This year, Seniors were able to nominate and choose their Senior Class Gift through an online voting process. Over 1200 Seniors participated and with over 60% of the online vote, the “Finish the Bell Tower” campaign was selected as this year’s designated Senior Class Gift.
“Finish the Bell Tower” is a student-initiated grassroots movement to finally finish the Memorial Bell Tower, a war memorial to the students killed in World War I and a symbol of NC State’s dedication to our nation, its veterans, and students & alumni who serve.
The movement seeks to raise money to complete the Tower as originally designed in 1920. Its design called for a 54-bell carillon of bells (the largest carillon in the world at the time) and an interior spiral staircase (hence the staggered exterior windows). The tower ran into the hardship as its construction carried into the great depression and the alumni memorial committee could not finance the original design or construction.
The Works Progress Administration completed the tower’s structure during the depression, but left the interior for the university to finish. While efforts were mounted to complete the tower, all fell short. Around this same time, Seniors showed an interest in its completion:
The above letter from C. L. Mann to tower architect Henry Deacy refers to the senior class of 1940 pursuing the installation of a full carillon of bells. As it turns out, efforts of every class gift between 1941 and 1947 attempted to complete the tower. These classes furnished the lights for the tower and attempted to raise money to place a carillon in the tower, but ultimately fell short, having to settle for a more temporary electronic speaker system. Today, we continue the effort nearly 70 years in the making.
Below is another example of the class of 1947 giving up their entire ticket allotment to raise money for the tower. The ballot passed with 99% of the vote:
To make a pledge or give now, click here to visit the NC State secure giving page. Select University Gifts and 2010 Class Gift.
History of the Senior Class Gift
For almost 100 years seniors at NC State University have shown their appreciation for the opportunity and privilege to attend NC State by giving back to the university. From the sundial located in front of Primrose in 1913 to more recently endowments for need based scholarships, Seniors give to leave a legacy at NC State and give back to the institution that has given them so much.
The Class of 2010 Senior Class Committee (SCC) is asking seniors to support NC State University by making a gift to either the Senior Class Gift or to any area of the university they would like to support. You can support your class gift or you may choose to support your college or other student organizations.
Past Senior Class Gifts
2009 –No Class Gift
2008 –No Class Gift
2007 – Scholarship Endowment
2006 –Scholarship Endowment
2005 –No Class Gift
2004 -Scholarship Endowment
2003 -Scholarship Endowment
2002 -Outdoor classroom located on Centennial Campus near Engineering I
(construction begins fall 2009)
2001 -New fountain and landscaping for the Mary Yarbrough Court
2000 –Teakwood Benches located near D.H. Hill library
1999 –‘Pride’ wolf statue located on in the lobby of the second floor of the Murphy Center
1998 – D.H. Hill green space
1997 –Rehab station for Student Health Services
1996 –Tree spade
1995 –Computer for Career Planning Center
1994 –Campus map located on the Brickyard
1987 –Contributed to outdoor classroom located on the Court of North Carolina.
1956 – Sitting area overlooking Court of North Carolina (Class and Engineering Council)
1914 –Fountain located behind Primrose Hall
1913 –Sundial located in front of Primrose Hall
We are currently trying to research past senior class gifts. If you know of any class gifts not listed above please contact john_mcburney@ncsu.edu
