April highlight 1: Student Integration and Selection

• Theoretical Trip Budget: Anthony committed to finalizing a theoretical budget for the 2027 student travel immersion to align fundraising goals with the actual costs of chaperones and travel logistics.
• Selection Criteria: The group discussed moving beyond traditional metrics like GPA, focusing instead on applicant portfolios that might include essays or specific personal experiences.
• Existing Scholarship Adaptation: Anthony will consult with university staff to determine how to adapt the current scholarship structure to accommodate multiple travel applicants rather than a single recipient.
• Review Committee Structure: The committee proposed a selection panel including representatives such as local artists to ensure a fair and diverse perspective in awarding travel opportunities.

April Highlight 2: Technical and Fundraising Infrastructure

• USU Communications Approval: Bayley noted that the main program video is currently under review by USU communications; their approval is a critical prerequisite for launching the public fundraising page.
• Branding Lock Discipline: The committee reinforced Gate 1 rules, specifically ensuring “Ruthellen” is consistently treated as one word to avoid technical issues with URLs and search strings.
• Benevity Corporate Match: Eric detailed the Benevity integration, which facilitates corporate matching (potentially tripling donations) by routing funds through the primary USU EIN with specific program tags.
• Expendable Fund Paperwork: Bayley and Eric will collaborate on the “multiple donor expendable agreement” to ensure raised funds can be used immediately for trips rather than being held in a restricted portfolio.

April Highlight 3: Event Coordination and Outreach

• Save the Date Timeline: Bayley plans to distribute “Save the Date” mailers and emails within the next two weeks to the legacy donor list and local leadership.
• Kickoff Venue: The event is confirmed for the HSL building in Blanding, utilizing the foyer and outdoor areas to showcase the campus while providing a contingency for weather.
• Local Media Leeway: The committee noted they have more creative freedom on local social media channels for Monument Valley and Blanding compared to the official USU webpage.