EDITORS NOTE: This is a sponsored article by the School of Liberal Arts in promoton of their scholarship scavenger hunt leading up to IU Day.
Indiana University Indianapolis students will have a new opportunity to compete for scholarship funding this spring through a social media scavenger hunt hosted by the School of Liberal Arts.
The event, designed to build awareness of IU Day and the role philanthropy plays in student success, invites students with a Liberal Arts major or minor to complete a series of clues posted on social media over a 10-day period.
Charmaine Torma, senior director of development for the School of Liberal Arts, said the event was created to engage students while highlighting how donor support helps make scholarships possible.
“We want students to understand that philanthropy plays a huge role in their education,” Torma said. “Because of donor support, we’re able to provide scholarships, internships, research opportunities and experiential learning.”
The scavenger hunt begins April 13 and runs through IU Day, April 22. Each day of the event, a new clue will be released on Instagram or LinkedIn. Students will complete tasks related to the clues and post their responses on social media while tagging the School of Liberal Arts and using the IU Day hashtag.
Participants will have until 5 p.m. on April 22 to complete the challenge. The first student to finish all tasks will receive a $1,000 scholarship, with additional prizes awarded to the next top participants.
As part of IU Day promotion, the School of Liberal Arts is releasing a series of videos across university social media platforms highlighting the impact of a liberal arts education and scholarship support.
The videos, produced with the School of Liberal Arts digital media team, feature students reflecting on how their studies have shaped their academic, personal and career paths. Some also share how scholarships have supported their ability to pursue opportunities such as internships, research and other educational experiences.
The campaign is coordinated by Lizeth Quinones, assistant director of digital media for the School of Liberal Arts. The videos are being released in the weeks leading up to IU Day to help raise awareness of the role philanthropy plays in supporting students and funding scholarships.
Organizers say the videos aim to connect student experiences with alumni and donors who contribute to the university’s scholarship funds.
Torma said the idea came shortly after she joined the university in November and began discussing ways to increase engagement around IU Day.
“IU Day is meant to reconnect alumni, excite faculty and staff and showcase the good work happening here,” Torma said. “This scavenger hunt helps students learn about philanthropy while also sharing that message with their followers.”
The initiative also reflects an effort to meet students where they already spend time — on social media.
“I wanted to be on the platforms students actually use,” Torma said. “Seeing students share their experiences and stories on social media means more to donors than any email we could send.”
In addition to raising awareness about IU Day, organizers hope the event highlights the broader value of a liberal arts education.
“Liberal arts teaches critical thinking and communication — skills employers constantly say they need,” Torma said. “Even if students major in other areas, those skills benefit everyone.”
Julie Carriere, scholarship manager for the School of Liberal Arts, said scholarships can make a significant difference for students pursuing their academic goals.
“Receiving a scholarship can help our students achieve their educational goals without having to pay the funds back,” Carriere said. “Providing and matching students to scholarship opportunities truly makes dreams come true.”
Carriere said she hopes students who participate will not only compete for funding but also build connections across campus.
“I hope they have fun, learn about the campus and connect with others to build a strong foundation of support for their future goals,” she said.
While the scavenger hunt is launching as a School of Liberal Arts initiative, Torma said she hopes the event could eventually expand across the IU Indianapolis campus.
“Our goal is to see how it works this year,” she said. “If it’s successful, we’d love to see it grow into something campus wide.”
Students eligible to participate include those pursuing a Liberal Arts major or minor. Organizers encourage students to sign up early and follow the School of Liberal Arts on social media to receive the daily clues.
Salsabil F. Qaddoura is the campus editor, financial officer and co-social media editor of The Campus Citizen. She is an undergraduate student on a pre-law track with a minor in business. She is passionate about public service and volunteerism to better our communities and the world.
