Baylor Seniors Leave A Lasting Mark Through Student Scholarships, Immortal Ten Memorial Eternal Flame

Media contact: Lori Fogleman, director of media communications, (254) 710-6275
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As the Class of 2009 prepares to graduate, Baylor University seniors are taking a moment to pass the torch to future generations of Baylor students and leave their legacy at the university they love. Baylor students raised more than $20,000 to support the Senior Class Gift Endowed Scholarship and the addition of an Eternal Flame atop the Immortal Ten Memorial on campus.

"As the year comes to a close, a huge thanks is in order for all of those who supported the Senior Class Gift," said senior class president James Mattison, a financial services and planning major from Indiana. Even in his last days in office, Mattison is urging his fellow students to support the fund, "so our gift will be an even bigger success."

Both of this year's projects build upon the hard work of past Baylor seniors for their Senior Class Gifts. The Senior Class Gift Endowed Scholarship was established in 2008 with the intent that following classes would add to the fund each year.

When fully funded, the Eternal Flame will complete the vision for the Immortal Ten Memorial, a project supported by the classes of 1995-2001. The memorial commemorates the 10 Baylor students who were killed when a train collided with their bus en route to a basketball game in 1927.

"I thank God for the senior class' willingness to give," said Haden Duke, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Richardson, who is the first recipient of the Senior Class Gift Endowed Scholarship. "It's not just giving money, it's giving people like me a chance to experience a college education."

The fundraising for this student-led initiative depends primarily on the efforts and contributions of seniors, though many parents choose to honor their senior by making a gift in their child's name. Recognizing that students often do not have significant financial resources, but wanting to encourage every student to take part in this project, the senior class gift committee is asking each senior to give at least $25. When making their gift, students will have the option to designate it to benefit the Senior Class Gift Endowed Scholarship or the Eternal Flame.

For more information about the senior class gift or to make a gift, please contact Marty Wold at (254) 710-8853 or visit www.baylor.edu/seniorclassgift. You also may make your gift online through our secure site at www.baylor.edu/give.