May 11, 2011ADVANCE NEWS WRITING

DAPHNE PHILLIPS’S PORTFOLIO

1. Story Summaries

2. Friday Interviews

a. Megan Smith, Washburn University Foundation

b. Harrison Watts, Criminal Justice Department

c. Jamie McEwen, Student Employment Coordinator

d. Michelle Canipe, Mabee Library

e. Jessica Neumann, Student Activities and Greek Life

3. Visit Topeka

a. Los Charros Review

4. Current Event Post

5. Washburn Review

a. S.N.O.W Raises Awareness About Diabetes

b. Leadership Institute Gives Away Highest Honors

6. Beat Coverage

a. History & Importance of Foundation

b. Direct Mailing Story

c. CASE Award Story

d. Alliance Scholarship Brief

e. Faculty and Staff Brief

f. Phonathon Brief

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Index

1. 2010-2011Faculty & Staff Campaign- This story is a great way to demonstrate

how Washburn faculty and staff are giving back to students.

2. Harrison Watts Biography- This profile on Harrison displays the different

people at Washburn and just how versatile they are.

3. Technology in Student Employment- With technology constantly evolving it’s

important to incorporate it in our lives and for student employees that’s exactly

what they are doing.

4. Resources in Mabee Library-Many important resources go left unsaid in the

library and this is just one way to get the word out.

5. Student Organizations giving back-This story talks about the importance of

giving back to the community and what groups on campus are doing just that.

6. Los Charros Review-This is a fantastic restaurant that offers karaoke and 99

cent margaritas almost every day; a place for the students to hang out.

7. SNOW Raises Awareness about Diabetes-This story highlights the dedication

that students have to donating to the community in Topeka.

8. Leadership Institute Gives Away Highest Honors-The Leadership Institute is

often overlooked and this story just exemplifies the great things they are doing.

9. Direct Mailing Story-This explains what direct mail pieces are and why they are

so vital to the Washburn University Foundation.

10. CASE Award Story-The Foundation received a prestigious award and the

story explains what it is and why it’s important for the Foundation.

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Story Summaries

11. Alliance Scholarship Brief- This brief describes the scholarship itself and

the special individuals that it helps.

12. Faculty and Staff Brief- This brief promotes the current 2011-12

campaign that is underway and all the events to come

13. Phonathon Brief- This brief is a profile on phonathon callers including

what their nights are like and what they do.

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Friday Interviews(Megan Smith, Harrison Watts, Jamie McEwen, Michelle Canipe, & Jess Neumann)

Daphne Phillips

Word Count: 354

Sources: Megan Smith, x2757, www.givetowashburn.org

Headline: Faculty & Staff Furnish Funds for Washburn

Students who complain about paying for faculty and staff’s salaries might be surprised to

learn how many of them give back for scholarships.

Last year’s Faculty and Staff campaign came to a close in October but the results are

finally in of how much money was raised. The 2010-11 campaign rose close to $117,000.

The Washburn University Foundation wanted to show the faculty and staff here at

Washburn where the money raised is going. Showing how one student’s life is changed by a

generous donation is a great way to motivate others to donate. The Foundation had no problems

motivating their volunteers to donate; they used the best of technology and created an

inspirational video to encourage faculty and staff to get involved.

The six-week-long campaign was run by three Washburn professionals. These three

individuals oversaw 34 of Washburn’s volunteer-staff as they raised funds to support resources

in scholarship, program funds, faculty support and capital needs. This campaign boosts

Washburn’s image to the community and to the alumni.

There is no minimum or maximum donation to the campaign. Donors can donate their

money to the Foundation, invest in a Washburn Fund for Excellence, or put it into an

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Endowment fund. In simple terms, an Endowment fund is a lot like a savings account, the money

put into the account gains interest. The interest is what helps create scholarships and other

resources for students. An Endowed fund starts at $25,000 and grows from there.

Washburn faculty and staff have another way to donate. They can enroll in a payroll

deduction that deducts their pledge amount each month or every two weeks. The other way is

through check, credit card, online and a basic pledge.

