TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama students are being asked to show their school spirit by making small contributions to a scholarship fund at the University over the next two months.

The S.P.I.R.I.T. student campaign, created with the input of some 30 student leaders, asks each student to donate $2 to the University. Funds raised will go to “first in family” scholarships, designated for deserving students who are the first in their families to go to college. The campaign name – S.P.I.R.I.T. – was chosen by student organizers and stands for “Students Playing Important Roles in Tradition.”

“This is a great opportunity for students to show their support for the University and to give to a cause that will help other students down the road,” said Hal Mooty, president of the Student Government Association at UA.

Participation in the campaign, which will run from Jan. 27-March 24, is much more important than the dollar amount raised, UA officials say.

“Student needs are the first priority for all our fundraising efforts. Our alumni and other donors already give more than $45 million to the University each year, and it’s important to them to know that students are also committed to the University’s long-term success,” said UA President Robert E. Witt.

“Student support will help us tremendously as we continue to reach out to our other constituencies. We hope that 100 percent of our students will participate.”

Witt said the University is preparing to launch a major capital campaign, and the student campaign will help build momentum for that fundraising effort.

Graham Smith, coordinator of the student campaign, said the University recognizes that students’ funds are limited.

“Many students make sacrifices to pay tuition and living expenses, and we certainly do not want to add to that financial burden. It’s the participation that counts. We are only asking for $2 – the cost of a cup of coffee or a couple of soft drinks – from each student,” Smith said.

Student support will also help the University maintain and build on its national rankings. Donor participation is among a number of criteria used to determine national rankings.

“For this purpose, we are judged on IF we give rather than HOW MUCH we give to support our institution,” Smith said. “If our national rankings go up, we can recruit better professors and students. The prestige of an Alabama degree will increase, and today’s students will benefit long after graduation as they pursue their careers.”

The campaign is not UA’s first fund drive for students. A campaign conducted more than 80 years ago, in 1922, raised $30,000 – the equivalent of some $426,000 today.

“Tradition has always been important at UA, and we hope that the enthusiasm and commitment that led those students to show their support for the University in 1922 is still alive today,” Smith said.

Contributing to the S.P.I.R.I.T. campaign is easy for students. Students may give with a swipe of their ACTion cards beginning Jan. 27 at locations in Ferguson Center, Gorgas Library and the Student Recreation Center. Cash and checks will also be accepted at those locations. Online giving is available at http://spirit.ua.edu. Checks may be mailed to The University of Alabama Office of Advancement, S.P.I.R.I.T. Campaign, Box 870122, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.

For more information, contact Smith at 205/348-5535 or gsmith@advance.ua.edu.