Yesterday was Connect Goshen Day — an annual giving day hosted by Goshen College every fall. On campus, the Gunden Commons in Westlawn were occupied by various stations and activities to engage students and the campus community in thanking donors and connecting with one another.

Jill Koop Liechty ’90, manager for annual giving, is in charge of the event. She said, “We call it Connect Goshen day because we believe that the connections that people make while they’re at Goshen are important and valuable.” 

Koop Liechty said the main goal of Connect Goshen Day is to raise money for the GC Fund, which mostly comes from alumni. The GC Fund helps to cover scholarships and financial aid, which keep the cost of attending GC lower. She said it also helps fund student events, athletics, Student Life, Residence Life and Campus Ministries, among other things. 

Students gather in the Gunden Commons for food and activities.

“[On campus] we’re just trying to raise awareness of students of how important the GC fund is,” Koop Liechty said.

Kevin Cota, a sophomore accounting major, is a manager on the student advancement communications team under Koop Liechty. Cota has been involved in the planning process, which started a while ago.

During that process, he said, “We come with some ideas about some games, make bracelets, food, have different stations so students can engage.” 

Part of the activities available for students were writing postcards and filming videos to thank donors. Eric Pettipiece, a senior physical education major, was one of the students who filmed a video to thank a donor. He said, “As a student that hasn’t donated, I still think it’s important to show up to events like this and just interact with people, and show that you’re grateful for their donations.”

Also on the student advancement communications team is Caoimhe Farrell, a first-year communication major. In preparation for Connect Goshen Day, Farrell was asked to make a promotional video. “As someone who has a minor in PR, it was very exciting for me,” she said.

“I’m also an international student, and you know, college is expensive enough, never mind coming from the other side of the world — and so having there be funds and having there be scholarships to help people out, like me, is such an incredible opportunity,” Farrell said.

Connect Goshen events started on Tuesday, with an alumni and friends event in Kitchener, Ontario — one of two international gatherings for Connect Goshen Day, the other being in New Delhi, India, this coming Saturday. Koop Liechty said 20 off-campus events are being hosted throughout the week, surpassing her goal of 15.

Koop Liechty said, “While Connect Goshen day is a giving day, it’s also a day to just show gratitude for the connections we make while we’re here.”