The commitment of the 34 committee members demonstrates the commitment and

dedication to Washburn and its students. Legislators, corporations, foundations, alumni and

friends see the impact the donations make on the students. The $117,000 raised exhibits an

investment in success. “By showing how and why the money is going to make a difference is a

great way to raise awareness to others,” said Megan Smith, director of communications and

annual giving.

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Daphne Phillips

Word count: 366

Sources: Harrison Watts (670-1410), Facebook, http://www.washburn.edu/sas/cj/faculty.htm,

http://wattsworx.com/courses.html, http://cjonline.com/stories/090508/loc_328744319.shtml

Headline: Professor, Writer, and Consultant: Who is Harrison Watts?

He enjoys long walks on the Texas beach, writing nonfiction books and owning his own

consulting company. In his free time he teaches in the criminal justice department and serves as

internship coordinator.

It may sound like a classified ad, but it’s just one of the many things that Washburn’s

own Harrison Watts is involved with. He’s only been with Washburn for two years but he is

trying out just about anything.

Watts moved to Topeka after 10 years at Vernon College in Texas and Cameron

University in Oklahoma. He has his bachelors and masters from Midwestern State University in

Texas, but he didn’t stop there. He received a second masters from Sam Houston State

University in Texas and holds a doctorate from Northcentral University in Arizona. Along with

educational credentials he is also a distinguished law enforcement officer. He currently holds a

Master Peace Officer License through Texas. He worked in Texas for the sheriff’s office in

Vernon where he worked on patrolling, criminal investigations, crime prevention and training

and as a sergeant in investigations.

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A skill that Watts possess outside the realm of police work is the ability to write about it.

Watts writes nonfiction books for criminal justice instructors. He writes supplementary books

that have lecture suggestions, test questions and ideas for class. Along with his supplementary

books he wrote a book on how to prepare for the police sergeant exam, it is like an ACT study

book. His current project includes a reader for law students.

Outside of school and writing, Watts owns and manages Wattsworx Consulting. This

consulting firm offers in-service training for police officers; police officers are required to attend

40 hours of in-service training. The current class he is teaching is called Sudden Custody Death

Recognition and Prevention. Sometimes people can suddenly die from the stress of being

arrested and go into cardiac arrest. This class talks about what to do when this happens while

someone is in custody.

Harrison Watts is a man of many faces, he teaches, advises, writes, and consults.

Washburn is lucky to have landed such a versatile man. “I love teaching at Washburn because of

the camaraderie between the students and teachers,” Watts said

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Daphne, Ashley, Dakota

Word Count: 489

Sources: Jamie McEwen, Jamiemcewen@washburn.edu

Headline: Washburn connecting with student employees

The financial aid office supervises 700-900 student employees. These employees are

placed all over campus and do a variety of jobs. However, communicating with all the

employees is an especially difficult task, but one person in the office is determined to change

that.

Jamie McEwen said she loves each and every one of her student workers. She strives to

make each of her employees comfortable as they make the transition into a student employee.

According to McEwen, she treats all her students with the same amount of respect and honesty,

making them feel calm about coming into her office for the first time and every time thereafter.

“My love is for the students and making a comfortable environment for them when it comes to

dealing with money,” said McEwen. Dealing with money can be stressful, but it can be

especially stressful when a worker doesn’t check their e-mail regarding appointments and

timesheet deadlines.

Getting a hold of students about timesheets and appointments can be difficult to do if

they do not check their e-mail on a regular basis. Because of this dilemma, McEwen has taken it

upon herself to use the powerful tool of social media. Most of Washburn student workers are

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using social media to interact with McEwen, which makes the environment even more relaxed

for them.

Social media gives great opportunity for viewing deadlines, contact information on jobs

and frequently asked questions. All this information is viewable on Washburn University’s

website. However, Facebook is the preferred social networking site currently used by McEwen

and her employees, but she is open to suggestions when it comes to social networking. McEwen

hasn’t tried Twitter, but is contemplating getting a site up. McEwen said Twitter could make the

program just that much more versatile and easy to use, as blogging is a part of almost every

college student’s life.

For students to feel that comfortable through the transition McEwen is currently working

on a video tutorial for the FAQs on the financial aid website. This is projected to assist the

average student is adjusting to working on campus even more. Students can find out exactly how

to fill out a timesheet or where to go to pick up paychecks. This is just another tool that McEwen

and her team use to assist students in the transition of being a student employee.

