Two-day Bursary Challenge will have lasting impact

McMaster’s recent 125 Bursary Challenge raised more than $200,000 in support of Hamilton-area students in financial need.

The innovative campaign, organized by the University’s Alumni Advancement team, raised the funds in just 48 hours. It harnessed the power of social networking tools such as Twitter to engage thousands of alumni and University friends.

“The Challenge was a bit of an experiment in using social networking tools, especially Twitter, to raise funds and awareness,” said Karen McQuigge, director of Alumni Advancement. “In the end, our alumni and the McMaster community really stepped up and, as a result, we’ll be able to provide great support to Hamilton students.”

The campaign, a first of its kind for the University, reached more than 126,000 alumni and friends via Twitter, and included supporters from 55 different graduating years. It was supported by at least one person in each class year from 1964 to 2012.

Not to be outdone by more recent alumni – often thought to be more tech-savvy – senior alumni also got in on the Challenge. The most senior supporter came from the class of 1943.

If you’d like to support the 125th Anniversary Bursary Fund, click here.