Fund Supports Efforts of Student Organizations
In the fall of 2007, the UW-Eau Claire Foundation established the Student Organizations Opportunity Fund, which provides funding to recognized student organizations for events and activities.
"The funding can be used for travel to a conference or workshop, for supplies or to support a community service event as well as other uses," said Angela Bong, student leadership and organization coordinator. "Student organizations can apply for a $250 award once per semester.”
Faculty and staff who want to support students in this way can contribute to the Foundation’s Student Organizations Opportunity Fund through a gift to Campus Campaign.
The fund has been used by groups as diverse as the Student Homeless Awareness Chapter, Foodlums, the Native American Student Association and Disc Golf Club, to name a few of the organizations to receive funding this year. Thanks to the generosity of former Provost and Vice Chancellor Steve Tallant and his wife, Karen, who worked in the registrar’s office, all of the grants this year are being awarded in honor of Steve and Karen Tallant.
The Student Homeless Awareness Chapter used the fund to purchase food for Thanksgiving baskets for 20 families living in poverty identified by Beacon House, the local family homeless shelter. In the past, SHAC had been able to get donations from grocery stores for the baskets. This year, due to the economic downturn, the group had not been able to obtain donations and so applied to the Student Organizations Opportunity Fund. The $250 award helped SHAC members provide a needed community service.
"For students who participated in this event, it was their first encounter with how homelessness affects families during the holiday season," said Megan Callahan, a member of SHAC. "I believe many young people take their holiday traditions for granted, and SHAC members are able to further understand and appreciate their lifestyle through this event."
The Student Organizations Opportunity Fund supports learning opportunities for students, Callahan said.
"Community service hours are required for each UW-Eau Claire student," Callahan said. "Through events like the Thanksgiving baskets, students are able to fulfill their community service hours while receiving a great hands-on learning experience."
Faculty and staff, particularly those who serve as organization advisers, can appreciate how these opportunities let students transfer their learning skills beyond the classroom, Bong said.
"Often these activities supplement what students are learning in the classroom and let students apply what they are learning to real-life situations," Bong said. "Without the support this fund provides, opportunities for learning would be diminished."
Demand for the funds has increased as student organizations have become more aware of the fund. During the 2007-08 academic year a total of 27 awards were made. In the fall 2008 semester alone, 28 requests were funded.
"This fund helps students do positive things in a productive way," Bong said..
For more information about supporting this fund, contact Doudna at doudnadn@uwec.edu or 715-836-3819.
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