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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 [email protected].

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.”