McEwen is always working toward finding ways for students to feel comfortable when it

comes to handling their finances. Going to school and being a student worker can be a lot for a

person, but with McEwen’s innovative techniques to improve communication, employees can

feel at ease when it comes to working and going to school. Social media is widely used by

college students, but now that same site can assist offices, like McEwen’s in communicating with

their students.

“Where would we be without our student workers,” said McEwen, “they make a

significant and meaningful contribution wherever they work.”

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Jessica Zimlich and Daphne Phillips

Word Count: 173

Source: Michelle Reed Canipe (785) 670-1274

Headline: Mabee Library offers tools and tips for effective research

The average student approaches research on the Internet by using Google or other general

search engines to find information about their topic. From there, they use the first hit that they

see at the top of the page. This poses a problem because students shouldn’t believe everything

they read, especially on the Internet.

Washburn students don’t realize the resources that they have available to them. Mabee

library offers a plethora of people that a student could talk to. Michelle Reed Canipe is

Washburn University’s Information Distance Education Librarian and she is here to help.

Canipe can show students sites and resources they can use in the library to better their research

capabilities. Mabee library is expanding its resources for students so they can become better

researchers.

Canipe is a great source for Allied Health, Kinesiology, and the School of Nursing

students. Canipe said, “The most important thing when it comes to research is to ask for help if

you need it, which you will.”

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Daphne Phillips

Word Count: 337

Source: Jess Neumann x1723

Headline: Student organizations commit to giving back

The number of cans one had to donate to get a free t-shirt, 10. The total number of canned

goods that Washburn Student Government collected during Can Emporia was 26,000.

Washburn and its students have a tradition of giving back to others. This is common

occurrence through student organizations and departments on campus.

With the aid of the Student Activities and Greek Life office, students can find just about

any opportunity to give back. Jess Neumann, the assistant director of student activities and greek

life wants students to be passionate about giving back. “Giving back can be a rewarding

experience that can make students feel good about the hard work and commitment they put

forth,” said Neumann.

The greek community works to raise awareness about heart health and topics like

domestic abuse. Other student organizations give back to the Topeka community as well. Even

the offices here at Washburn are committed to giving back. The multicultural affairs office

paired up and hosted no name calling week, a week where students could attend activities

regarding name calling and had the option of taking a pledge to end name calling.

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In the Topeka community Washburn is one of those donors that everyone wants to get

their hands on. Students and organizations are eager to help out anyone and everyone. There are

student organizations at Washburn that are dedicated to giving back. The Mocha Club of

Washburn strives to bring awareness and advocate for Africa as they try to bring clean water and

education about HIV.

Those are just a few of the student organizations that are committed to giving back to the

Topeka community. Whether it is a club, a greek house, or a campus office, it seems that

Washburn community is always eager to help out. Every week seems to be that special holiday

season where others are giving back. “There is always something going on, something to get

involved with that gives students the ability to give back to the community,” said Jess Neumann.

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Visit Topeka StoryLos Charros Mexican Restaurant

Daphne Phillips

Word Count: 263

Source: Los Charros, 228-8922

Headline: Los Charros, not the average restaurant

The warm gooey queso covers the chips, the salsa ignites the taste buds and the 99 cent

margaritas make people sing.

Since opening their doors in August of 2010, Los Charros has been the buzz for college

students in Topeka, not because of the weeklong 99 cent margaritas but because of karaoke.

Thursday nights at Los Charros brings in a crowd of those talented and sometimes, those

untalented singers. In between singers, Los Charros is playing today’s hits so sandwiched

between queso and margaritas students can get up and dance. People are up out of their seats and

dancing the night away, age doesn’t matter at Los Charros because everyone is welcomed.

Some students may feel too embarrassed to sing, but after having a few 99 cent

margaritas students loosen up and hit the stage singing classics like “American Pie” and “Jesse’s

Girl.” The majority of Mexican restaurants in Topeka only offer 99 margaritas on Tuesdays or

Thursdays, well, if it happens to be a Wednesday or Friday, come on down to Los Charros where

they serve 99 cent margaritas Monday through Thursday and then again on Sunday.

