Arcadia University’s tenth annual UKnightedTuesday (UKT), held on Dec. 3-4, reached a record total of $926,332 from 554 donors, supporting the University and its community. This total shatters the previous record of $621,034 from 425 donors set last year.

“Now this does not mean we should stop giving, this means we should keep going,” said Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement Brigette A. Bryant as she revealed the total. “There’s momentum in our community, there are a lot of things that need to be transformed, and we can do this together. So, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for making this a special, spectacular tenth anniversary of UKnightedTuesday.”

UKT runs for a total of 1,853 minutes as a nod to Beaver Female Seminary’s founding in 1853. While UKT is open, Arcadia alumni, faculty, staff, students, Trustees, friends, and families from all around the world come together in support of the University and many of its initiatives.

Some of the designations donors could support this year included The Fund for Arcadia, The Black Alumni Association of Arcadia University Preview Support Fund, The Graduate Program in Counseling Internship Fund, and a Fund of Your Choice.  Donors chose to support academic departments, athletics teams, general scholarships, and much more.

This year, University Advancement expanded UKT by incorporating two pop-up celebrations on the evening of Dec. 3rd — one at Paddy Whacks in South Philadelphia and another at The Hamilton in Washington, D.C. Complimentary food was offered at both pop-ups and a cash bar was available for members of the Arcadia alumni to enjoy while rekindling connections with their Alma Mater.

To bring UKT to a rousing close, University Advancement hosted an annual Thank-a-Thon from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Commons Great Room. The thank-a-thon allows the community to thank all UKT donors in handwritten messages and have a front-row seat to the final reveal announcement. The event featured not only food and soft drinks but also a DJ, a drum line, and Arcadia’s own talented cheer squad. Arcadia University President Ajay Nair and Brigette A. Bryant closed the event with remarks of gratitude. 

“I hear from students, and from alumni, directly about how much they have benefitted, and how they would not have been able to succeed or earn their degree if it were not for the support, encouragement, and generosity of our community,” said President Nair. “Sometimes it’s scholarship support that makes a difference, sometimes it’s food, clothing, or other necessities, sometimes it’s global programming. No matter the resource, the common theme is your generosity.”

The live stream of the Thank-a-Thon can be viewed here.