RELEASED: June 16, 2005

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College's "Triple Crown Challenge" is approaching the homestretch. With a June 30 deadline, the No. 1 spot in alumni annual participation is within reach, but not yet in hand. Centre needs approximately 750 alumni gifts by June 30 to meet the terms of the "Triple Crown Challenge" and to put itself in position to hold on to the title of No. 1 in annual alumni participation.

"Last year we received over 700 alumni gifts in the month of June, which put us over the top," says Jamey Elliott, director of annual giving. " We need another tremendous response from our alumni in the last few weeks of the annual-giving year if we are to hang on to No. 1. Every gift makes a difference."

It's always a tight race. The alumni office estimates that if the College had received 40 fewer gifts last year, Centre would not have reclaimed the No. 1 spot. Centre competes with schools such as Amherst, Carleton, Davidson, Princeton and Williams for the top spot. With three weeks to go in the annual-giving year, Centre is neck and neck with all of these institutions.

But it's not just about claiming the top spot.

"More important, we need a great response from alumni in order to provide as much support to our students and faculty as we possibly can," Elliott adds. "The College is bringing in the largest, and one of the strongest, freshman classes in its history. All undesignated gifts will support scholarships for these students."

Over the next few weeks, faculty, staff, students and alumni will be manning the phones during the evening hours, calling faithful Centre alumni to help the College meet its goal. So if the caller ID reads, "Centre College," says Elliott, "we hope you'll take a minute to answer the phone and support Centre.

"To be able to say we have 'the most loyal alumni' in the country helps us get our foot in the door with foundations and corporations and it brings added prestige to the College," Elliott says. "But the truly important thing about being No. 1 is that it means that thousands of alumni have done what they can to make a difference for Centre students and faculty."

To make a gift, visit http://gifts.centre.edu/ or call toll-free 877-678-9822.

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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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