Students find the atmosphere comfortable and the food reasonably priced. With

entertainment, delicious food and 99 cent margaritas, Los Charros is the place to be on Thursday

nights. Students should check out Los Charros and see what all the commotion is about. Los

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Charros is located in Gage Center and is accessible through Gage Drive or Huntoon Street.

“They make you feel like a family with the food, atmosphere and great music,” said Hilary

Larson, regular patron.

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Current Event Posts

Current Event Posts

1. Child snatcher on the prowl

a. Posted on January 21, 2011 by daphnephillips

i. California boy gets kidnapped from grandmother’s arms.

ii. http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/20/california.missing.child/

index.html

2. Anxiety = excessive partying

a. Posted on January 30, 2011 by daphnephillips

i. Mental health can be detrimental for college students who may be

trying to fight anxiety. This article talks about how teenagers,

especially college students, who suffer from anxiety are more likely

to drink.  College students would rather relax from a stiff drink than

medication. This article also talks about how teens who are

‘socialphobic’ tend to drink less! It’s incredibly insightful!

ii. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41313491/ns/health-mental_health /

3. Happy Birthday!

a. Posted on February 4, 2011 by daphnephillips

i. Thankfully to the Korean tradition I am no longer 21, I am now 22!

Thursday was the start of the Lunar New Year and according to them;

everyone is one year older than they were. Those who celebrate the Lunar

New Year do it the same way we do! Food, games, music, and dancing

were all available to Asian-Americans on Thursday as they rung in the

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Lunar New Year. Sounds very similar to our New Year’s celebration, just

a month and four days shy.

ii.

b. Category: Around the World

c. Source: MSNBC

d. Newsworthy: Proximity-Washburn’s diverse campus allows us to learn from

other cultures; however, I am finding it more and more interesting to research the

Korean life style. This makes me feel more educated about other countries and

also, people can see how similar they are to us.

4. A Sobering Effect

a. Posted on February 7, 2011 by daphnephillips

i. Now that I am officially 21, I can partake in drinking festivities! I

am, however, shocked to find out that high school freshman who

abstain from drinking has increased from 38 percent to 62 percent. I

have an 18-year-old brother who is always telling me about parties

he gets invited to, so I am surprised that this is actually happening. I

completely agree with this article that the economy place a crucial

role in students’ ability to drink. USA Today did a great report on

this issue.

ii. http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-02-07-

drinkingdown07_ST_N.htm

b. Category: Health

c. Source: USA Today

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d. Newsworthy: Impact-I found this particularly interesting because you read

about the deaths caused by alcohol and this article almost disproves it. It’s

an interesting read for anyone.

5. ANOTHER iphone?

a. Posted on February 14, 2011 by daphnephillips

i. Okay apple, we get it, you make iphones that everyone has. But

apparently, you are going to amaze us yet again! A smaller, cheaper

iphone is in the works; this phone will be about half the price of the

original iphone. Apple doesn’t realize that half the price of a regular

iphone is still $100, PLUS the data plan you are required to get with

it. Nice try apple, but I am going to stick with my Microsoft 7

phone.

ii. http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/14/6052180-

report-smaller-cheaper-iphone-in-the-works?gt1=43001

b. Category: Posters Choice

c. Source: MSNBC

d. Newsworthy: Prominence-Technology is constantly revolving and people

always want the new and latest thing. Apple has to compete with the

Android running system, and this is Apple’s way of fighting back.

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Washburn Review StoriesS.N.O.W & Leadership Institute

Daphne Phillips

Word Count: 446

Sources: Marissa Kaiser (760-840-0849), Brooke Powell (brooke.powell@washburn.edu),

Tiffany Mendel (tiffany.mendel@washburn.edu)

S.N.O.W Raises Awareness about Diabetes

The runway was lined with white paper, tea lights accented the red tissue paper flowers

and the student-models exhibited today’s latest fashions for nurses.

Student Nurses of Washburn with conjunction with the Washburn School of Nursing

hosted a diabetes fundraiser for the Marian Clinic. On April 15 from 6-8 p.m. in the College Hill

Clubhouse guests were able to snack and socialize with their peers.

