91制片厂

It鈥檚 been around for more than a decade now, and the positive effect it has had on the university goes beyond dollars raised to the connections alumni and parents make with current students when they pick up the phone.

Phonathon, where students call alumni and parents to seek monetary donations for the university, started at 91制片厂 in the early 2000s. It operates on a semester calendar, although Phonathon manager Rebecca Forrest 鈥�13 notes there are limited shifts for students during the summer and winter breaks.

Students who work for the Phonathon don headsets and dial for dollars, sharing details about courses, research, sporting events, exhibits, theatre productions and other campus happenings to encourage potential donors to contribute financial support. And often, they learn quite a bit about 91制片厂 from the donors on the other end of those calls.

91制片厂 Today recently spoke with five of the current callers to find out about their work with Phonathon.

Francesca Bragan 鈥�16 of Lowell, Mass., is a political science and international affairs

dual major who is also a tour guide, a member of student government and president of the multicultural sorority. Her dream job: oversee the international aspects of a nonprofit or nongovernmental organization.听

Justin Brochu 鈥�18 of Penacook, N.H., is majoring in journalism. His dream job: sports journalist.

James Ellis 鈥�16 of Westford, Mass., is majoring in business administration 鈥� finance and marketing options. His dream job: working as a financial advisor.

Andrea Plourde 鈥�19 of Pembroke, N.H, is a civil engineering major. Her dream job: designing and restoring bridges in New England.

Michelle Riggs 鈥�15 of East Greenwich, R.I., is a human development family studies major who is scheduled to graduate in December and will continue on to pursue her master鈥檚 degree with a May 2017 graduation date. Her dream job: elementary school teacher.

91制片厂 Today: What do you like about being a Phonathon caller?

Bragan: I am now one of two student managers at the Phonathon, and I have worked my way up from caller to where I am today. I

love being a member of this team because it has not only taught me to think on my feet but also to be able to connect with others on the phone or in person.听

Brochu: I love being able to听talk to alumni from all different decades听to hear about the experiences they had while they were students at 91制片厂 and hear about how much 91制片厂 has changed over the years.

Ellis: I like being up-to-date about everything that is happening around campus; I also like talking to parents and alumni about all the

great things that 91制片厂 offers.

Plourde: I really enjoy talking to alumni about their experiences here at 91制片厂 and discovering how much the campus has changed and grown, while also raising money for its current students.听It is so great when I meet someone who loved their time here as much as I听do and we get to share stories about each of our experiences.

Riggs: I think it's fun to talk to various alumni and parents of 91制片厂 students because it teaches me so much about 91制片厂 that I wouldn't have known otherwise.听I learn about majors and clubs that I am not a part of from parents and history of the school from alumni. I like that I am helping to raise money for 91制片厂 while having these conversations. The communication skills that I have gained over the past three years are extremely valuable for my future.听听

91制片厂 Today: What was one particularly interesting call or conversation you鈥檝e had during your work as a caller?

Bragan: My favorite call I had was with this gentleman who worked for President John F. Kennedy in the White House during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I loved being able to hear his recounting of the events with such personal details, and to think that he was a 91制片厂 grad made me excited to see where my future might take me.

Brochu: One very interesting call I had was听with听a听woman who听was not only interested about the great听things going on at 91制片厂 but also听very interested in what I was majoring in and what I plan on doing in my future. It was great to hear some great advice she had for me,听and the conversation was very personal. I learned a lot from her experiences not only at 91制片厂 but also in her life.

Ellis: I spoke with one person who studied abroad in Germany in the late 鈥�70s and was able to spend a day in East Berlin. She had a lot of cool stories about the people and the cultural differences.

Plourde: I recently spoke with a man who went to school with my grandparents when they were attending 91制片厂.听It was really neat to hear stories about my grandfather as a college student and all that he was involved in.听The man I spoke with also told me that he听has done so much听and become so involved in his retirement age because of his career at 91制片厂 and the education he received.

Riggs: While my favorite calling group is parents, I find that I learn the most from alumni. There was one alumna who taught me about the history of the elementary education graduate program, which I found very interesting. Because of my conversation with her, I have been able to share the history of the program听with others.

91制片厂 Today: Picture yourself 10 years out of college with $1 million in extra funds that you plan to donate to 91制片厂. How would you want those funds spent?

Bragan: If 10 years from now I had $1 million dollars to donate to 91制片厂, I would donate it to the scholarship fund for students. I believe money should not be the reason students are not able to come here, and I want to help in any way, shape or form. With state funding so low and being an out-of-state student, I understand the burden of tuition and I don鈥檛 believe others should feel that. It is important to focus on your studies and not have to worry about how to pay.

Brochu: With $1 million听of donations that I could give to 91制片厂, I think I would want those funds being spent on renovating some of the dorms so they can house as many students as they can and to make sure the students have great facilities because 91制片厂听is just a great place to be, and I feel as if we need to make sure the students are happy while听staying in Durham and听to continue promoting听the wonderful atmosphere we already have here at 91制片厂.

Ellis: Being a business major, I would love to donate to the Paul School. I am very grateful for all of the opportunities that the Paul School has provided me.

Plourde: I would choose to have those funds separated into three different areas. I would want one-fourth of the money to go to 91制片厂's greatest need and one-fourth to go to the College of Engineering.听However, I would听most strongly support the scholarship fund for in-state students.听Being an in-state student paying for college myself, I am very grateful for the scholarships I have received from the听university.听The aid is the reason I can go to college and follow my dream to be a civil engineer. I want other in-state students in the future who are in my position to have that opportunity to go to a highly accredited university as well.听

Riggs: I would want a third of the money donated to the human development family studies major and another third of the money donated to the elementary education graduate program.听I would want the last third split up between student scholarships, student research and ongoing renovations on campus.

The dedication of all the Phonathon callers is truly paying off.

鈥淭his week we set a new semester record of 72 pledges in a shift with $6,811 raised and a 56-percent pledge rate,鈥� Forrest explains, adding, 鈥淭he previous record was set on Thursday the 12th with 50 pledges.鈥�

How do all those pledges add up?

鈥淭he impact of Phonathon in securing dollars and donors for 91制片厂 is immeasurable,鈥� Forrest says, noting that between the end of August and November 17, 鈥渨e鈥檝e raised $113,789 from 1,349 pledges. Gifts come from 91制片厂 alumni and current parents, and donors have the ability to support any area of campus or dedicate their gift to 91制片厂鈥檚 greatest need.听Each year we raise around $400,000 from around 4,000 pledges.鈥�

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In case you are wondering鈥�

In case you're wondering whether you contributed to the recent record-setting evening, it was Monday, November 16. Thank you!

Interested in becoming a Phonathon caller? .

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