The University of Massachusetts Alumni Association has a new way for students and graduates to show pride in their University while also raising money for alumni programs and scholarships – UMass license plates.
The plates are being used with the intention of promoting the UMass image, according to a press release.
The new plates are decorated with the Minutemen logo, as well as the letters “UM” and the phrase “you were, you are, UMASS” along the bottom, according to the release.
Elena Lamontagne, interim director of marketing and communications for the Alumni Association, said the license plates will likely pique the interest of not only alumni, but current students, as well as friends and families of current and former UMass students.
“It’s really a phenomenal way to show UMass Amherst pride and to get more visibility for the campus as the flagship of the University system,” said Lamontagne in a phone interview yesterday.
The new UMass license plate was announced last week in an email from JC Schnabl, assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations and executive director of the Alumni Association, according to the release.
“[The campaign is intended] to encourage alumni and friends across the Commonwealth to show their pride and make UMass is the first Massachusetts university with a plate on the road,” said Schnabl in the press release.
The costs include a $40 special plate fee plus a $20 swap fee. The plates are currently available to order from the Alumni Association, according to the release.
Students and employees of the University who own UMass plates will receive a 10 percent discount on campus parking permits. All others with UMass plates can receive, upon request, up to three parking passes for the Campus Center garage for free, according to the press release.
In order for the UMass plates to be approved, according to Lamontagne, they first needed to receive a minimum number of 1,500 requests.
There was an effort to put a plate on the road in 2006, she said, but the Alumni Association was not able to reach 1,500 license plate requests. Consequently, they surveyed alumni and redesigned the plate, waiting, she noted, until “the timing was right.”
“There are a lot of exciting things going on right now, and a lot of UMass pride with the new chancellor and the transition of our football program, and of course all the success of our academic programs and research,” said Lamontagne. “There’s a lot of buzz about UMass and the timing right now is great.”
According to the press release, the Alumni Association will be randomly distributing numbers to plate holders. However, if there were to be enough interest, the association might hold an auction for numbers 1-99.
Steffi Porter can be reached at [email protected].