Along with the snacks and socializing, nursing students put on a fashion show sponsored

by Similar Mode, a Topeka company who manufactures scrubs. The students owned the runway

with corduroy pants, school of nursing bags and kimono-style tops. Male and female students

modeled outfits for both genders, so fear not men, there are some stylish scrubs out there for

men.

The fashion show and socializing was a way to raise funds and awareness for the Marian

Clinic and its crusade to help those with diabetes. The school of nursing has an agreement with

the Marian Clinic so that every five years they host a fundraiser. This year’s crusade was the

fight to prevent diabetes. “Nurses should be more aware not just about health, but aware of the

health issues among today’s people,” said Marissa Kaiser, nursing student.

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The members of SNOW held a silent auction where 17 gift sets were auctioned off.

Anything from Washburn Nursing School t-shirts, to IHOP gift cards, even to jewelry were

auctioned off. Of course, the $800 raised would go to the Marian Clinic. This is just another way

that SNOW was finding ways to donate to the Marian Clinic.

About 1.9 million young people ages 20 and up are being newly diagnosed in 2010. It is

the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and about 25.8 million people have it,

that’s about 8 percent of the population. The Marian Clinic is just one place that is trying to help

out those who cannot afford medical help. Many uninsured diabetics cannot afford their diabetes

medicine. “It affects so many people because now they diagnosing younger generations. People

need to be self conscious about diabetes and know the ways to prevent it,” said Brooke Powell,

school of nursing student.

The event had fashion, food, friends and fun all wrapped up in a good cause. All

the proceeds will go to buy uninsured people the equipment and items they need to

monitor their diabetes. SNOW wanted this event to transform its organization into a bigger

cause than they are today. Promising to donate funds to the Marian clinic is one way they

are making their mark. “We want students to be aware and feel good about what we are

doing,” said Tiffany Mendel, nursing student

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Daphne Phillips

Word Count: 579

Sources: Jaci Lindburg (x200), Jeff Mott (x200)

Headline: Leadership Institute Gives Away Highest Honors

Students wined and dined, without the wine of course, as they enjoyed each other’s

company and recognized key people at Washburn and in the Topeka community.

Joe Aleshire, Blake Bryant and Shea Kirsop were awarded the Washburn University

Leadership Institute’s top awards Tuesday, April 19 at the Big Gage Shelter. Students within the

Leadership Institute and community members were all in attendance Tuesday night. They dined

on Brickyard Barn Inn and ice cream sundaes. The night was topped off with video highlights

and numerous awards. The staff of the Leadership Institute chose and awarded three key

members.

Joe Aleshire, executive vice president for Capital Federal, is recognized in the Topeka

community. His involvement in Topeka and continued support for education is how he got

involved with the Leadership Institute. The relationship between the Aleshires and Washburn

began when they gave students a chance to distribute money they set aside to fund non-profit

programs that specialize in early childhood development. Specifically this year, during the time

of the project, the Leadership Institute was gearing up for the Leadership Challenge Event.

Aleshire took a special interest in the effects of the event, so much that he greatly contributed

financially to the event. His devotion to the Leadership Institute and its programs is reflective in

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his donations. “The growth of the Leadership Institute reflects great partnerships that bring

together Washburn students, faculty and staff, and members of the Topeka community in a

unique and compelling ways,” said Jeff Mott, director of the Leadership Institute.

Blake Bryant, a junior corporate communication major from Independence, Kan., was

awarded one of the two fellowships that the Leadership Institute offered. The fellowship that

Bryant received includes overseeing the programs that the Leadership Institute puts on and

aiding the student director team. This is the first year that this fellowship has been put in place.

Bryant has been in the Leadership Institute for four years and has been involved with everything

from planning interview day for potential scholarship recipients to attending the Leadership

Exchange with the University of New Orleans. Along with dedicating his time and hours to the

Leadership Institute Bryant is also taking a role in his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. Students can

always find Bryant talking with his peers in the Union or chatting with professors after class.

The other recipient of a fellowship is Shea Kirsop. He is a sophomore business major

from Lyndon, Kan. Kirsop’s award is a fellowship that is specifically in charge of the Leadership

Challenge Event that Lauren Eckert put on this year. Last year the fellowship was awarded to

Eckert, a senior from Minneapolis, Kan. That torch has been passed on to Kirsop as he will be

planning the 2012 Leadership Challenge Event. Kirsop has helped with everything from fall

orientation to attending new student orientation.

