Gift to Tech Lets Students Give Back
Students Nick Picon, Sidhartha Sinha, and Grant Grimes accept the 2014 Gift to Tech at a ceremony at the Kessler Campanile. Their Klemis Kitchen project won $31,000.
Every year the Student Alumni Association (SAA) at Georgia Tech makes a donation toward a project that is selected by students on campus. Voting for this year’s SAA Gift to Tech has begun and will continue until March 13.
Each project on the ballot has elements that directly impact student life and could benefit the learning experience at Georgia Tech.
This year’s projects include Campus Accessibility; Campus Safety – Bike Bait Program; Harrison Square and Cherry Street Enhancements; Mediascape Stations in Clough Commons; Outdoor Concert Series; Solar Powered Electricity Stands; Student Emergency Fund; and Student Mental Health. Once student voting is completed, SAA members will also get to cast a second vote between March 23 and April 3.
The gift is funded through members of the Student Alumni Association. When a student signs up and makes a $10 donation, an alumnus matches that $10 for the first 1,000 students. Out of each student’s donation, $5 is earmarked for Gift to Tech. This year's matching gift donor is the father-son team of Ken and Tyler Townsend.
Past projects have been awarded more than $30,000 toward implementation. Last year, Klemis Kitchen, a student food pantry initiative, won the Gift to Tech prize, which helped set the program in motion. Klemis Kitchen recently opened up for students who are not financially able to meet their dietary needs and can be accessed through the Office of the Dean of Students.
The winning project for the 2015 Gift to Tech will be announced at a celebration on April 21 at the Kessler Campanile. All students and members of the Tech community are welcome to attend.
Students can learn more and cast their votes at www.gtsaa.com/gift-to-tech.