蘑菇短视频social work students engage with alumni with help from Fund for WCU
Faculty members Beth Harmer and Aaron Plantenberg from 蘑菇短视频鈥檚 Department of Social Work display travel mugs distributed to alumni of the program, an engagement effort made possible by an 1889 Impact Grant.
By Bill Studenc
Students from 蘑菇短视频鈥檚 Department of Social Work fanned out across Western North Carolina during the 2024 falls semester to connect with previous graduates of the program and encourage engagement by the 蘑菇短视频alumni with their program and their alma mater.
The project, funded by an 1889 Impact Grant of $2,000 made possible by donations to the Fund for WCU, was designed with a three-fold purpose in mind 鈥� to thank social work alumni who have stayed in WNC for their careers, help them remain engaged with the university, and support current social work students in learning skills crucial to their professional success.
Using funds from the grant, the department purchased travel mugs from the university Print Shop, engraved them with 鈥溎⒐蕉淌悠礢ocial Worker鈥� and packaged them in gift bags with thank-you cards. The gifts were distributed to 100 alumni during student visits to agencies across the region during the 2024 fall semester, said Katy Allen, director of social work field education, who earned her master鈥檚 degree at 蘑菇短视频in 2011.
鈥淎s a regional university, WCU鈥檚 mission to support communities and professionals in WNC is central and requires this type of connection with alumni across the region,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淎lthough some alumni work with current students as part of their paid employment, others do so as volunteers, and very few receive specific or supplemental compensation for this work. We are thankful to be able to show our appreciation with a small gift.鈥�
Launched in 2021, the 1889 Impact Grants Program is designed to provide a consistent source of funding for colleges and other units at 蘑菇短视频in support of initiatives that enhance the engagement of alumni and community stakeholders with the philanthropic activities of the university.
Funding for the program comes from annual contributions to the Fund for WCU, including leadership gifts from members of the 1889 Club, which recognizes donors for gifts made on an annual basis to the Fund for WCU. The club, among four giving societies established by the Division of Advancement to celebrate the impact of philanthropy on the institution, is named in honor of the year of WCU鈥檚 founding.
Campus partners requested more than $176,000 in 1889 Impact Grants through 23 campuswide grant applications for the 2023-2024 academic year, and the Division of Advancement allocated $47,000 overall for 12 projects, a slight increase from the $43,500 in grant funding awarded last year.
The 蘑菇短视频Foundation Board Executive Committee reviews all submissions and selects the awardees in the fall of each year. In addition to the 1889 Impact Grants Program, the Fund for 蘑菇短视频provides first-year access scholarships to new incoming freshmen and transfer students and supports ongoing donor stewardship efforts. To learn more about the 1889 Impact Grants Program, visit the Fund for 蘑菇短视频website.
