Through a campaign that matched any new follower to UW-Madison social media pages with a $1 donation, the Bucky Challenge fundraising initiative has raised nearly $20,000.
UW-Madison graduate William Hsu and his family pledged to donate $1 for every new Facebook or Twitter follower to UW-Madison and the Wisconsin Alumni Association between Sept. 19 and Oct. 3.
National media attention from the New York Times' college blog and the participation of such notable alumni as NFL player J.J. Watt helped the university raise awareness of the campaign, according to the Bucky Challenge website.
According to a study released by Klout, a data analysis company that measures online influence, UW-Madison has one of the most successful social media programs in higher education.
The study surveyed and ranked institutions based on the application and frequency of social media use on campus.
In an online statement, Vice Chancellor for University Relations Vince Sweeny expressed the university's hope that the initiative will help stimulate future donations as well as provide another connection between alumni and the campus.
""We found a way to link social media with our passionate base of alumni and amazing people like Will and Jenny,"" Sweeney said. ""It's one more example of our university creatively connecting with the world.""
