The senior class announced it had raised more than $50,000 in gifts and pledges Thursday, exceeding its original goal of $35,000.
Early this semester, the senior class announced a fundraising goal of $35,000 for the first bell in the Bell Tower, which stands unfinished from its original 1921 design.
This amount exceeds the initial amount needed to cast a planned 640-pound bell and makes it possible for the class to purchase an even larger 1,257-pound bell, the second largest in the planned 54-bell carillon.
Jay Dawkins, president of the class of 2010 and senior in civil engineering, said seniors should be proud of how far they’ve come.
“Seniors have stepped up in an unprecedented way for our campus icon, and this will solidify their legacy at N.C. State,” Dawkins said.
Many seniors have already donated to have their names inscribed on the 2010 bell; and the Class Council is accepting donations to place names on the bell until graduation May 15, Dawkins said. The class plans to purchase the bell during the summer and put it on display on campus.
“Such a strong showing is really a sign of our pride as a class,” Dawkins said. “I expect the class of 2010 to be very engaged as N.C. State alumni.”
Neil Ballentine, a senior in biological sciences and a member of the Senior Class Council, said he enjoyed the experience.
“I had a blast being a part of this,” Ballentine said. “For all of us who donated and put work into the Bell Tower campaign, our names will be on the bell as long as the tower stands and that’s truly a testament to our hard work and commitment to N.C. State.”
The Senior Class Council will continue to fundraise and accept donations through their Books for Bells program, Dawkins said. The program allows students to donate textbooks as an in-kind gift to the Bell Tower. Representatives from the class will be in the library Wednesday and Thursday night of the first exam week to accept donations.
Many seniors will graduate May 15 and the class plans to celebrate at a “Grand Bash” event at Lincoln Theatre, featuring Inflowential. The first 150 graduates in attendance, Dawkins said, will receive a 2010 pint glass and their first round as an alumnus courtesy of the alumni association.
“I know many of us are excited about being alumni,” Dawkins said. “I can’t wait to be red and white for life.”
