Ariel Biener of Philidelphia Teaches Fellow College Students The Art of Giving Back

2014 Feb 20

Philadelphia native, Ariel Biener, a Senior at Ripon College in Wisconsin, is teaching her fellow college students the importance of giving back.

This February, Biener served as the lead organizer for Ripon's annual Tuition Free Forward (TFF) day - the point in the academic year when Ripon stops to recognize the many donors who help to make the dream of attending the college a reality.

Biener, a Psychology and Education major, threw out all the stops in order to draw hundreds of her fellow classmates to a local pizzeria to write thank you notes to the school's many donors.

To get the word out, Biener organized a week-long scavenger hunt. She also offered students a delicious cupcake in exchange for a handwritten thank you letter to donors. The big event was held on Thursday at the local pizzeria. In return for writing a thank you letter, students could help themselves to an unlimited amount of free pizza and drinks. The first 100 guests also received a free "RC <3 Me" t-shirt.

"My favorite part about the experience was getting to talk with my peers about what 'TFF' is and what it means for the college and the students," said Biener. "Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, we make sure Ripon's first-rate educational experience remains affordable and that every student has the opportunity to receive the financial assistance necessary to graduate."

Biener is the daughter of Marilyn Shaffer of Philadelphia, PA.