Meet the Houghton Phonathon Team!
For over 30 years, the Houghton College Phonathon has played an integral part in our annual fundraising program.
The Phonathon Team is comprised entirely of current Houghton students trained in communication and management skills. Their objectives are to connect with alumni, parents and friends through a personal telephone conversation. Callers provide updates on campus developments and invite financial support for important areas like the Houghton College Student Scholarship Fund.
Houghton seeks to raise $1,000,000 for the Student Scholarship Fund by May 31, 2011. Be sure to visit our web page between now and May 31st to check on our progress. You can also visit the Student Scholarship Fund web page to read personal stories from students who are being transformed by their Houghton education.
For more information on the Phonathon program or to help us toward our goal, contact Heather Hill at 585-567-9340 or houghtonfund@houghton.edu; or click here to give now.
Meet a Few of our Phonathon Callers
Reigna Shearer is an Inclusive Childhood Education (ICE) major from Western New York. She loves equestrian sports, reading, and photography, and is part of Houghton’s Equestrian Club as well as the Teachers of Today and Tomorrow club.
What she enjoys about being part of the Houghton Phonathon Team is “Getting to work with a group of people who are hilariously entertaining and hearing about the rich history of Houghton." In fact, one of her favorite calls so far was when she asked one alumnus what his favorite memory was from Houghton, and he replied “Definitely the worms on the sidewalk in the spring. We learned not to look down when we walked from chapel to lunch because there were just tons of worms everywhere covering the ground.”
Fun Facts:
Reigna was picked to sit on stage with her friend at a concert, prefers the temperature
to be cold over hot, and thinks Extra Sharp cheddar cheese is the best!
Chris Clark is currently a religion major at Houghton, (subject to change, he warns). He is a missionary kid from Estonia and Maine, with hobbies of listening to music in general, singing, and playing guitar. Chris is involved with the Salvation Army Student Fellowship and the Intercultural Student Association on campus.
What Chris loves about being on the Houghton Phonathon team includes speaking with Houghton alumni and hearing how much they love Houghton—“It’s amazing to hear how Houghton has changed and how it has changed lives,” he comments. So far, two of his favorite calls have been speaking with a Wycliffe translator about Greek, and speaking with a retired reverend about the most useful courses to take in order to be prepared for ministry.
Fun Facts:
Chris lived in Estonia for four years before coming to Houghton for college.
His parents are currently stationed in Tallinn with The Salvation Army.
Sarah Wangai is a first year Pre-med major with an Intercultural Studies minor, hailing from Kenya. She is highly involved on campus already as her class cabinet secretary, Gospel Choir member, and Heritage Club member.
Some of the aspects which Sarah enjoys most about Phonathon are being able to talk with people, hear about their experiences, and learn from them “and be influenced through that.”
Her favorite call so far was when she called a couple and the wife went to Houghton while her husband went to Wheaton. “We had a detailed and very funny debate about Houghton and Wheaton and it was really nice to joke around and laugh together.”
Fun facts:
Sarah eats four cookies a day, with her favorite being oatmeal raisin.
Shannon Marriam is a TESOL and Intercultural Studies major with a music minor, and she comes to Houghton from the Fingerlakes area of NY. She likes to “hang out with friends, read,” and is in the Houghton Environmental Club and Creation Care Task Force. In addition to those things and being a leader on the Houghton Phonathon Team, Shannon also works
15 hours a week in admissions.
What brings Shannon back to Phonathon each year is the opportunity to get to “know other Houghton students and what they like about Houghton, knowing more about my campus, and learning what was different when alumni were here.”
Shannon’s favorite call was to a woman her freshman year, when she was a Music-Education major and deciding whether or not she wanted to keep that major – “She gave me some advice, reminded me God knew what His plans were for me, and prayed for me over the phone.”
Fun Facts:
Shannon is left handed and her favorite Monopoly piece is the thimble.
Dan Liggett is a Music Education major with a Vocal Emphasis, from the Buffalo, NY area. He particularly enjoys specialized films and Acapella music. When it comes to campus life, Dan keeps pretty busy as a class senator, a member of the College Choir, and participating in intramural football.
As a Phonathoner, Dan loves talking with alumni and getting advice about teaching in the future. He describes his favorite call as when “I talked with an alum for a long time about missions work and how to get involved. During the course of the conversation, she gave me some advice about getting through college. While she did not end up giving a gift, I received more than I expected.”
Fun facts:
Dan would like it to go on record that he can’t stand cauliflower.
