For the past three years, Rogers State University faculty, staff, alumni and friends have positively impacted students through their generous donations to the RSU Foundation during its annual Giving Week. Slated for Sunday, Oct. 2, through Saturday, Oct. 8, Giving Week enhances the student experience by raising funds to support need-based student scholarships as well as special student-focused projects on improving campus life.
As the success of Giving Week is dependent upon individual donations, this year’s theme is “Red, Blue and You,” focusing on the powerful impact every gift makes for RSU students. The first focus of the week is need-based student scholarships.
“We continue to see a significant number of students who struggle financially to meet the cost of attending RSU,” said Steve Valencia, vice president for development. “Higher costs for energy, food and other basics continue to rise, straining the budgets of many students. Supporting need-based scholarships provides the assistance necessary to keep students persisting toward a degree and life-changing opportunities.”
As RSU is serving a greater number of students who seek a full collegiate experience, providing a positive student life environment becomes more important. RSU is the only public university in the Tulsa metropolitan area that provides this experience, with residence life, club sports, student activities and intercollegiate athletics. To add to the student life experience, RSU seeks to raise funds during Giving Week to construct an 18-hole disc golf course on campus. One of the fastest-growing sports in America, disc golf offers recreation to participants of all athletic abilities.
Giving Week at RSU began as a focused effort to reconnect alumni and friends to RSU and encourage them to impact current and future students through their donations to the RSU Foundation. While need-based scholarships and the disc golf course are the selected projects for this year, donors may give to any initiative they choose during Giving Week.
“We are grateful for all of the University’s supporters who give so generously to impact our students,” Valencia said. “While we have selected these two emphases for the week, any RSU program can be supported with a gift of any size. Every gift impacts our students in so many positive ways.”
Tax deductible donations may be made online at www.rsu.edu/give. Gifts for Giving Week may be made anytime through Oct. 8. Checks payable to the RSU Foundation may be mailed to 1701 W. Will Rogers Boulevard, Claremore, OK 74017.
Supporters who wish to discuss other means of support through endowments, gifts of stock, IRA distributions or other means may contact Valencia at 918-343-7780 or at [email protected].