The Class of 2005 unveiled this year's senior class gift yesterday afternoon and will celebrate the Penn State's sesquicentennial with a commemorative piece.

Details of the gift are still unclear, but the committee is taking suggestions regarding the aesthetics and specific nature of the structure, Amanda Reinitz, senior class gift committee chair, said.

She said the gift would be an addition to the terrace on the lawn side of the HUB-Robeson Center, which was the senior class gift in 1998.

Reinitz said the gift would "bring beauty and history" to an area outside the HUB that pedestrians use often.

"There will be a wall at the edge of the terrace," advertising and public relations chair Blair Dempster said.

He added that design elements are still being considered, but construction will begin next summer.

Ballots were cast from Oct. 25 to 29, and 1,800 seniors voted on the class gift this year. Last year, the voter turnout was about the same, senior class gift adviser Lauren Steinberg said.

Two other projects that were considered included a gateway at North Atherton Street and Curtin Road and new park benches for the Campus Historic District.

The committee began accepting proposals for possible gift ideas last spring from seniors and other people within the university, Reinitz said.

She added that a ballot selection committee of about 25 people narrowed the gift proposals to the three that were voted upon this year.

Douglas Wenger, design resources coordinator in the Office of Physical Plant, said the materials and cost estimate for the gift are unknown at this time.

The committee expects about $23,000 to be pledged by seniors, based on the number of pledges already received this year, multiplied by the average amount pledged last year, Steinberg said.

"Anyone can make a donation to the class gift, but most come from seniors," she added.

Steinberg said donations from seniors often come from a $100 fee that is collected during the first semester of freshman year in case of emergencies, but the fee does not become a donation until after graduation.

She said the planning at this point is vague because the committee does not yet know what kind of monetary resources they are working with, and they won't know an exact amount until after graduation. "Since many students don't use this money, they donate all or a portion of it," Steinberg said.

She added that they would be keeping pictures of the gift as it evolves posted on their Web site, www.seniorclassgift.psu.edu.

Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Rod Kirsch accepted the gift from the 2005 Senior Class Gift Committee on Penn State President Graham Spanier's behalf. Spanier was not available to accept the gift due to a trip to Harrisburg.

Kirsch thanked the committee and said the university was very pleased to accept the gift.

"The philanthropy at Penn State is alive and well," Kirsch said. "The link between the past, present and into the future is very strong."