‘It’s a big party!’ as students celebrate a successful Giving Day

Last night at midnight, the Stu was the place to be. Students gathered in the center of Lipscomb’s campus for free Whataburger and a chance to win scholarship money. The catch? Students had to stay until 12am to be eligible to win. 

“What a day, What a scholarship, Whataburger” closed out Lipscomb’s annual Giving Day, and the mood was celebratory. Hundreds of students joined the faculty and staff that made Giving Day possible in the student center.

Samuel Waldron, the assistant director of Alumni Engagement, was still energetic at 11:30pm, even though he had been working since 7am. 

“Giving Day is the time where people can give back to Lipscomb, whether parents, students, alumni, whoever that is. They can show why they care about Lipscomb, and just continue to give back to the students and help make Lipscomb the great community that it is,” said Waldron.

Students are heavily involved in making Giving Day successful. Keegan Gardner, a sophomore, is a Giving Day ambassador for the Global Learning program. He helped film promotional videos and told donors how their gifts enable Lipscomb students to enjoy experiences like studying abroad. 

“I am so passionate about Global Learning. It definitely shaped my college experience and helped me become the person I am today, so it means a lot that I had people donate to a cause that has helped me so much.”

This year, Lipscomb exceeded its ambitious Giving Day goals. At the Whataburger celebration, organizers announced the final numbers: over 5,400 people donated $3.3 million to the University – in one day.

Not all of the donors were alumni or family members; 518 students chose to give, with many of their donations being matched or supplemented by other generous donors.

Lipscomb students who attended the midnight celebration won Amazon gift cards and multiple scholarships of up to $1,000. Even after a day of giving, Lipscomb was still giving back to its students.

While the winners were being announced, the Student Center erupted in cheers as people recognized the names of their friends and peers. 

Gavin Cavendar, enjoying a Whataburger chicken biscuit, described the mood perfectly:

“The vibes are absolutely electric. It’s a big party in here!”

Featured image courtesy of President McQueen’s instagram.