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Another Thought On Graduation and the Spirit of Acta Non Verba
Perhaps next June the Class and Parents of the Class of 2011, could try and start a tradition that could be added to graduation weekend proceedings. The graduating class and their parents, in thanks for the valuable education and great experiences they and their children received during the preceding four years, as part of one of the events leading up to but prior to the Commencement Ceremony, would present a gift to the USMMA Foundation for near term use in enriching midshipmen life for the Classes they leave behind and the incoming Plebes. The Class President of the Class of 2011 could give a gift to the USMMA Foundation. The gift would be a Class Gift and could/would be listed as that Class’ gift for their first “Homecoming” which would actually be the following September.
Think about it, if the Class of 2010 which is 198 strong had done such a thing it’s not unreasonable they could have started the tradition with a gift to the Foundation and the Midshipmen that were following in their footsteps of a significant sum with an interesting target number. As far as a target gift, it would seem very relevant to base the goal for the gift on just a percentage of what one year’s average tuition would cost at a State University of College on a per member/family basis. To me that would put the target at between $2,500 and $5,000 per family. In other words the Class of 2010 would have had a goal of presenting a gift on the order of $500,000 or $2526 per family. For me, I live in Virginia, I’d expect we (me, my son through work study, etc)to pay tuition on the order of at least $15,000 if my son went to a State School per year. $2526 is just under 17% of that one year cost. It would also mean that every donating family would be members of the Superintendent Council level of donors for that year.
Most importantly, if it was directed at enriching midshipmen life, you know supporting Clubs, Intramurals and similar things like June Weekend Activities over the following year and no longer than the following two years, it would address many of the items which sport teams individual parents clubs, and ad hoc “fund raising calls” by midshipmen and parents shell out for throughout the year. However, best of all, unlike those “ad hoc” cash calls, these donations would be tax deductible. Over the past two years from what I have seen these are a significant portion of the things parents and currents mids complain are underfunded and/or lacking. However, what doesn't seem fully accepted, known and realized by all is that these sorts of things are not covered in either a normal college student's room, board, tuition or fees; nor are they covered by federal funds and appropriations at the other academies. At the other academies, it's not an issue, usually for these sorts of things, the midshipmen, cadets, etc. just pay for them - they are after all receiving a salary during the entire time they are at those academies. For "normal schools" I'd expect that since a student and his parent are basically paying for everything else, paying for those items is felt to be no different. In any case, at the USMMA - the federal budget doesn't cover them and it's a unique Kings Pointer who returns from Sea Year with much of the pay he/she received in their savings account. Such a generous, though reasonable gift would a) start a great tradition with real gusto, and b) I suspect be a rallying call for all the other classes to raise their efforts and make sure they aren't put to shame by "the new guys on the block" for their anniversary gifts in September.
Just a thought to consider as we members and parents of the Classes of 2011 – 2014 look enviously at our Class of 2010 counterparts.
Perhaps next June the Class and Parents of the Class of 2011, could try and start a tradition that could be added to graduation weekend proceedings. The graduating class and their parents, in thanks for the valuable education and great experiences they and their children received during the preceding four years, as part of one of the events leading up to but prior to the Commencement Ceremony, would present a gift to the USMMA Foundation for near term use in enriching midshipmen life for the Classes they leave behind and the incoming Plebes. The Class President of the Class of 2011 could give a gift to the USMMA Foundation. The gift would be a Class Gift and could/would be listed as that Class’ gift for their first “Homecoming” which would actually be the following September.
Think about it, if the Class of 2010 which is 198 strong had done such a thing it’s not unreasonable they could have started the tradition with a gift to the Foundation and the Midshipmen that were following in their footsteps of a significant sum with an interesting target number. As far as a target gift, it would seem very relevant to base the goal for the gift on just a percentage of what one year’s average tuition would cost at a State University of College on a per member/family basis. To me that would put the target at between $2,500 and $5,000 per family. In other words the Class of 2010 would have had a goal of presenting a gift on the order of $500,000 or $2526 per family. For me, I live in Virginia, I’d expect we (me, my son through work study, etc)to pay tuition on the order of at least $15,000 if my son went to a State School per year. $2526 is just under 17% of that one year cost. It would also mean that every donating family would be members of the Superintendent Council level of donors for that year.
Most importantly, if it was directed at enriching midshipmen life, you know supporting Clubs, Intramurals and similar things like June Weekend Activities over the following year and no longer than the following two years, it would address many of the items which sport teams individual parents clubs, and ad hoc “fund raising calls” by midshipmen and parents shell out for throughout the year. However, best of all, unlike those “ad hoc” cash calls, these donations would be tax deductible. Over the past two years from what I have seen these are a significant portion of the things parents and currents mids complain are underfunded and/or lacking. However, what doesn't seem fully accepted, known and realized by all is that these sorts of things are not covered in either a normal college student's room, board, tuition or fees; nor are they covered by federal funds and appropriations at the other academies. At the other academies, it's not an issue, usually for these sorts of things, the midshipmen, cadets, etc. just pay for them - they are after all receiving a salary during the entire time they are at those academies. For "normal schools" I'd expect that since a student and his parent are basically paying for everything else, paying for those items is felt to be no different. In any case, at the USMMA - the federal budget doesn't cover them and it's a unique Kings Pointer who returns from Sea Year with much of the pay he/she received in their savings account. Such a generous, though reasonable gift would a) start a great tradition with real gusto, and b) I suspect be a rallying call for all the other classes to raise their efforts and make sure they aren't put to shame by "the new guys on the block" for their anniversary gifts in September.
Just a thought to consider as we members and parents of the Classes of 2011 – 2014 look enviously at our Class of 2010 counterparts.