“We are very thankful for all the support our partners give us and for the leadership

by our students,” said Mott. The Washburn University Leadership Institute is dedicated to

making students into leaders and making lasting impressions on the community. "The

Spring Banquet is a really special time for students and staff in the Leadership Institute,

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campus members and community partners to come together, celebrate our

accomplishments from the year, honor our graduating seniors and get excited for what's to

come next year. It's my favorite event of the year, and I was so happy to see such a great

turnout this year,” said Jaci Lindburg, associate director of the Leadership Institute.

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Beat CoverageWashburn University Foundation

Washburn University Foundation History

After Washburn became a municipal university in 1941, the board of trustees of

Washburn College continued in existence to manage the endowment which at the time was

approximately $1 million. It was not until 1991 that the endowment became a separate

entity functioning under the name Washburn Endowment Association. Increasing the

endowment has always been critical for Washburn. These funds provide critical aid for

student scholarships, faculty support, equipment and technology updates, and visiting

professor and lectureship programs. In 2010, Washburn University Foundation became the

new name for the fundraising arm of the university. It was decided by university and

Foundation leadership that the new name more accurately reflects the scope of the

organizations work and the many ways it supports Washburn University.

Contributions to the university continue to play a vital role in maintaining and

enhancing the learning environment.

Committed to:

o expanding the University’s donor-base by raising awareness of the need for

private support

o conducting fundraising campaigns and programs

o investing the endowment to increase the value of existing gifts

o providing high standards of stewardship for all donors to Washburn

University

o providing the centralized services to support these efforts.

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Core Values:

1. Integrity: We are committed to integrity in all aspects of our business. We

recognize the importance and value of demonstrating honesty and are committed to the

highest ethical standards. We seek to earn the trust of those we serve in all interactions

and aspects of the services we provide.

2. Stewardship: We are committed to the careful and responsible management of

all gifts and the thoughtful and planned recognition and acknowledgement of the donors of

these gifts. We believe donors are our partners and as such each staff member adheres to

the principles of the Donor Bill of Rights in all activities.

3. Collaboration and Teamwork: We believe our organization is enhanced when we

support each other and those we serve. We strive to be team players and believe

collaborating with colleagues leads to superior solutions, enhanced creativity, improved

coordination, and ultimately enhanced performance and outcomes.

4. Respect: We are committed to treating all individuals with respect by showing

truthfulness, courtesy, openness, and professional regard in all interactions. We strive to

set an example of service and leadership.

5. Responsiveness: We are committed to providing interactions and services which

respond to the needs of those we serve. We actively look for opportunities to enhance our

services. We respond to inquiries in an effective and timely manner.

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6. Accountability: We are committed to being held accountable for all activities in

which we engage. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations and ensure open

and transparent fiscal reporting in adherence with associated policy. We uphold the

highest standards of accountability.

7. Continuous Improvement: We are committed to a continual focus on identifying

opportunities to enhance our processes, activities and services internally and externally.

We believe this approach results in increased customer satisfaction, improved

performance, more efficient use of resources, and higher quality of service.

Contacts: Megan Smith, 785-670-2757

The Importance of the Washburn University Foundation:

The Washburn University Foundation is dedicated to changing the lives of students. The

way the go about accomplishing this is through scholarships, fundraising, and donations.

Any of the money donated to the Foundation is turned around and given back to the

students of Washburn. This is a great place for students to feel that people care about them.

Each person at the Foundation has one job, and that is to find ways for students to pay for

school. Megan Smith, was a great resource and contact for me, she was able to answer all

of my questions and provide me with places to go to get information. I believe what they

are doing at the Foundation is making lasting impressions on students and putting

Washburn on the map for other universities to admire.

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Daphne Phillips

Word Count: 453

Sources: Megan Smith (x2757)

Headline: Washburn University Foundation reaches out

The Washburn University Foundation is finding innovative ways to reach out to

constituents.

