While the Class of 2020 may have to wait until December to officially toss their caps into the air because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a recently launched 2020 Graduation Tassel Campaign offers a meaningful way to honor and celebrate this major milestone in their education journey today.
The challenge encourages alumni and friends to send a note of encouragement and a commemorative graduation tassel—with a donation of $20.20—to a member of the Class of 2020.
“I’m sure it’s been a tough senior year but ’Canes are strong and resilient. Congratulations on all the hard work that brought you to this day,” shared one alumnus who gave a donation. Another wrote, “You have a legion of ’Canes behind you wishing you well and cheering you on. Congratulations!”
“We know our seniors are saddened that their final semester is ending without the traditional rite of passage that is part of the college experience. Your last few months on campus are often your happiest—filled with a great sense of accomplishment and much excitement,” said Josh Friedman, senior vice president for development and alumni relations. “Because we’ve heard from many donors, alumni, faculty, and staff looking for a way to support our seniors, we wanted to find a thoughtful way to engage our University community in spreading some cheer and hope to our graduates at this time, while also helping to support students who are facing new financial challenges in this current environment.”
In addition to providing a tassel to a 2020 graduate, all proceeds from the challenge will go toward providing emergency funds and scholarship support to University of Miami students.
The campaign, which is open to the University community, also includes a special challenge for alumni from the classes of 1970–2019. As part of the campaign, Kourtney Gibson, B.B.A. ’03—president of the University of Miami Alumni Association Alumni Board—has set a goal to secure 4,500 alumni participants. And, she has committed to donate $70,000 to student scholarships once 2,500 tassels are sent to our graduating students and $30,000 more when we reach the 4,500 goal!
Go to https://canefunder.miami.edu/campaigns/2020-graduation-tassel-campaign to show your support for a senior.
