Branson Alumni Scholarship Challenge 2024

We did it! We knocked it out of the park and surpassed our 520-donor goal!

Together, we took on three challenges totaling $90,000 and reached them all by 8 pm. And then, at the very end of the day, an unexpected final challenge to our younger alumni propelled additional giving late into the evening.

By the close of the campaign, 595 Branson alumni had come together to support the next generation of Branson students and honor our teachers – this is our highest alumni participation to date. We raised a total of $249,632, which is 50% more than last year! 

Who took the final lead?

• Specific shout-outs to the Classes of 1995, 1997, 1999, 1983, and 2007 for the highest class participation. 
• Honorable mention goes to the Classes of 2019 and 2015, with the next highest participation (kudos to our young alumni!). 

This year, our giving honored our teachers, past and present, who’ve made an impact on our lives. Take a look at what some of your fellow alumni shared with us.

Finally, thank you to all of you who participated in our Day of Giving. Please enjoy this brief thank you video

We have just received the tremendous news that a group of "older" alumni have just put a challenge before us: they will give $100 for any one of us in the last ten Branson classes who makes a gift between now until tomorrow.  Whether you give $10 or $500 or more, they will give $100, up to $10,000!

This challenge is for the classes of 2014 to 2023. And it will unlock $10,000 when 100 alums from the Classes of 2014 to 2023 donate any dollar amount!!

This is wonderful news and we are so thankful these alums are offering up this challenge. Let's do this!! Calling all young alums!! Who's up for a challenge?!

We are extending our campaign to tomorrow night for this amazing STRETCH GOAL. Let's have some fun!! 

After an exhilarating day sharing memories, it was the most heartwarming to witness the love and strength of this community come together on this special day. 

We did it!! We met our 520 donor goal today and we surpassed our record participation goal from last year of 514. We raised almost $220,000, another unprecedented achievement for our Branson Day of Giving.

On the leaderboard, the Class of 1995 was the clear front runner all day (Go Alexis Lynch!!) with the Class of 1983 (Go Scott Flemming!!), and the Class of 1999 (Go Amy Wheeler, Lauren Morlock, Marisha Rodriguez!!) and Class of 1997 (Go Rachel Feibusch!!) tying for third, followed by Class of 2019 (Go Carter Hawthornthwaite and Melissa Chow!!) close behind.

All of you were instrumental in the success of this campaign. Together, we are making the stellar Branson education and experience more accessible to all. And together, we took a moment to express our gratitude to our Branson teachers for their service and dedication.

Here's a thank you video for you to enjoy. THANK YOU!!

We reached another exciting milestone in our Day of Giving! This afternoon, 120 of you stepped forward to contribute to the Alumni Scholarship Fund, and you have just unlocked our $30,000 challenge. Congratulations and thank you!

We have one final challenge to announce: a group of anonymous alumni spanning multiple class years will give $25,000 when we reach our final Day of Giving participation goal of 520 donors.

Let's do this, Branson Alums!! 

At our recent 30th anniversary of Gospel Night, we were graced with the presence of some of our beloved faculty - Bridget Anderson, Brenda Brown, Damon Kerby and Marty Tallant. Thank you for sharing your JOY with us!!

Brenda Brown, a beloved member of the Branson faculty for over forty years, shares,

“As a child of a single mom, I attended high school on a scholarship so I appreciate Branson’s strong effort to support a diverse student body through their financial aid program. Also, financial aid reflects the mission of Branson to be a community that is inclusive and multi-dimensional. In supporting this aid to students, we of the Branson community affirm that financial – in addition to other forms of – diversity, is essential to Branson’s well-being.”

More than 300 of you have given to support our I   Branson Alumni Day of Giving and, because of that, you have just unlocked $35,000 in support for the Alumni Scholarship Fund. Wow! Congratulations, and thank you!

But wait, there’s more…

That’s right, we’re pleased to announce a second challenge of $30,000 which will be unlocked when a total of 420 donors support our Day of Giving today. Thank you to the group of anonymous donors who stepped forward to offer this generous challenge gift. Now, we need just 120 of you to join us.

In just two more years, Branson’s expansion will be complete and we’ll be a school of 420 students. So, essentially, we’re looking for one alumni gift per student to meet this next challenge.

Today is all about supporting our teachers and our students. It’s about giving back so that Branson can continue to help “grow good humans” well into the future.

“We give because we believe in the impact of a great education. We earmark our gift for financial assistance because we and our siblings are lucky recipients of financial assistance at institutions (including Branson) that have made a huge difference in our lives.” 

– Oahn Tran ‘04 and Carl Ma, Branson Science Teacher and Director of Institutional Research, and Oanh's husband 

We’ve loved seeing your comments about why you give and how much Branson’s teachers have meant to you, and we’ll share a few of them in our next message. In the meantime, let’s keep it up – we’re so close to unlocking that $35,000!

Every new gift propels us one step closer to our goal.

A group of anonymous donors has pledged a challenge gift of $35,000 that will be unlocked once a total of 300 donors have given to the Alumni Scholarship Fund.

That means that we’re looking for 130 of you to step up and show your support of Branson this morning. Let's do it together!

Why does giving today matter?

Hilary Schmitt, History Teacher and Department Chair, reflects:

“I believe in the impact the Branson community culture and education has on our students during their time here and long after they graduate. Alums have shared with me that they consider their Branson experience pivotal to their success as learners and advocates in our world.” 

Your gift today and your participation in this challenge ensure this Branson experience will continue for future students and teachers. And in dynamic classrooms, both students and teachers thrive. 

Read on to learn why it's important to our faculty and staff that we continue to give on Alumni Day of Giving. Giving on this day is one way our amazing Branson alums give back. 

"The alumni scholarship fund does so much invisible good work for faculty and students-- there are so many spontaneous great moments that I'm able to say yes to because the alumni scholarship fund is there to make it possible.  Thank you in advance for helping to fund a great teacher's next great idea." Jeff Symonds, Director of Studies

The day has finally arrived. We are all so excited to be kicking off our 2024 Alumni Day of Giving in honor of a Branson teacher. This Valentine’s Day, we would like to take this opportunity to honor our Branson teachers for their dedication to our development during our formative high school years. 

Please share a memory of a favorite Branson teacher or share a note of gratitude for their influence and dedication. Share by clicking here!

Today, honor a Branson teacher with your gift.