Southeast Missouri State University will rally alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends around the globe on Thursday, March 19, 2026, for SEMO Giving Day, an annual 24-hour celebration of philanthropy supporting student success and the University’s Transforming Lives campaign.
The daylong event has a goal of $360,000 in support of scholarships, academic programs and campus initiatives that expand opportunities for current and future Redhawks.
“I am excited to see the impact,” Kristen Seabaugh, annual fund coordinator for University Advancement. “Seeing the SEMO community come together, watching the support for students grow in real time, and knowing that each gift contributes to opportunities, programs and experiences that shape the future of so many students is unbelievable. I also love to see the names people come up with for the “Name a Squirrel” Campaign.”
Giving Day activities will begin the evening before with SEMO Alumni Night in St. Louis on March 18, where alumni will gather for food, drinks and fellowship while celebrating their shared commitment to SEMO.
On the morning of Giving Day, the University will host a free Grab N’ Go Breakfast from 7 to 8:30 a.m. in Kem Statuary Hall inside the Wehking Alumni Center. The event is open to the public and offers the community an opportunity to kick off the day of giving together.
Supporters can also take part by becoming SEMO Giving Day social ambassadors, helping spread the word across social media and encouraging others to give. The ambassador who inspires the most gifts will receive a SEMO swag basket.
A fan-favorite tradition will also return: the chance to “Name a Squirrel,” a lighthearted Giving Day activity that celebrates one of campus’s most recognizable residents.
“Giving Day is so important for SEMO because it brings our entire community together for one purpose, to support students,” said Seabaugh. “It shows the students that our alumni, donors and friends are supporting them every step of the way.”
Donors can support a wide range of initiatives across campus, choosing the programs, departments or student-focused funds that matter most to them. To learn more about SEMO Giving Day, sign up as a social ambassador or make a gift, visit givingday.semo.edu.
Those planning to attend the Grab N’ Go Breakfast can register online.