The 145-year tradition of seniors brainstorming ideas and donating money for a class gift has lost momentum among students and, as a result, organizers have opened up committee participation and idea proposals to underclassmen.

This year is the first time underclassmen will have the opportunity to take part in the process. Although the voting and pledging is for seniors only, the overall committee includes underclassmen in an attempt to involve more people, said Carolyn Denomme (senior-engineering science), gift development overall chair.

"This is the first year the senior class gift has involved people besides the overalls," Denomme said. "We are focused on more involvement for younger students."

Students can be involved with the senior class gift in several ways, including proposing a gift idea, voting for the gift and pledging money toward the realization and construction of the gift.

"The senior class gift is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding things at Penn State," Sarah Kreinbihl, student relations overall chairwoman, said. "It is amazing that students give thousands of their own money every year."

Kreinbihl said the overall committee is trying to "branch out" to non-senior undergraduates this year.

"So that all classes can understand the importance of philanthropic giving," she said.

To increase student participation, committees are being formed to aid the chairs in their positions of communications, student relations and gift development. Students of all years may join a committee. Applications are available online at www.seniorclassgift.psu.edu and are due tomorrow.

To create incentives to encourage participation, voting and pledging, an inter-college competition among the 11 academic colleges at University Park will be held, Denomme said. She said the college with the largest percentage of senior participation in the class gift would win the competition.

Anyone, including students, faculty and staff may submit a proposal for a senior class gift idea. Jordan Ford, overall chairman for the senior class gift, said submitting an idea for a proposal is simple and can be done online. The deadline is 5 p.m. today to submit ideas.

"Regardless of the length of the proposal, we will work with it and help research," Ford said. "You don't have to be a construction engineer to do it."

Voting for the gift will take place the week of Nov. 6, Ford said.

Lauren Steinberg, assistant director of annual giving at Penn State and the adviser for the senior class gift, said they hope to have three quality choices for seniors to vote.

"We want to give options so seniors feel they're involved in the process," she said. "We want to give something that really represents the class, something that is most valuable to them and will make the biggest difference on campus."