On Oct. 23, the Senior Class Gift Committee announced that the senior class gift is the Mike Folga Legacy Scholarship.

Senior class gifts have been a tradition at Mercyhurst since 1989. These gifts are a way of thanking the university for all it has done.

This year’s gift is a scholarship named after Mike Folga, a long- time hockey manager and athletic trainer.

Folga passed away after his battle with cancer.

“The scholarship selection process began early September with the creation of ideas (names and criteria) and then committee members split up to form teams for presentations after the entire class of 2020 voted on their favorites,” Senior Gift Committee Chair Mitchell Marsh said.

There was some preparation beforethescholarshipcouldbe approved.

“After the formulation of pre- sentations and proposals, each team presented in front of Pres- ident Victor and the Scholarship Selection Committee,” Marsh said.

The committee has several eventsplannedtoraisemoneyfor the scholarship, some include the annual Senior Date Auction and bar crawls.

A recent press release states,

Lindsay Frank, director of alumni engagement and advisor to the Senior Gift Committee explained that the decision was made in 2018 to create an annual scholarship since it is a more sustainable model.

“I have often said that it is the people who go to the heart of what makes Mercyhurst the out- standing institution that it is,” President Michael Victor said in the recent press release on the scholarship.

There are several students raising money for this scholarship, including Kody Miles,Larry Staub and Erin Almeter.

These events will continue throughout the rest of the year.

“The senior class will be excited about this scholarship as it is in honor of Mike Folga. The funds raised will create an endowed scholarship to benefit future Lakers experiencing a similar battle or obstacle in their educational endeavors. The scholarship will allow his legacy to live on and benefit Lakers to come.” Marsh said.

For more information contact Mitchell Marsh at mmarsh39@ lakers.mercyhurst. edu or Tricia Shullick at pshull91@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.

Also follow the Senior Class Gift’s Instagram account @ HurstClassGift.