The Washburn University Foundation has been using direct mail pieces to reach potential

donors for years. Direct mail pieces are used to solicit support from their constituents. The goal

of direct mail pieces is to raise awareness about Washburn University and to raise funds to

support the school. They differ from other mail pieces in the sense that they have a direct ask for

a gift to support the university.

The biggest obstacle that the Foundation faces with direct mail pieces is getting people to

open them. To prevent this, the direct mail pieces are often personalized and specific to a

constituent based on a subject. A direct mail piece has to stand out among other pieces of mail in

one’s mailbox so they are more inclined to open it.

Direct Mail pieces are important to Washburn and to the Foundation because it attracts

potential donors. These donors who the Foundation selects contribute great amounts of money to

the school. Universities such as Michigan State are also using direct mail pieces, but the

difference between Washburn and Michigan is that Washburn personalizes theirs to make the

individual feel wanted. Since winning the CASE award back in January the Foundation has had

other schools asking advice on how to a direct mail pieces.

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The Foundation is using creative designs and elements to pull readers into their mailings.

They generally try to tie the design of the direct mail pieces back to the subject of the piece, may

it be athletics, art, or music. The Foundation outsources the design to a firm who helps create the

visual elements of the piece that will draw in their constituents. “In higher education

development there is a lot of idea sharing so we also look at what other schools have done and

what has worked well for them to come up with similar idea that would work for Washburn,”

said Megan Smith, director of communications and annual giving.

The hard work of the Foundation has paid off. From winning a CASE award for program

mailing to now having bigger universities ask for guidance when they plan their direct mailing

pieces is impressive for the Foundation and for Washburn.

Over the next two months several different creative pieces of mail will be going out to

constituent groups with the hope of raising awareness and funds for Washburn. Thanks to the

Washburn University Foundation they are finding funds for the University so that others can

greatly benefit. “Communicating with our supporters through direct mail pieces is just another

way to enhance our fundraising efforts and further our mission of providing financial support to

Washburn students,” said Smith.

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Daphne Phillips

Word Count: 383

Source(s): Megan Smith (x2757), http://www.case.org/Search_Results.html?q=Washburn%2BUniversity%2BFoundation&x=14&y=12

Headline: Washburn University Foundation beats Midwest contenders

The Washburn University Foundation battled with some of the biggest state schools in

the District IV, such as, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South

Dakota, and Wyoming to earn a gold award at the annual CASE District IV conference.

Washburn stood out amongst all the other contenders by the use of its direct mail pieces.

The Foundation was selected by a committee to receive the gold award in the category of

Excellence in Educational Fundraising: Program Mailing for Annual Fund Support at the District

Level. The committee selects winners based on specific criteria that CASE lays out. The

Foundation was recognized for the 2010 Fiscal Year End Return Address Label Mailing that

included donor honor roll verification.

The mailings and donor roll verification included a letter and personalized return address

labels with the person’s name on them. Each one had the Washburn logo on them so people can

show their pride when mailing their letters. The letter also had a how the person’s name would

be listed in the donor honor roll for them to improve. This mailing combined two separate

mailings into one. According to Megan Smith, director of communications and annual giving,

donors that receive personalized mail feel important and a sense of being wanted. These donors

are sought out by the Foundation based on what their contributions to Washburn.

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From their recognition, the Foundation has been asked by fellow universities for

assistance and guidance when it comes to their data team, phonathon program and direct mail

programs. Megan Smith, director of communications and annual giving recently presented at the

Big XII conference about the use of variable data in their direct mail appeals. Smith said that this

award is putting Washburn University and the Foundation on the map. Since the award bigger

universities such as Kansas and Kansas State have asked Washburn for advice on annual giving

and direct mail pieces.

This is isn’t the first time the Washburn University Foundation has been recognized. In

2008 and 2009 the Foundation was recognized for overall performance at a Public

Comprehensive Institution. The Foundation is trying to find new ways to get people interested in

contributing. Their uniqueness has paid off with their CASE award achievements. “It was very

innovative and is something we’re doing again this year,” said Smith.

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Daphne Phillips

Word Count: 269

Sources: Megan Smith (670-2757), http://www.givetowashburn.org/s/1176/interior.aspx?

sid=1176&gid=1&pgid=386

Headline: Nontraditional students are given a helping hand

Generous donors have been donating money to Washburn for years, and thanks to them

they are changing the lives of women here at Washburn.

