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T-shirt sales bolster scholarships

A newly released T-shirt, dubbed the Red Shirt, could lead to increased support for Wisconsin Alumni Association scholarship funds and programming if sales continue to increase.

According to Kate Dixon, media and public relations specialist for WAA, a couple hundred T-shirts have already sold at $15 each since the launch last week at locations such as the University Bookstore, the WAA office and online.

“The idea had been out there for a while, and it was something people here decided to run with,” Dixon said. “This is the first edition of the [T-shirt], and so far sales have been really successful.”

The T-shirt sales will support WAA’s matching scholarship program, as well as other outlets such as publications, career resources, homecoming, reunions and learning programs. Any student can apply for the scholarship support, Dixon added.

Paula Bonner, president and CEO of WAA, said she hopes the T-shirts will not only generate school spirit, but also encourage students to support a “good cause.”

“Hopefully it is a good community building activity all the way around,” said Bonner. “We wanted to see if we could stimulate some interest [from students]. I hope to see a lot of red shirts. That is exactly what I want.”

WAA observed other universities creating traditions with specially designed T-shirt fundraising programs, including the University of Notre Dame. WAA wanted to build a new tradition for UW students, especially with the upcoming football season, Bonner added.

Susan Fischer, director of financial aid at UW, said with nearly $30 million in scholarship money flowing into campus every year, the additional efforts to aid students to pay for tuition and other costs is always appreciated.

“Gift money is always better than loan money. We love when scholarships come in, whether [the money] is from WAA, the Lyon’s Club or even Bill Gates,” Fischer added. “It is a very positive thing. The Alumni Association is always very supportive of students who need financial aid, so this is not surprising or shocking.”

According to Dixon, student organizations are also encouraged to sell the T-shirts to raise funds for their own programming or activities. Student organizations wishing to get involved with the fundraising can contact Dixon at kdixon@uwalumni.com.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has already stepped up to the plate and will sell the T-shirts at an annual fair this weekend. Dixon added several other organizations have contacted her about selling the T-shirts, but their participation will not be formalized until sometime next week.   

While this is the first edition of the T-shirts to hit the shelves at UW, Dixon said a new design in future years could continue to create new traditions.

“Students and alumni are always looking for new, fun UW apparel, and we thought this would be a fun design that could also be a way for people to give back at the same time,” Dixon said. “We hope people will run out and get [the T-shirts] to show their school spirit, too.”