Voices of Support

Students call to fund scholarships and strengthen tie
Colleges rely on more than just tuition to keep their doors open and provide students with opportunities for better education. Government support, private donations, and campus services all play a role, but at Union Adventist University, one unique source of support comes from our Outreach Promoters.

Working out of the Advancement office, our Outreach Promoters serve as Union’s ambassadors with the intent to raise funds for our college under the direction of our Annual Giving Director, Janya Mekelburg. The main way they raise funds is through their Spring and Autumn phone-a-thons. Outreach Promoters take the time to make phone calls to alumni, friends, and parents of students to ensure their continued financial support towards Union Adventist University. The Autumn Phone-a-thon takes place between the middle of September and the first week of December. The Spring Phone-a-thon takes place between the middle of February and sometime in the middle of April. The yearly goal of the Promoters is to raise over $70,000 combined from both phone-a-thon events.

Because this program is vital for the betterment of Union’s scholarships and funds, the Outreach Promoters are specifically and meticulously trained to represent our university in the most outstanding ways possible. They undergo a nine-unit training session before they ever even pick up a phone, and they are required to learn and memorize the script for every call they make.

Aside from the bi-yearly Phone-a-thons, the Outreach Program also helps the Advancement Office with menial tasks, such as assisting with mailings. They also hold a Thank-a-thon to celebrate and thank those who have supported Union Adventist University with their gifts and funds from the previous years’ Phone-a-thons.

The Outreach Promoters program is about more than raising money; it’s about people staying connected. Each phone call provides students with the opportunity to share updates, listen to stories, and remind alumni and families that they are always part of Union Adventist University. The money raised helps to support scholarships and programs, but the real impact is the connections built and the continued support for our university’s mission. Our Outreach Promoters help ensure Union’s mission for future students is thriving.

By: Hudson Beldin