Behind every classroom, lab, lounge, and scholarship at our college is a person who decided to give. Day to day, students move through these spaces without always knowing who made them possible. This September, the Office of Institutional Advancement set out to close that gap with Thanking All Who Give (TAG) week, a five-day campus scavenger hunt.
Across campus, the Office of Institutional Advancement identified and “tagged” donor-funded spaces and turned them into stops on a multi-day scavenger hunt. At each location, interactive prompts guided students to learn how that space came to be and how generosity shapes the student experience.
For many students, it was the first time they had connected the places they study, gather, and learn with the people who made them possible. Instead of reading about philanthropy, they stood in it.
"What Does Philanthropy Mean to You?"
At the heart of TAG Week was a simple call to action. Students took photos at various locations, submitted them and shared a written statement on what philanthropy, at Carroll College, means to them.
“Philanthropy to me is the desire to give back to someone or something that once gave to you. It’s the pinnacle of generosity, giving simply because one wants to. I think we see it so often at Carroll because this community gives a lot to its students, and when donors choose to give back, the college gets even better. Our renovated and rebuilt spaces are beautiful and thanks to donors, Carroll is an even more wonderful place to be.”
- Noah, Class of 2029
“To me it means being kind and compassionate to everyone. You want anyone and everyone to succeed and be the best version of themselves and you will help them do that anyway you can.”
-Emma, Class of 2029
“Philanthropy is a beautiful thing, because giving back in any capacity to a world and people that helped you should be the bare minimum. I hope someday I can give back everything and more that was gifted to me.”
-Lane, Class of 2030
To all Carroll College donors, thank you. Thank you for making Carroll's campus the place that it is. Thank you for making these moments to educate about philanthropy possible. Our students' words say it better than we can: every gift, large or small, becomes part of the place where they learn, grow, and find community. Because of our donors, alumni, and community partners, Carroll students don't just walk through generosity every day; they feel it. On behalf of the Office of Institutional Advancement and every Carroll College Saint, thank you.
