AUP Students Celebrate Donor Generosity

Each year, donations from AUP’s community strengthen every corner of the University and directly support the needs of current students, faculty and staff. Student scholarships, campus events and exhibitions, academic research, campus development and travel grants all benefit from donor generosity, and together, position AUP as a hub for international cooperation, global exploration, and a place of academic excellence.

On the University’s seventh annual Giving Day, November 21, 2024, AUP’s goal was once again to #MakeParisPossible. With more than 200 donors participating, five giving matches fulfilled and more than €73,000 raised, AUP’s community experienced one of its most successful Giving Days yet. 

On campus, the desire to give thanks was palpable. Over 100 students, staff and faculty gathered at the Gratitude for Giving Day event in the Combes Student Life Center, where they were able to celebrate donor generosity with hand-written postcards for donors, videos and social media gratitude posts, arts and crafts, AUP themed coloring activities, Giving Day themed treats, a photobooth and more.

Staff members from the Office of Development and Alumni Relations managed the activities, and helped spread the word about how donations impact campus life at every turn. “To help students get started, we explained what each fund supports at AUP so they could be specific when thanking donors for scholarships or study abroad opportunities,” explains Administrative and Advancement Coordinator, Emma Cowen. “Excited about student life? Thank Annual Fund. Excited about Cultural Programs? Thank Coup de Pouce.”

“Thanks to the travel grant I received, I attended the study trip to Fes, Morocco and discovered my interest in branding and in North African cultures,” explained one undergraduate student, while others cite the Loire Valley trip and more generally “the incredible learning opportunities available at AUP.” Students spoke of the opportunities and values that make the AUP experience unique—from engagement with diverse, global perspectives and transformative, often experiential learning experiences to nourishing independent thinking in pursuit of cross-cultural conversations that unite rather than divide.

“It was clear that students really appreciated this opportunity to reflect on their time at AUP thus far as well as on future opportunities,” says Cowen, thrilled about the turnout at the booth and encouraged by the number of donors reaching out for Giving Day.

From everyone here on campus, thank you to all who have supported Giving Day through contributions and attending the Gratitude for Giving Day event. Your support enables AUP to provide vital resources for students and faculty. To see the incredible results from Giving Day 2024, visit www.aup.edu/possible.