on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 18.
Samantha Chaffin
Editor-in-Chief
The annual I Love ISU campaign that took place Monday, Sept. 15 through Thursday, Sept. 18 wrapped up with the check presentation at 5:45 p.m. on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 18 during the after-hours event in the Pond Student Union Building Quad Lounge.
This year’s campaign raised a total of $194,092.52 for Idaho State University and its students.
The 2014 campaign was led by the ISU Foundation. The Alumni Association organized the event for the past two years prior to this.
According to Director of Annual Giving for the ISU Foundation Kallee Valentine, the I Love ISU campaign is a calling campaign that started 32 years ago in the chamber of commerce as a business-to-business campaign.
Various teams get together throughout the week and make calls to the community and surrounding areas to collect pledges and monetary gifts for ISU and its students. Pledges or gifts can either go to the university in general or the donor can specify what area he or she would like to donate toward.
A large portion of the money raised in the I Love ISU campaign each year goes toward student scholarships.
“It was fantastic. It showed me how much the community really cares about ISU and the success of the students,” said Valentine of the campaign. “It was amazing to see the generosity.”
The I Love ISU campaign has grown to incorporate various businesses and individuals throughout the Pocatello community who donate their time and money to help students at ISU, “but it really is about volunteers,” said Valentine.
Calling teams made up of volunteers are formed and actually compete against one another in the calling room, according to Valentine. She said there were approximately 17 teams involved this year and 25 calling sessions of about three hours each. Two teams are involved in each session.
“It’s kind of a fun atmosphere because when the two teams compete, it’s all friendly rivalry,” explained Valentine. “And they treat it as a competition to keep each other excited so the room’s really exciting and eventful. It’s full of excitement, there’s bells, we’re all cheering.”
This year, ASISU representatives formed a calling team for the I Love ISU campaign and went up against an alumni team led by KC Felt.
According to ASISU President Kyle Son, ASISU was able to raise $1,375 in their hour volunteering for the campaign, though he admitted defeat to Felt’s team.
“We competed with the alumni, who I’ll admit kicked our butts. But it was fun, it was awesome to meet and interact with them and have a friendly competition with them,” said Son. “As I’ve said multiple times at these things, they’re leading by example on the kind of alumni we wanna be, I think, and it’s just awesome to strengthen that bond between us.”
During the check presentation, event organizers and university officials alike, including Executive Vice President of the ISU Foundation Kent Tingey, I Love ISU Chair Claudia Tremelling, Co-Chair David Gates, Son and ISU President Arthur Vailas, spoke to attendees addressing the value of the campaign, its volunteers and benefactors and recognizing various individuals along the way.
While speaking prior to the check presentation and announcement of the final amount raised, event co-chair David Gates recognized David Kirkpatrick, 99, who has been involved in I Love ISU since it began 32 years ago.
Gates said the Kirkpatrick alone has raised excess of $20,000 for ISU through his work with I Love ISU over the years, and the campaign as a whole has raised approximately $5.2 million.
“I just want to point out, to emphasize, 82 percent of our students receive financial aid out of the entire student body, which is about 19,000 students annually,” said Vailas speaking after the check had been presented. “So just to impress upon you that, basically, financial aid and assistance is the number one factor of students, parents and everybody that’s involved.”
Vailas added, “It takes everyone, an entire community, to really make things happen. And it’s very refreshing to live in a place where, I would say, everyone cares. And I know it makes the students feel good.”
