by Abigail Ramirez
Daily Lobo
Academic excellence is one way to get scholarships.
This semester, entering a raffle is another.
Fall tuition is one of seven prizes being offered in the Tuition Scholarship Raffle.
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This is the first time a tuition raffle will take place at UNM, said Quonya Huff, co-coordinator of the raffle.
The winning tickets will be drawn at Johnson Field on April 21.
The raffle is sponsored by Trailblazers, an organization in the Alumni Association.
Any full-time student with a 2.0 GPA or better can participate. One ticket is $3, and four tickets are $10.
The prize money will be credited to the winner's student account.
"There's a big upside. You can spend $4 and have the opportunity to win $2,300," said Nicholas Condon, co-coordinator of the raffle. "It's really nice because it publicizes the alumni's contribution back to the University and encourages students to participate even after their gone."
The idea was modeled after a similar raffle at University of Texas-Arlington, Huff said.
Condon said faculty and staff can sponsor a student to enter the raffle.
Student Bridgette Zirwas said she will probably participate in the raffle, even though she has the Presidential Scholarship, which pays for her tuition and books.
"It's a pretty good idea, especially for kids who don't get everything paid for," she said. "Then, you have to get a student loan and get interest acquired on it."
Students not present to claim their prize will be notified by phone, e-mail or regular mail, Condon said.
About 250 of 1,000 tickets have been sold so far, Huff said.
Huff said the odds of winning are good because the Trailblazers are selling so few tickets.
"If we can sell 1,000 tickets, we can break even," she said. "It will also keep the numbers low, so students have a better chance at winning."
If there is a high demand for the tickets, more will be ordered, Huff said.
The prize money will be raised by the raffle, she said. If enough money is not raised, the Trailblazers will cover the difference, she said.
"We are just trying to get it publicized so in the future, it becomes a big success and can even be one of the more fun things that happens here on campus,"
Condon said.
The prizes are:
Fall 2007 semester's tuition
$300 Bookstore Textbook Scholarship
$50 in LoboCash
Free graduate school test and two hours of Kaplan tutoring
Four Popejoy Ovation tickets
Two Mid-Week Movie semester passes
Recreational Services Getaway Pass
Students can buy tickets in the SUB Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Bookstore on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Hodgin Hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or from any Trailblazers member, Huff said.
One ticket is $3, and four tickets are $10.
