“Hi, I’m a student at Houghton College. I’m calling on behalf of our Student Scholarship Fund. Do you have a couple minutes?” For five weeks out of every semester, from Monday through Thursday, a dedicated group of students gathers on the top floor of the Luckey Building to raise funds for their classmates. Affectionately known as the “Phonathon Loft,” the spacious room is home to two rows of desks—and a lot of phones.
During Phonathon, student callers use brightly colored “calling cards” to learn more about the people they contact. To spark a conversation, many use questions about classic Houghton activities like SPOT, chapel, and cafeteria tray sledding. They share fond memories from their time at Houghton and stories of how generous student scholarships have positively impacted their lives.
The current caller script prominently focuses on the “Access and Affordability” element of Houghton’s Impact Campaign, which the college describes as “a multi-year campaign celebrating the many ways Houghton College and its students have a kingdom impact on the world.” Every donation made to these students goes directly into the Student Scholarship Fund, rather than to other building initiatives or academic funding—which is one of the reasons why having student representatives is such a crucial component of the program.
Some reliable yearly donors graduated as far back as the 1950s, while others left Houghton less than a decade ago. Many graduated with majors that are no longer offered the school. Almost all are delighted to speak with current students, swap stories about their favorite Houghton memories, and learn more about the institution’s plans for the future.
Jessica Jennings, who served as administrative supervisor of the Phonathon initiative, recently vacated the position to pursue overseas missions opportunities with YWAM. She handed management of the fund drive to Bec Cronk, whose work in alumni engagement and advancement dovetails naturally with the Phonathon mission.
“Although it makes for a long day,” Cronk said of her job, “I love listening to students make calls to alumni and friends of Houghton! It’s rewarding to hear so many stories and experiences from a spectrum of different people. The common thread in conversation is always a love for the Houghton experience.”
When asked about the challenges of her new role, Cronk said, “The hardest thing about managing so many students has got to be the scheduling! A college schedule is not one I envy. The part I am so excited about is the relationship building. I love the students and can’t wait to get to know them better. And of course it’s difficult to know that so many will leaving after this semester. Jessica has left me an exceptional group of students who are making positive connections on Houghton’s behalf.”
Casey Greene ’18, who began working as a Phonathon caller during her sophomore year and now works as a student supervisor, fondly recalled hundreds of conversations through the years. “I just love being able to form relationships with alumni and being able to hear their crazy stories,” she said, “as well as seeing the ways that Houghton has changed…and the ways that Houghton never changes.” While she recalled some bizarre discussions (and outlandish answering machines) Greene’s most enduring memory stems from a single conversation. “I called a woman this year who I had called my sophomore year,” she shared. “She could tell me my name, my major, and where I was from. She’d been praying for me for two years.”