The goal of this annual student phonathon is to raise financial support for student scholarships, and a variety of student volunteers, professors and alumni take part every year. The first phonathon at Asbury began in the mid-1970s. Founded by then staff members Dr. Andrew Gallman and Tom Jenkins, the original phonathon was designed to raise support for the College's unrestricted fund. In 1977, the Student Phonathon for Student Aid was founded to secure support for student scholarships. Every dollar raised, unless designated otherwise by the donor, goes directly to a scholarship fund that is awarded to students the following academic year by the Financial Aid Office.
Students sign up to phone for many different reasons.
Some students phone for the conversations they have with former alumni of the college. Other students phone for the individual and team competitions, for the instant and nightly prizes, or for the free food. There are even a few students who phone simply because they enjoy the social time with their friends who are also calling, or for the opportunity to raise support for their class or club's treasury. A few individuals phone because they receive a Student Phonathon scholarship or because they want to help raise scholarship funds to support their fellow classmates. The 2000 Student Phonathon began on Friday, February 4 and runs each weeknight through Friday, February 18.