Do you ever get the feeling that you will float in and out of college without leaving your mark?
The University of Memphis Alumni Association has made it possible to become a lasting part of history by letting students personalize a brick to be laid in The University’s new student plaza.
Proceeds from all brick sales will go to the Legacy Scholarship Campaign, which provides scholarships for students who demonstrate leadership skills and community involvement.
Annual giving director Sharon Koelle said the brick project, which started in 2000, is a unique opportunity to honor students, family members or a friend in a permanent way.
“The bricks will not only make the new student plaza look nice but are also great fundraisers for the school,” Koelle said.
The 4 inches by 8 inches personalized granite gray bricks will be displayed in the student plaza, which will be by the fountain next to the administration building.
This area will include walkways paved with the legacy campaign bricks.
The $100 bricks can have a maximum of two lines of writing with 14 characters per line.
Corporate sponsored bricks are also available for $250 and can include an inscribed corporate logo. Corporate bricks are 8 inches by 8 inches and can be personalized with 14 characters per line with a maximum of three lines.
Every brick purchase is tax deductible.
Koelle said the project has been successful and more than 450 bricks have been sold so far.
There are thousands of bricks available, as this is a long-term project for the alumni association.
Koelle said many interesting stories go along with the bricks that have already been purchased.
One donor bought one brick for each member of the undefeated 1938 U of M football team. Another donor bought one brick for each president of The University, including one for President Raines.
Students have purchased bricks in honor of favorite teachers, deceased alumni, family members, friends and themselves.
“One man bought a brick in honor of The U of M’s sister school in Japan,” Koelle said. “I didn’t even know we had one, and I bet other people didn’t either.”
Koelle said this has been a rewarding project to work on and she has been able to learn about the people who purchase the bricks and hear interesting stories.
Installation of the bricks began Wednesday.
Order forms can be obtained by visiting the alumni center or by visiting its Web page, http://www.memphis.edu/brick.html.
