $36,357 from the 1999 CIAA Championship Football Team to support the football team.
The reunion classes come together to campaign throughout the year and the Office of Alumni Engagement offers them guidance on how to raise funds, said Thesha Woodley, WSSU director of alumni engagement.
This year was particularly special for Woodley as her father, Theophilus Woodley, was a member of the class of 1974. “It was definitely a full circle moment – this being a milestone year for him and me being in this role,” she said.
Woodley said it was her father’s class that taught her early on what it meant to be a Ram and the importance of alumni giving. Their generosity throughout the years assisted her scholarship at WSSU and led to her not having to graduate with student loan debt.
“This year’s contributions will have a profound impact on the lives of our students just like it had on mine,” Woodley said. “I hope more alumni are motivated to give back to support student success at their alma mater.”
“On behalf of our students, faculty and staff, I extend my deepest gratitude to our alumni community,” Brown said. “The generosity of our alumni reflects the unwavering dedication of our graduates to ensure a bright future for our university and its students.”
