Senior Challenge is a celebration of your time at Transylvania University. In four years, you have no doubt forged lifelong friendships, received invaluable mentorship, immersed yourself in academia, and built the foundation of who you will be for the rest of your life. However, your Transylvania journey does not end at Commencement – being a Pioneer is a lifelong commitment.
Since the ‘90s, Senior Challenge has brought the graduating class together through social events while fundraising for a special class gift. Stay tuned for special events for the Class of 2026!
When we join together as a class to support the Pioneers who come after us, we’re helping secure Transy’s future. Not only do our dollars add up, but our participation positively influences grant-awarding foundations and large donors. Many of those funders consider student and alumni giving rates when determining grant funding, so our support, at any level, goes a long way.
Check out previous class year projects
- Class of 2025: $2159.38 given to any area of campus the student chose
- Class of 2024: $2,069.23 given to any area of campus the student chose
- Class of 2023: $1,661.67 given to any area of campus the student chose
- Class of 2022: $4,033.22 that was matched 2-1 by a donor to increase accessibility in the Campus Center
- Class of 2021: $2,458.75 given to any area of campus the student chose
- Class of 2020: $6,679.40 split between The Transylvania Fund and the construction of the Campus Center
- Class of 2019: $2,800 split between the Annual Fund and the area of the students’ choice
- Class of 2018: $11,057.84 for the renovation of the quiet section of the library
- Class of 2017: $9,365 for the new Transylvania University sign in front of Carpenter Academic Center
- Class of 2016: $20,625 for the Mary Katharine Stewart Pavilion in Back Circle
- Class of 2015: $11,351 for the basketball court in the newly renovated Back Circle
- Class of 2014: $12,344 for the center smart table in Alumni Plaza
- Class of 2013: $11,988 for the renovation of Rosenthal Commons
Leadership Giving
As seniors and young alumni, you are asked to give back, but we know that amount can look different for each individual, which is why we set the participant amount at $20.26, in honor of your graduation year. However, if you are interested in leadership giving to honor your time at Transy, you are also invited to join the President’s Young Alumni Leadership Circle. (The President’s Circle, typically starts at the $1,000/fiscal year level, but for seniors and young alumni, we ask you to give at the $100 level to better reflect the typical capacity for a young adult.)
Individual Donor Perks
We want to recognize and thank the seniors who make that next step in becoming lifelong Pioneers.
Participant Level: Give $20.26+, and you get to choose between a silver honor cord, a years-long tradition, or a lapel pin bearing the historic University seal. Either item may be worn at graduation.
Leadership Level: Give $100+, and you’ll receive a cord or pin and become a member of the President’s Circle.
Upcoming Events
Stay tuned! Interested in helping plan the Class of 2026’s Senior Challenge projects? Sign up here to learn more.