Bursary dollars, brought to you by the letters ‘R’ and ‘T’
Andrew Pettit tweeted that he'd donate $5 for each retweet of support for the 125 Bursary Challenge. The coordinator of sport leagues and camps in the University’s Athletics & Recreation department will make a donation of $125 to the fund, in support of Hamilton-area students in need.
Andrew Pettit wants youth in Hamilton to have the “best time of their lives” at McMaster, just like he did.
The kinesiology alumnus recently gave to the University’s 125th anniversary bursary, in support of Hamilton-area students in financial need who want to attend McMaster – then he issued a challenge.
“I tweeted that I’d give $5 more for each retweet that helped spread the word about the 125 Bursary Challenge, up to $125,” says Pettit, coordinator of sport leagues and camps in the University’s Athletics & Recreation department.
The “RTs”, as retweets are marked on Twitter, began rolling in, and just an hour later Pettit’s goal was met.
It’s a perfect illustration of what the grassroots, 48-hour Bursary Challenge is all about – passionate alumni using social media to encourage their friends and colleagues to support Hamilton students.
“My message is simple,” says Pettit. “I have friends who graduated from the University, and I want to help them see the value of their experience at McMaster.”
Pettit also says it’s important for potential supporters to see the power of many smaller gifts.
“A handful of smaller donors together can send someone to university. That’s a powerful thing.”
The 125 Bursary Challenge wraps up at 4 p.m. Dec. 6.
