Senior Class Gift

The California State University, Bakersfield graduating Class of 2024 and 2025 will make history this year by presenting the University with a class gift. Class gifts have been a longstanding tradition at many higher education institutions. This year, CSUB will become one of those campuses. 

Graduates of the Classes of 2024 and 2025 will help raise money to fund a new digital billboard that will become a landmark to guide future generations of `Runners. CSUB’s newest alumni will create a legacy on campus and get engaged with philanthropy.  

The billboard, secured on a concrete brick foundation, will be located at the corner of Don Hart Drive East and Kroll Way. It will be marked by a plaque commemorating the generosity of the CSUB Classes of 2024 and 2025 and inspiring future classes to keep the tradition alive. 

The Sensational Sophomores Class of 2024 and 2025 have led the charge on this the class gift fundraising initiative.  

“It is important for us to leave a legacy, not only to show our `Runner pride, but to celebrate the determination we had to finish strong. Establishing our senior gift is a testament of our pride, resilience, and commitment to our future and the future of CSUB,” wrote Chidinma Okey-Dike, Fatyma Cendejas and Gabriel Abboud. 

We are asking graduating students, their families and friends to donate $25 or more to help us reach our goal of raising $35,000 to make this digital billboard a reality. This will be a unique and beautiful focal point to welcome students, staff, faculty, alumni and our community to the CSUB campus. 

 For further information and/or questions, please contact: 

Senior Class Gift Committee: 

Chidinma Okey-Dike 

Fatyma Cendejas 

Gabriel Abboud 

Erin Pruitt 

Dr. Thomas D. Wallace 

Heath Niemeyer 

EJ Callahan 

Eric Weis 

Veronica Catalan 

Mike Kwon  

Kristine De Young

$2,500
The CSUB Alumni Board Challenge
The CSUB Alumni Board is committing $2,500 as a Giving Day Challenge gift once the 55th donor makes a gift to any fund.
55 Donor Goal
Starts in
$100
Faculty and Staff Initiative Challenge
For every 100 employees/retired employees participating within the 24-hour giving period, Eric Weis, Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship for CSUB, will personally donate $100 to the fund that receives the most donations. Eric will donate up to $500 when we reach 500 employees/retired employees participating!
100 Donor Goal
Starts in
$1,000
Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee Challenge
Calling all Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees! Join us in supporting CSUB on Giving Day to support a fund you are passionate about. Once the 15th Inductee makes their gift, Dr. Mary Barlow, CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee of 2021, will unlock a generous $1,000 gift to support our Basic Needs Program.
15 Donor Goal
Starts in
$5,000
Gonzalo Santos Public Sociology Scholarship Challenge
This scholarship supports upper-division Sociology majors who are actively involved in the application of sociology through community engagement, community service, volunteerism and activism. Calling all Sociology alumni to participate in giving to this fund. If we raise at least $5,000 for this scholarship, Professor Dahna Stowe will match up to $5,000.
$5,000 Goal
Starts in
Leaderboard
Battle of the Industry Challenge
The industry leader group with the most participants will have an opportunity to meet with a campus leader who is affiliated with their industry and learn about the impact CSUB is having in producing top students to recruit.
Event
Eat for a Cause at California Pizza Kitchen (CPK)
Visit California Pizza Kitchen on Stockdale Highway on Giving Day between April 8 - 9, and mention that you are there to support CSUB on Giving Day. When you do, CPK will donate 20% of your meal purchase back to CSUB. This is applicable for dine-in, take-out, online orders and catering. Please be sure to enter BACK20% at checkout.
$100
Alumni Engagement Challenge
For every 100 alumni participating within the 24-hour giving period, Sarah Hendrick, Director of Alumni Engagement for CSUB, will personally donate $100 to the fund that receives the most donations. Sarah will donate up to $500 when we reach 500 alumni participating!
100 Donor Goal
Starts in
$1,000
Basic Needs Challenge
The Basic Needs Program at CSUB supports the Food Pantry and Edible Garden. Past Research shows that over 40% of students are food insecure and that food insecurity is associated with a number of outcomes that conflict with academic success. By raising funds to support the program, this will greatly help with mitigating these challenges. An anonymous donor has generously offered to give $1,000 when we reach at least 30 donors who give at least $8 or more to celebrate the eighth anniversary of this program.
30 Donor Goal
Starts in
$1,500
Senior Class Gift Challenge
Calling Class of 2024 and Class of 2025 to participate in an opportunity to donate a digital billboard as a gift to CSUB. We need to raise $35,000 to make this project a reality. Each participating member will have their name displayed on the plaque who contributes a minimum of $25 to create a legacy of philanthropy at CSUB!
$35,000 Goal
Starts in
Leaderboard
Rowdy Through the Eras
The alumni cohort based on graduation decade with the most participants will be recognized at the next Alumni Hall of Fame event in 2026. Congratulations to the Class of 2010-19 for being the inaugural winner of this challenge last year!
Leaderboard
Veterans Success Center Challenge
Are you a veteran of the United States Armed Forces? Enter your branch of the military when you give to be recognized by the CSUB Veterans Success Center!
Participating Groups
Alumni Association Antelope Valley Arts and Humanities Athletics Business and Public Administration CARE Services CSUB Fund Dreamers Resource Center Housing and Food Security Kegley Institute of Ethics Multicultural Alliance and Gender Equity Center Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering President's Associates Social Sciences and Education Student Affairs Study Abroad Veterans Center Walter W. Stiern Library Senior Class Gift Other Programs
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Or you can contact us at eweis@csub.edu.

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