Simpson College has given to the senior class for the last four years, and now the senior class is giving back. The Senior Class Campaign for The Simpson Fund is set in full swing this week and will continue until April 13.

Each year, the senior class is asked to give back to Simpson by supporting The Simpson Fund. Gifts to the fund each year make it possible for the college to give nearly every student scholarship and financial aid money.

“By supporting The Simpson Fund, the senior class will help ensure other Simpson students will have the same Simpson experience they have had,” said Melisse Walpole, assistant director of annual giving and alumni relations. “The Senior Class Campaign provides the opportunity for students to join with alumni, friends, faculty, staff, trustees, parents and others in contributing about $1 million annually.”

At the beginning of the spring semester, Walpole received a list of student leaders in the senior class and e-mailed them, asking them to be a part of the committee that chooses the senior gift.

“There are seven seniors on this committee: Jade Clark, Natalie Meier, Jamie Olberding, Melissa Stone, Shara Tibken, Liz Van Hook and myself,” Senior Class President Evan Schaefer said.

The committee has been meeting since February to brainstorm ideas. The group has also e-mailed the entire senior class asking for suggestions. Some of the ideas for this year’s gift include putting a garden near the football field, adding new furniture or artwork for Dunn Library or adding new outdoor furniture outside on the BSC patio.

“The campaign will be advertised to seniors with e-mails, flyers in campus mail, ads in the Simpsonian, committee contacts and booth times in BSC,” Walpole said.

Seniors have the option of deciding whether they wish to participate in the campaign by donating money.

The students who participate will have a choice of three gifts to pledge for. The gift that receives the most votes or pledges is the gift that will be placed on campus in honor of the class of 2007.

Students are able to pledge any amount they want, and they are able to make payments over the course of the next fiscal year. The payments are not due until May 31, 2008.

The money pledged will go directly to The Simpson Fund, and when all the money is collected, the college will give the gift in honor of the senior class.

“The Senior Class Campaign is a great way to put the seniors on the path of giving back to Simpson for all that the college has given them,” senior Natalie Meier said. “This is a great way to introduce people to the pledging process,”

Many different kinds of gifts have been given in honor of past senior classes over the years. These gifts include benches and artwork in McNeill Hall, new exercise equipment for Carse Fitness Center and several different campus beautification projects.