It’s the gift that keeps giving. The winner of a free trip for two on Via Rail has donated it back to the University’s Annual Giving Campaign so that it can generate more support for student scholarships.

Cathy Crowley, a systems analyst in Information Technology Services, won round-trip train fare to any destination in the Windsor-Quebec corridor—valued at up to $1200—as a door prize during Monday’s reception for campus donors.

She has challenged colleagues in her department to step up their pledges to the IT Services Scholarship in Computer Science for a chance at winning the prize. Any contributions from IT Services staff by June 19 will qualify for the draw.

“It seemed like a good opportunity to draw attention to the scholarship fund,” Crowley said. “It’s a worthwhile cause and I hope we can dig a little deeper to show support for our students.”

The scholarship was the brainchild of computing consultant Vlad Pavlovic, a UWindsor grad  (BCS 2007) who wanted to help the next generation of students in his program. He will leave the University’s employ at the end of next week to take on a new position in industry, and Crowley hopes her gesture advances the legacy of caring.

To make a donation to the fund, contact Crowley at Cathy.Crowley@uwindsor.ca or development officer Mona Dosen at mona@uwindsor.ca or 519-253-3000, ext. 4279.

The Monday reception honoured volunteers and supporters of the Annual Giving Campaign, which solicits support from faculty and staff for improving the student experience.

About 200 people attended the event, which featured a symbolic planting of trees and comments from students, alumni and administrators. In five years since launching a personal face-to-face canvass, the campaign has more than doubled its participation rate from 17 to 35 percent of all employees. Last year saw a record amount raised—$328,191.

Jacqueline Christie, co-ordinator of media bookings in the Centre for Teaching and Learning, won naming rights to a commemorative bench on the UWindsor campus.