|
Aggie Connection puts school
spirit to work for alumni donations
By Melissa
Salcedo
November 16, 2008 | For many college students, finding
a job is a difficult task. Finding a job you get excited
to go to is even more difficult.
Aggie Connection provides a fun work environment for
its employees, while raising funds for Utah State University
through private donors. Employed at Aggie Connection
are 45 students from the university, whose responsibilities
include calling parents of students to donate for the
library fund and undergraduate seniors for the senior
gift fund. Alumni are also called and asked to donate
funds to the college they graduated from.
It is required that employees work four two-hour shifts
per week, but they are allowed to pick up extra shifts
throughout the week if there are open seats.
Aggie Connection offers its employees incentives,
such as gift cards to local restaurants, parking tokens
and passes for free tanning sessions. The latter appeals
to the female workers, especially since they are the
majority. There are only six male employees.
"It just kind of happened that way during the hiring
process; girls were more personable," said Camille Cutler,
a supervisor for Aggie Connection.
Jordan Dodson likes working for Aggie Connection so
much that this is her second semester working there.
The 19-year-old from Orem said, "It's a fun, easy going
atmosphere. It's encouraging to work here because the
management motivates you to do your best without being
too strict,"she said. "Everyone has a lot of school
spirit. That helps because it makes you want to come
in to work everyday to raise money for our school."
Shifts sometimes start with training, done by the
head of the department who the employees are calling
for that evening. The department head will explain updates
on what the college has been doing and what the donated
money will go to. This training is crucial to Aggie
Connection because it helps the employees connect with
whomever they are calling that night. A light dinner
is often provided to the workers, which is an added
bonus.
Aggie Connection wants the public to know that they
are not to be confused with telemarketers. Sian Smith
said, "What makes us different from telemarketers is
that we have something in common with the alumni.
"We're more personable and aren't trying to just get
money from people. We're updating records and building
rapport, Smith said.
NW
MS
|
