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in annual alumni-giving percentage!
RELEASED: July 27, 2004
DANVILLE, KY—Centre has recaptured the No. 1 national ranking in annual alumni-giving percentage.
The College received 5,686 alumni gifts during this year's annual-giving campaign to give it the nation's highest annual-giving percentage at 63.4. Williams came in second at 63 percent, and Davidson placed third at 62.8.
Centre has finished first in giving percentage 16 of the past 21 years. The College was most recently No. 1 during the 2000-01 campaign. Centre has cracked the 60-percent mark in annual alumni giving for 23 consecutive years and is the only school in the country that can make that claim.
The College arrived at its giving percentage for 2003-04 using the same method of calculation that U.S. News & World Report uses to establish giving percentages, which the magazine considers when calculating its annual college rankings.
"Centre's reclaiming of the No. 1 spot in alumni-giving percentage is a notable accomplishment not only for Centre, but for the Commonwealth of Kentucky as well," says Centre President John Roush. "As Centre provides educational leadership for the state, this new point of pride allows Kentucky to demonstrate leadership for the nation in providing a compelling example of the power of personal, empowering education and the loyalty it inspires."
"Centre has a well-founded reputation as a place capable of extraordinary achievement," says Richard Trollinger, vice president for college relations. "Recapturing the top rank in alumni participation in annual giving shows that the spirit of extraordinary achievement is alive and well among Centre alumni."
The more than 5,600 gifts are the most Centre has ever received during a campaign. This year's campaign ran from July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2004.
"It's wonderful to be able to say 'We're No. 1' again and to thank more alumni than we ever have at the end of the annual-giving year," says Jamey Elliott '96, director of annual giving. "This level of support means so much to the College—in the way of national recognition, corporate and foundation relations, and student recruitment—but the support it means for our students and faculty is what's most important. We're fortunate to have the loyal alumni that we do, and we can't say thank you enough."
To make a gift to Centre, visit http://gifts.centre.edu/.
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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/
For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.
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