Reasons to Donate to ASU
Friends of Howard Watkins
Give to Students
Scholarships help reduce financial burdens
Giving to ASU
Help fund innovative programs, classes and renovations.
Giving Benefits
Help improve the University’s ranking and reputation.
Alumni Donations
Donations benefit other alumni, current and future students.
My Time at ASU and Montgomery
When I look back on our days at ASU, I can recall the challenges, struggles, and fun times on campus. I was excited about attending ASU. As a kid, I remember the band being on national television performing halftime show during a New York Giant halftime game; the entire band was playing and dancing to a song by Rufus Thomas called “Do the Funky Chicken.” After watching the show, I was hooked on ASU. Moreover, it was the only college campus I visited, and my principal at Pensacola High School was a graduate of ASU. He and his family would have dinner at Dr. Watkins’ home annually on Thanksgiving.
My high school classmate brother and future roommate drove us from Pensacola to Montgomery for our first day of orientation. After standing in line for our room assignment in Benson Hall, we were told that there were no more rooms for men. We returned home with plans to attend the University of Florida, which I had been offered a scholarship. The university was attempting to increase African American enrollment. My roommates’ brother was a graduate of FAMU and had experienced living off campus. He convinced us to return to ASU and he would find an apartment and stay with us until we settled into school.
As a student, I enrolled in the Air Force AFROTC program, joined the AFROTC drill team, and commanded the team during my second year. I worked in the ASU library for four years, pledged Kappa during my second year, and managed the Men’s Department in the Sears Store during my last three years as a student where I sold suits and was the top store seller on several occasions. To my surprise, it was at Sears where I influenced many Montgomery high schools’ students to attend ASU. During the past forty years, ASU alumni often introduce themselves to me and say: “you probably don’t remember me, but as a student I used to come to Sears and talk to you and you would always talk about ASU and gave me advice.” One graduate said: “I did exactly what you recommended, I joined AFROTC and got a commission and I joined Kappa League and became a Kappa.”
It was at ASU where I experienced flying in a military and commercial aircraft, spent summers in Air Force training and leadership roles, developed lifetime friends, and received lifetime guidance and mentorship from faculty and staff. I travelled to leadership conferences, football and basketball games with classmates and fraternity brothers, visited and developed friendship with fraternity brothers at FSU, FAMU, USA, TU, Duke, UNC, UWF, AAMU, and HU, to name a few. Nothing was like the experiences of Kappa night at Topflight on Thursday.
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Give to Students
Scholarships help reduce the financial burden of rising cost of education to allowing students to find more time and energy to focus on studies rather than part-time work. A scholarship may help an ASU student cover the cost-of-living expenses while they are in school. It can include things like rent, food, and books. A scholarship can also help a student graduate from ASU debt free.
- 100 percent of your contribution is tax-deductible and is used to support students or designated organizations at Alabama State University.
- Your donations make a substantial impact on the lives of ASU students who are determined to improve their lives. You are investing in the next generation.
- When you invest in ASU education, it is the gift that lasts a lifetime.
- Every donation helps. It doesn’t matter whether you are donating to the Friends of Howard Watkins or directly to the University.
- The number of alumni that donate to a university influences its national ranking. The more alumni who contribute, the higher the ranking, even if every alumni-only donates one dollar!
Alabama State University
Giving to ASU
Giving to ASU is one way to express your appreciation toward the university. Show Ole Mother Dear that you are thankful for her, and the time you spent with her. By giving donations to her, she will always look good and continue to serve those Hornets yet to come. Treat her as you would treat your mother, give her something before you leave, she may need a dress or nice hat so that she’s always looking good when you visit.
Our donations go toward funding innovative programs, classes, and on-campus renovations. The funds received from donations give Ole Mother Dear the chance to grow, providing more opportunities for current and future students. Alumni gifts could create a lasting impact on students for years to come.
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Giving Benefits Alumni
ASU needs alumni, supporters, and corporate donors who contribute financial help to improve our national ranking, especially alumni, even if alumni-donate one dollar. This will improve our ranking and reputation, which means that it is more likely to attract students and more accredited faculty.
alabama state university
Alumni Donations
Serves Other Alumni: Along with current and future students, donations benefit other alumni. ASU continues to provide alumni and associations resources after graduation e.g., the ASU National Alumni Association and the ASU Detachment 019 AFROTC Alumni Association. resources after graduation with alumni associations. These associations host events and allow alumni access to exclusive resources within their university to ensure their success and grow a community with other alumni.
Hornets, corporate sponsors, and supporters who contribute financial helps improve our national ranking…. even if alumni-only donate one dollar! This will improve our ranking and reputation, which means that it is more likely to attach students and accredited faculty.
Why Should You Give to Students and ASU?
Your contribution to the Friends of Howard Watkins will make a difference in the lives of students pursuing degrees at Alabama State university. Because:
- 100% of your contribution is tax deductible and will help a student attending ASU.
- This will have a substantial impact on the lives of students who are determined to improve their lives.
- Education is the gift that lasts a lifetime.
Your gift to the ASU Foundation Inc., on behalf of the Friends of Howard Watkins’ and Alabama State University will be appreciated.
