April

Mug Club brews scholarships

At Tivoli, innovative Alumni Relations program helps students financially.

By Lynne Winter

April 4, 2018

The beginning of a semester is an exciting time for students, but it comes with a cost.

“I’ve maxed out my credit card three semesters in a row to pay for books,” said MSU Denver student Sierra Rakes (English, spring ’19), Reach-a-Roadrunner Call Center caller/manager. “It is stressful.”

While it may not be possible to spin straw into gold, MSU Denver Alumni Relations figured out how to support Reach-a-Roadrunner Call Center students such as Sierra by turning beer money into scholarships.

“Being awarded the Mug Club Scholarship relieves so much pressure,” said Ava Olmstead, one of four Mug Club Scholarship recipients. “This semester, I was able to purchase all of my textbooks – I could not have done that without help from the Mug Club.”

The MSU Denver Mug Club, launched in February 2017, offers members the opportunity to support student scholarships in exchange for a lifetime membership that includes a custom mug, a standing invitation to monthly happy-hour events (including one free beer) and discounts on Tivoli taproom beer at any time.

Exciting new membership benefits have been added as the Mug Club begins its second year:

• The Mug Club Ambassador Referral Program – earn a free beer for yourself for each new member you refer, as well as a free beer for the new member.
• $2 off Mug Club-dedicated draft line No. 45 at any time.
• Mug storage at the taproom.
• Opportunity to purchase an exclusive Mug Club T-shirt with proceeds going directly toward establishing the endowed scholarship.

Joining the Mug Club requires a one-time fee: $25 for students and alumni; $55 for faculty and staff; or $100 for friends of the University.

The Mug Club recently celebrated its first anniversary having raised more than $14,500, thanks to its 322 members. The next goal is to raise the necessary funds – $25,000 – to create the Mug Club Endowed Scholarship, which will support students in perpetuity.

Join the MSU Denver Mug Club today and support exceptional student callers such as Sierra and Ava. Together, we will transform lives!

For more information about the MSU Denver Mug Club, contact Brandi Rideout, director of Alumni Relations, at brideout@msudenver.edu or 303-605-5187.