The corner of Dan Allen Drive and Hillsborough Street is characterized by worn-out bricks, and for students like Kristy Craig, it is an area that is dark and unwelcoming at night.

“It is not the first thing you want people to see,” said Craig, 2010-2011 Senior Class President and political science major. “The project is aimed at making this area more pedestrian and driver friendly.”

To combat this eyesore, Craig, along with N.C. State architects, developed several class gift ideas which were then voted upon by the Senior Council and senior class, both of which decided on the development of the Dan Allen Gateway.

According to Lynn Swank, University landscape project manager, the Dan Allen Gateway is a design challenge because it is an entrance for both drivers and pedestrians.

“Our design team feels that improvement to this gateway will help provide a ‘front door’ to North Campus, welcoming folks to our campus, and further ‘branding’ the campus from Hillsborough Street,” Swank said.

OBS Landscape Architecture firm is responsible for the design of the gateway, and the construction company will be selected once the final design is determined.

“The gift is part of a larger project, which is the renovation of Hillsborough St. all the way down to Daniels,” Swank said.

According to Craig, the senior class needs to raise $35,000 to provide the funds necessary to complete the gateway, but there is a stretch budget of $50,000. With donations from 160 seniors and from four sponsors: NC State Athletics, The Wolfpack Club, Safran Law, and Fosters American Bar and Grill, around $15,000 has been raised.

“If we reach our goal by the deadline, the project could possibly begin happening in July,” Craig said. “I am very optimistic that we will reach the goal.”

According to Craig, everyone, individuals and companies, are welcome to donate to the senior class gift, and any individual that gives $211 or more, in addition to a possible tax write-off, will have their name engraved on a granite threshold piece on the new gateway.

Seniors who give $211 or more will have their names engraved, be invited to brunch with the chancellor on April 27 at 10:30 a.m., and be given a senior t-shirt. However, Craig said those seniors who donate at least $20.11 will still be invited to the brunch and will receive the senior t-shirt.

They would like to have the donations in by graduation, according to Craig, but they will be accepting them until June 31. If the goal of $35,000 is not reached by the deadline the gateway will not be completed as quickly and the senior class will not receive as much credit.

“I do not want it to just be a University renovation,” said Craig, “I want to show future students that the Class of 2011 cared.”

Jeffrey Johnson, senior in business administration and member of the N.C. State Annual Fund, is working with the Office of Annual Giving to possibly change the manner in which the senior class gift is given. 

“We are exploring a ‘give to your passion’ type of program because we know that one project will never appeal to everyone,” Johnson said.

According to Johnson, this format has become the norm at the majority of large public universities.

“Last year, buying the first bell for the ‘Finish the Bell Tower’ was a very popular project, but only five percent of seniors gave,” Johnson said.

There were some seniors who questioned the purchase of a bell with the current state of the economy, according to Johnson, who also said the goal of the project is to enable seniors, and eventually all students, to donate their money toward whichever area of the University most appeals to them.

“I have heard many students say that they would feel more inclined to be a part of a Senior Class Gift if they could decide what to support on an individual basis,” Johnson said, “Although I have already given to the Class of 2011 Gift, I would have enjoyed the opportunity to participate while choosing the area to support that has meant the most to me.”

According to Ann Horner, executive director of the Office of Annual Giving, the annual giving office has been working on enhancing the Annual Giving program for the last couple years. The concentration has previously been on alumni, but the focus is beginning to include students.

“The transition from student to alumnus is an important one,” Horner said. “We need to build awareness on our campus for the need for philanthropy for a number of reasons.”

Horner said the office aims to start encouraging students to demonstrate the loyalty and connection received from alumni, potentially leading to the habit of giving annual gifts. 

“We ask alumni to support their college or their program of choice,” Horner said. “Shouldn’t we also invite students to do the same?”