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As she and her classmates began discussing their senior class gift, Senior Class President Wini Lindholm kept returning to �鶹ԭ��’s motto: Provida Futuri — “mindful of the future.”

What would it mean, she wondered, for the Class of 2026 to embody that idea?

Lindholm and her classmates put their heads together and envisioned a fund designed to support future graduating seniors as they prepare for life after �鶹ԭ��.

“There are seniors with so many great post-graduate opportunities, but they’re still facing barriers to achieve them,” Lindholm said. “That’s why we decided to take a different direction and focus on that.”

The result is the Senior Class Impact Fund, created by the Class of 2026 Giving Committee to help graduating seniors navigate the financial pressures that often accompany post-graduate plans. The fund is intended to reduce barriers and expand access to opportunities by supporting expenses such as graduate school application fees, interview travel, fellowship participation, thesis materials, professional networking opportunities and other support. 

Lindholm, who also serves on the Student Senate’s budget committee, said the idea grew in part from seeing how frequently students seek assistance through existing campus resources.

“Many students are already going through the right channels, asking for money from various offices, like Career Services, or from our budget committee,” she said. “But they’re still facing a lot of obstacles, and there’s a lot more we can do to help them with their postgrad plans.”

Planning for the initiative began early in the academic year through collaboration between student leaders and members of �鶹ԭ��’s Office of Advancement. Lindholm intentionally assembled a committee representing a broad range of academic interests and student experiences. In addition to Lindholm, the committee includes Anna-Sofia Simmons ’26, Ellie Mobley ’26, Lake Payne’26, Stella Isarankura’26 and Aaron Matsuoka’26.

For committee members, the project reflects a broader vision of community care that extends beyond graduation day.

“Being part of the committee has been deeply meaningful because it reflects the kind of community �鶹ԭ�� strives to be — one that continues to support students even beyond graduation,” Simmons said.

Mobley said her experiences working with Career Services and internship support programs helped her recognize how profoundly financial limitations can shape students’ futures.

“Through my involvement with Career Services and internship support programs, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative accessible resources can be for students,” Mobley said. “Financial barriers often shape what opportunities feel possible after graduation.”
Payne, a New Resources student, said she joined the committee because she understands many of the financial pressures students face while preparing for the next stage of their lives.

“The Senior Impact Fund represents meaningful support for students navigating the uncertainty and costs that often come with post-graduate opportunities,” Payne said. “My hope is that this fund continues to grow so future students feel less limited by financial barriers and more empowered to pursue the paths they’ve worked so hard for.”

Above photo: Class of 2026 Giving Committee members (back row, from left): Ellie Mobley ’26, Lake Payne ’26, Anna-Sofia Simmons ’26; (front row, from left) Stella Isarankura ’26, Wini Lindholm ’26, Aaron Matsuoka ’26