Santa Claus won’t be the only one giving gifts this year.

The Senior Class Challenge, the annual drive by the Senior Class Council to raise money for a class gift that will be given to the university, has set a goal of raising $40,000 for this year’s gift.

Senior Class Challenge Officer Haley Aduddell said the amount of money Senior Class Council members need to raise will depend on which of five gifts is chosen.

Past senior class gifts include contributions toward the renovation of Lake Laverne, construction of student courtyards and various other renovation projects.

Senior Class Council members compile many of their gift ideas from a university database that documents faculty, staff and student suggestions.

After all the ideas are reviewed the list is narrowed to the five options.

This year’s choices include:

* A Sesquicentennial Study Gallery in the upper rotunda of Parks Library.

* Preservation of FarmHouse Museum.

* New sand volleyball and tennis courts to replace the courts soon to be displaced by construction of the Engineering Research and Teaching Complex.

* A commuter parking shelter in the commuter parking lot to protect students from the elements while waiting for Cy-Ride

* Renovation of the visitor information booth on Elwood Drive to create a more user-friendly resource for campus visitors.

SCC officials said there were several worthy ideas for the class gift.

“We had a lot of technology based ideas, but we wanted something that would last,” Aduddell said.

Fund-raiser techniques will include a Call-Athon, during which SCC members will call seniors and ask for donations.

The final decision will be made by the seniors of Iowa State’s Class of 1997.

They will get the chance to vote by ballot. SCC members will distribute ballots in senior-level courses, and special ballot boxes will be set up on campus at various locations including: Parks Library, University Bookstore, Campus Bookstore, the Rec Center, Copyworks and the Student Alumni Association office.

SCC is also utilizing the Internet. Seniors will be able to vote for their choice on the SCC web site: http://www.iastate.edu/~stu_org/SCC.

Aduddell said voting procedures are a little different this year. “In the past it was done in cooperation with teacher evaluations,” she said. “We’re anticipating a good turn-out of voters.”

The final selection will be announced after the semester break. The 1997 senior class gift will likely be completed and unveiled at a special ceremony during Homecoming 1998 activities.

Aduddell said the senior class gift is a great way for seniors to give something back to Iowa State that will make a lasting impression.