Bengal Giving Day Honors Faculty and Staff

This March 10–11, Idaho State University will host its annual Bengal Giving Day, a 1,901-minute celebration of generosity and community. While the event is widely known as a university-wide fundraising initiative, it’s also a day to recognize the faculty, staff, and administrators whose dedication has shaped the university and student success over the decades.

Why 1,901 minutes? That’s the number of minutes between 9 a.m. March 10 and 4:41 p.m. March 11 — a nod to the university’s founding year, 1901. This year’s celebration marks a special milestone: ISU’s 125th anniversary. It’s a time to honor the generations of faculty and staff whose work has built the university into the institution it is today.

A Day to Recognize and Celebrate You

Bengal Giving Day highlights more than donations — it’s a time to honor the impact of faculty and staff:

• Your daily work in classrooms, labs, clinics, and offices supports generations of students.
• Your mentorship, guidance, and leadership help carry ISU into its next 125 years.
• By attending, volunteering, or simply engaging with the day’s events, you help students, alumni, and community members see the human side of ISU’s legacy.

How Faculty and Staff Can Participate

Bengal Giving Day isn’t just for donors. There are multiple ways to engage, celebrate, and have fun with students and colleagues:

Bengal Dash: Fifty small Bengal figurines are hidden across ISU campuses. Returning a figurine to the PSUB Quad Lounge on March 11 allows you to direct $50 of Bengal Giving Day funds to the area of your choice. Faculty and staff can cheer on students or join the fun themselves.

Cornhole Challenge: Seven cornhole games will take place in the PSUB Quad Lounge throughout the day. Teams of two compete to direct donor-funded bonus dollars to the ISU programs of their choice. Faculty and staff can cheer on teams or sign up to play with students.

Live Music, Cookie Decorating, and Campus Activities:

• Live music by students from the ISU Commercial Music Program
• Cookie decorating at 3 p.m., hosted by the ISU Alumni Association
• Opportunities to join service projects, social media challenges, and other campus festivities

This is a chance to connect with students outside the classroom, celebrate their achievements, and show your Bengal pride.

March 11 Schedule of Events (Pond Student Union Building, Quad Lounge)

• 9 a.m. – ASISU Founder’s Day Breakfast & Day of Service kickoff
• 9 a.m.–4 p.m. – Find Benny the Bengal (Bengal Dash) and cornhole games
• 12:00 p.m. – President’s Update (pending availability)
• 1:00–2:00 p.m. – Live Music: Skylark (Jazz Quartet)
• 3:00–4:00 p.m. – Cookie Decorating, hosted by the ISU Alumni Association, while supplies last
• 4:00–4:30 p.m. – Live Music (Cordisar)
• 4:30 p.m. – Bengal Giving Day Reception and announcement of results

The Bengal Giving Day website provides details on challenge gifts, donation matches, and designated areas including academics, athletics, and student support. Visitors can explore the full event schedule, track fundraising progress on the leaderboard, and learn additional ways to get involved through games, social media advocacy, and interactive activities.