The Senior Class Gift Committee announced the 2017 Class Gift this afternoon in the HUB: Permanent, annual funding for Penn State’s Lion’s Pantry. The senior class voted and ultimately selected what seemed to be the most popular, supported option in giving to one of Penn State’s important services instead of a physical memorial.

In selecting to give their gift to an existing Penn State service, the Class of 2017 follows in the Class of 2016’s widely supported decision to fund CAPS, creating the beginnings of a trend where the seniors donate to the betterment of student life instead of an object or piece of art that will just sit on campus.

The Lion’s Pantry provides a student food pantry for Penn Staters, offering free food for any student with a Penn State ID, no questions asked. The pantry reports that, according to FASFA, 90 Penn State students report being homeless. Currently the pantry is funded by donations alone, with most coming from students attending NSO and Greek life fundraisers. In being selected as the class gift, Lion’s Pantry will now receive a permanent, annual source of funding. Here’s how the Class Gift Campaign originally described the proposal:

“College is an exciting time, but attaining a degree can also be exceptionally challenging both mentally and financially. Lion Pantry, the student food bank, helps in-need and at-risk students by providing free food to any student with a Penn State ID.

Because Lion Pantry is currently funded by donations alone, it is difficult for the program to meet the growing need for its services. By creating a permanent, annual source of funding to support Lion Pantry, the class of 2017 can help ensure that while their fellow students might need to worry about getting good grades, they will never need to worry about getting a good meal.”

The Class Gift has followed an exciting trend in recent years, with the 2013 gift “We Are” statue going up two summers ago, the classes of 2014 and 2015 going green with the HUB Green Roof and solar panel arrays, respectively, the class of 2016 supporting CAPS, and now the Class of 2017 supporting Lion’s Pantry. The senior class should be proud of its decision.