Despite Financial Issues of Their Own, Students Donate to Needy At UWM Honors House

With exams and the holidays around the corner, the UW-Milwaukee Honors College recently welcomed its students to a holiday event, and even invited them to show their spirit through the holiday donation tree. Many students donated, even though, in some cases, they are struggling with financial issues themselves.

According to Honors House staff, around 100 honors students stopped by the UWM Honors House for a variety of cookies and hot cider as Honors House greeted them and wished them luck on their upcoming exams. The event also marked the last day to bring in donations for the Hope House holiday donation event that was put on by Honors College Student Ambassadors.

When walking through the Honors House during the past few weeks students came across a Christmas tree hung with paper ornaments requesting different items for donation from anyone who feels like participating. The ornaments wished for all kinds of items ranging from art supplies to diapers. Students and staff were allowed to take as many ornaments as they liked with the understanding that they would fulfill the donation for the chosen ornaments.

This holiday donation tree was in its second year at the Honors House and was brought about this year and last by Honors College Student Ambassadors Andrea Hiscocks, Ashley Matter, and Shelby Puppe. According to Honors College Assistant Director Robin Weigert, last year’s holiday donation tree was a huge success, and this year looks to be almost as successful.

Weigert also said that the later start on the event this year, as well as the busy exam season, might have had an effect on the number of donations brought in, adding that last year’s donations filled an SUV. This year’s donation pile was more promising than the tree of ornaments, which was quite full, with donations piled up in the Honors House main office. These donations included art sets, basic toiletries, toys, batteries, clothing and much more to be donated Saturday, Dec. 13 at Hope House Santa event for kids.

The donation opportunity was open to students and also staff who, after talking to students, may have contributed to the majority of the donations. Many students were aware of the event but had reasons for not donating, the main one being money.

Sam Luft, a UWM Honors College freshman, said he didn’t donate saying he doesn’t have enough money, adding,“If I had money I would (donate).”

Even though not all students participated in the donation event, many still made it out for cookies and cider in hopes of relaxing during the exam week grind. Honors House advisor Shannon Byrne Irwin and Weigert said the purpose of the event was for tired students to relax to a warm drink and enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the Honors House as the staff wished them good luck on finals and were available for any final questions they may have in preparation for next semester.

Byrne Irwin said that the holiday event was the first in a few years, but the event appeared very successful as the students kept coming to enjoy the cookies and cider.

The Honors College offers similar events throughout the year that many said they have attended, and McHugh said this may be because the Honors House offers a comforting environment, more so than other areas on campus.