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6/24/10

St. Lawrence & Hobart William Smith Out To 'Settle The Score' With Donor Participation

CANTON - Long-time rivals on the athletic fields, St. Lawrence University and Hobart William Smith Colleges in Geneva are now in competition to see who can boast the greatest participation in alumni giving in a challenge the schools call "Settle the Score."

The institution with the most alumni donors during the month of June will claim "bragging rights" and gifts of any size count towards the challenge. A Web site and Facebook group have been set up, allowing participants to keep track of which school is ahead.

The final prize? The Matt Brewing Company (thanks to Carrie Hamilton Matt, SLU '82 and Fred Matt, Hobart '81) will produce a limited-edition Saranac beer and soda label featuring the winning school. Alumni will be able to order these products online once a winner is determined.

St. Lawrence Director of Alumni and Parent Programs Kimberly Hissong said, "We want alumni to understand that gifts of all size are important, and this is a fun way to get that message out. The number of alumni who contribute to their alma mater each year is seen by many as an endorsement of the institution by those who know it best. Through this challenge, St. Lawrence alumni are truly showing their pride. Many have been moved by this challenge, including first-time donors and some who have given generously more than once this year, in order to be counted in the challenge."

"Both institutions are way ahead of the normal June pace for collecting donations from alumni," said St. Lawrence Vice President for University Advancement Michael Archibald, "so in that sense, everybody wins. We at St. Lawrence just plan to win a little bit more than our good friends south of us in Geneva."

To find out more about the Settle the Score challenge, visit the Web site www.stlawu.edu/settlethescore.

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