On May 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the recipients of the scholarship will be

presented with their scholarship from the generous donator who donated it.

In 1995, a new scholarship opportunity was established for women attending Washburn

University. With the help of Ruth and John Stauffer, an endowed scholarship fund was created

for nontraditional single mothers pursuing a degree at Washburn. This legacy still lives on as the

2011 scholarship recipients await their scholarship and the opportunity to meet the donor who is

changing their life.

Ruth and John Stauffer saw a need to support this group of women and with the help of a

governing board of community women; the Washburn Women’s Alliance was established. In

awarding the Washburn Women’s Alliance scholarship, preference is given to women who are

single mothers with dependent children residing with them who are properly enrolled in a

minimum of six credit hours at Washburn. Generous donors who are interested in supporting

these women can make a gift of $1,000 for a current gift scholarship or a minimum gift of

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$25,000 creates an endowed scholarship fund whose earnings are used toward future

scholarships.

The first scholarship ever awarded was given in 1996 to the amount of $856. Washburn

Women’s Alliance continues to give back to those women in need. Last year alone the Washburn

Women’s Alliance allocated $80,000 for 42 women. Since the founding in 1995 nearly $533,855

has been awarded to 297 students in need.

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Daphne Phillips

Word Count: 322

Sources: Megan Smith (x 2757)

Headline: Ready, Set, Donate!

Faculty and staff members at Washburn University dedicate their time and effort to

facilitate growth for students, but the commitment doesn’t stop there.

The 2011-12 faculty and staff campaign planning is under way. The theme has yet to be

unveiled but that isn’t keeping anyone from planning.

The event will start with the kick-off event at faculty and staff convocation this fall and

end with a wrap-up event at the end of the campaign. This campaign is different from other

campaigns because it is driven by support from Washburn faculty and staff.

The faculty and staff campaign has been officially going on for about 12 to 13 years. This

is a great way to get the faculty and staff involved in supporting Washburn. “Their support

triggers other support from alumni and friends of the University,” said Megan Smith, director of

communications and annual giving.

When the alumni see that there are a multitude of faculty and staff investing back in what

they do, it just reaffirms the Washburn University Foundation mission and reason to support

Washburn. The Foundation wants everyone to get involved at any giving level. Every gift

donated is thanks to the faculty and staff’s hard work and loyalty.

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Last year’s campaign raised $117,000 and had approximately 34 faculty and staff

volunteers from both Washburn and Washburn Technology Institute. The committee is

comprised of three Washburn staff members and three Washburn Technology Institute staff

members. Megan Smith, director of communications and annual giving, said faculty and staff are

eagerly signing up for this year’s campaign. The campaign is run by the faculty and staff at both

institutions and it’s up to them to seek out donations. The faculty and staff are what really make

this campaign possible according to Smith and it’s always exciting to see how much is raised.

“They play a 100 percent role in how well the campaign does and always do a

tremendous job,” said Smith.

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Daphne Phillips

Word Count: 218

Sources: Megan Smith, x2757, Jalisa Loving (jalisa.loving@washburn.edu)

Headline: Students Dial in For Students

They clock in, wait for announcements from their manager and turns to face a computer

screen for the remainder of the night as they read the same script to potential supporters.

Phonathon callers for the Washburn University Foundation are currently dialing their

fingers off to update the demographic information of their supporters and gain donations for

Washburn.

As student callers they have the opportunity to see and hear how things happen at

Washburn from the funds donated by supporters. Students hear many interesting things from

calling supporters anything from “grandma is on the telephone” to “just add 44 cents to my bill

to pay for postage.”

The students making these phone calls are changing others lives. Thanks to dedicated

alumni and eager donors Washburn can give more to students. This money can lead to

scholarships, fellowships and funding for programs. With this money Washburn can grow to be

even bigger and better for everyone.

Students stay busy every night doing what they can to gather funds, inform and educate

supporters. With this year’s phonathon the hopes are even higher that money can be raised and

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people can see the great things that Washburn is doing. “My favorite part about being a caller is

when we reach our nightly or weekly pledge goals,” said Jalisa Loving, a phonathon caller.

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