Being the first graduating class of the new century is not the only thing that distinguishes the Class of 2000. The class will be remembered for starting a new tradition at the University of Hartford, one that organizers hope will get bigger every year.

Under a new program called Senior Signature, members of the Class of 2000 were asked to make gifts to the University of $25 each. Those who contributed had their names engraved on a senior class plaque, which was unveiled on May 9 on the outside wall of the University Commons.

Each year, a new plaque will be added to the wall with the names of graduating seniors who made donations to the University. The plaques will be the focal point of a new Senior Courtyard that will be developed outside the Commons.

The goal of the Senior Signature program is to encourage graduating seniors to go on to become active and involved alumni who support their alma mater. The Class of 2000 plaque features the names of 125 seniors who made gifts to the University, representing 12.5 percent of the graduating class. That is a tenfold increase over 1999, when just 1.2 percent of the senior class made contributions.

Katherine Dziedzic, a graduating student and member of the Senior Class Planning Committee, said she expects the number of participating seniors to increase every year as awareness of the program grows.

"Our class has set the standard, and hopefully each class after us will set new standards and new goals," Dziedzic said. In addition to Dziedzic, the Senior Class Planning Committee consisted of Clifton Belcher, Shane Ciccarelli (who also served as president of the Student Government Association), Andrea Coletta, Alison Furst, Allison Gavazzi, Stephanie Kaplan, and Kasia Pink.

As the first senior class plaque was unveiled, several dozen graduating students excitedly gathered around it to look for their names and pose for photos. After the unveiling, they celebrated with a barbecue at the home of President Walter Harrison.

"One of my great interests is increasing alumni contributions, and there’s no better place to start than with the graduating class," Harrison told students at the unveiling. "I hope you’re going to remain active and committed alumni. I hope to see plenty of you in the future."

Visit <uhconnections.org/seniorsignature> to view more photos from the Class of 2000 Senior Signature events.