University Advancement

Historically, graduating students have been welcomed into the nursing profession with a pinning, said Peggy MacKay, a lecturer in the UNC Charlotte School of Nursing. But faculty in the school wanted to do a little more for the graduates to formally usher them into the field.

The result was a White Coat Ceremony. Each semester, graduates receive a white coat to symbolize their embarking upon their careers as nurses. MacKay said faculty members write notes of encouragement to place in the pockets of each jacket.

Harris Teeter recently made a donation to the Jamil Niner Student Pantry. A gift of $10,000 in Harris Teeter gift cards and industrial shelving to update the pantry’s storage needs will assist the organization’s efforts to combat student food insecurity on UNC Charlotte’s campus.

For C.T. Lefler ’11, one of the best-selling points for UNC Charlotte’s Legacy Program is the draping ceremony for graduating students. During the ceremony, a family member who is also a UNC Charlotte graduate places a stole on the student and, in turn, the student pins the family member.

“It’s a real family event,” said Lefler, a third-generation alumnus who graduated with a mechanical engineering degree.

As an employee who regularly volunteers both on campus and in the greater community, Bronwyn Jarsocrak knew exactly which charities she wanted to assist during the upcoming National Volunteer Week, April 8-12.

It has been almost a year since Tim Rogers lost his daughter, Polly, in a bus accident in Charlotte. His many friends at UNC Charlotte, touched by the life that Polly Rogers lived, are helping Rogers honor his daughter by building a sensory garden within UNC Charlotte’s Botanical Gardens.

New York Times bestselling author Tayari Jones tackles the issue of wrongful incarceration in her latest book, “An American Marriage.” She will discuss her research for the book and her creative writing process during the 2019 TIAA Lecture, scheduled for 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 10, in the Cone University Center, McKnight Hall. (Note, this is a location change since the initial publication).

A garden for autistic children, lab coats for new nursing graduates and scholarships for legacy students are among the latest round of spring crowdfunding projects that the UNC Charlotte community can support. Crowdfund UNC Charlotte is an online platform that helps University faculty, staff and students fund unique projects.

Last year was the first time in two decades that the UNC Charlotte American Society of Civil Engineers’ concrete canoe team advanced to the national competition. But upon arriving for the contest at San Diego State University, the team realized it was missing one thing: its canoe.

Thankfully, the canoe, which had been shipped early via UPS, showed up later in a nearby city after a frantic search. But the team learned a valuable lesson.

From scholarships and campus renovations to cultural events and student support services, UNC Charlotte’s donors continue to enhance the 49er student experience with their generous gifts. Green with Gratitude is a 49er effort established to educate students on the importance and impact of philanthropy.

This is the second article in a series highlighting the impact of the Green Tie Gala, which raises money for scholarships at UNC Charlotte. Gala attendees get to choose which scholarship their donations will support. Click here to purchase tickets or learn more about the gala.