Or, seniors may choose to create an obelisk garden in the northeast corner of the Hintz Family Alumni Center gardens. The area will be turned into an open lawn with seating along the perimeter.
Students can go to the Web site for additional information about the gifts and to see pictures of the proposals.
Amber Krieg, senior class gift advisor, said the choices were narrowed down from more than 40 proposals submitted from students, faculty, alumni and members of the Office of Physical Plant (OPP).
"We wanted three choices that would generate excitement for students but would be feasible for the amount of money we have," Krieg said. "Also, that it would go with the tradition of Penn State."
Janet Moccia, the advertising and public relations chair for the committee, said having members of OPP as a part of the decision-making process was vital to discover if the proposal could be completed in a reasonable time frame within its budget.
Moccia estimates raising $100,000 from the senior class, and OPP expects to be able to complete the project
from start to finish in two years.
The theme of this year's senior class gift is "Honoring Tradition, Leaving a Legacy," and all the three choices fit into this idea, Krieg said.
The ballot selection committee was made up of about 15 members including the six members of the overall senior class gift committee, senior students, faculty members and OPP.
Scott Upright, a senior student chosen to be on the committee, said while it was hard narrowing down to three options, he believes the committee did a good job.
To vote, students need to have seventh-semester standing. Students in their fourth year may not necessarily meet this qualification.
Voting will take place online at www.seniorclassgift.psu.edu as well as tables in the HUB ground floor and other locations throughout campus and the downtown area.
Moccia emphasized that all seniors should vote, regardless of their plans to donate money. The committee's goal is to get 2,000 seniors to vote.
She said every freshman is required to make a general deposit of $100 to Penn State. When he or she becomes a senior, the student will be notified to receive a full refund, donate part of the money and be refunded the rest, or donate the entire sum to the senior class gift fund. If the student does not return the form, the money does not go toward the class gift.
Chris Thomas (senior-health policy and administration) said he wasn't aware of the fund until Sunday and felt it was wrong for the university not to tell students when they were collecting money. Thomas said he doesn't plan to pledge money for the senior class gift for this reason.
"I plan to get my refund," he said. "I didn't think it was fair that they kept us in the dark about the money."
Upright said he plans on donating money to the fund and thinks it's a good idea to give back.
"I think it's something for our class to leave its lasting impression on the university and make it a little bit better then it was when we started," he said.
Even though she is only in her first year, Ashley Bradford (freshman-engineering) said she would most likely donate the money when she becomes a senior.
"It's a nice idea to give something back to the university after four years," Bradford said.
