Trinity Community Rallies for 10th Annual 1869 Challenge

For the past 10 years, Trinity University’s 1869 Challenge has been more than a tradition—it's been a testament to the strength and generosity of our entire community. From September 25-26, the Trinity community rallied TUgether to join this legacy of support. This year, we had 5,174 gifts from 4,080 donors and met 66 challenges to raise a whopping $876,263 for students.

The Trinity community smashed through our goal of 3,000 donors to unlock $35,000 for our Tigers. But they didn’t stop there. Our supporters swiftly knocked out our next challenge of gaining 250 new donors and unlocked an additional $25,000 for Trinity students! Before midnight struck the end of the Challenge, our Trinity community finished strong by gaining yet another 100 more donors and unlocking an extra $10,000 for our Tigers.

Over 1,869 minutes, Trinity students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families united as One Trinity to support the areas of the University they care about while showing their Tiger Pride with some healthy competition through our challenges. This collective generosity will help fund the student organizations, athletic teams, academic departments, and scholarships that make our Tigers’ Trinity journeys special.

“Thank you to all the donors who chose to support TULA in the 1869 Challenge!” says Kay Cansino ’26, co-president of the Trinity University Latino Association (TULA), the winner of the Large Student Org challenge. “With the money raised from 1869, we are able to put on our annual Viva Las Américas show, where we showcase student and community talents during Latinx Heritage Month. This gives students a chance to connect with each other and, of course, enjoy a live performance and food from all over Latin America. We love being able to give students space to learn about and celebrate the diversity in the Trinity community.”

The Trinity University Mock Trial club won the Small Student Org challenge. "We are so grateful for all of the donors who showed up to support our club!” says Faith Choate ’25, Mock Trial’s treasurer. “Each dollar we received will go directly towards funding our competitions; whether it be entry fees, case prints, or hotels, Mock Trial's expenses can add up pretty quickly. This money will allow us to attend even more competitions than we have in past years, which will help us take the team to the next level. Thank you to everyone who supported us!"

Read more to view the winners of the other challenges:

Academics

President Beasley pledged a $5,000 challenge to encourage giving to academic departments. The Department of Earth and Environmental Geosciences secured the most donors (139) and unlocked an additional $2,500 for the Smith-Kroeger Endowment Fund. The Department of Classical Studies raised funds in memory of Corinne Pache, Ph.D., and had 100 donors, unlocking an additional $1,500. The Department of Sociology and Anthropology raised funds for the Donahue Award. Their 94 donors helped unlock $1,000 for third place. 

Alumni

The reunion Class of 1994, celebrating their 30th reunion, had the most donors (42) among the 10 reunion classes during the 1869 Challenge and will get special recognition during Alumni Weekend 2024.

Regional alumni clubs competed on the leaderboard for bragging rights and $250 for their club. The winners were the San Antonio Alumni Club, with 210 donors, for the Texas Alumni Clubs, and the Denver Alumni Club, with 48 donors, for the nationwide category.

Athletics

Club Sports

60% of the student body participates in intramural or club sports. The Men's Ultimate Frisbee Club was the top club sports team with the most unique donors (111) and won $500. The Women's Ultimate Frisbee Club had the second-most unique donors (96) and won $300, and the TU Polo and Riding Club had the third-most unique donors (42) and won $200.

Varsity Athletics 

Women’s Soccer was the varsity sport with the highest percentage of student-athletes participating in the Challenge and received an additional $1,000 for the team.

President Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D.,  awarded Swimming & Diving, the team with the most unique donors (264), an additional $1,500. She also awarded Baseball, the team that raised the highest dollar amount ($48,747.49) with an additional $1,500

Parents

This year, parents from the Class of 2028 had the most Tiger Pride, as evidenced by their 198 donors. The winning parent class was announced on the TU Parents Facebook page and the Parent Portal and highlighted during Fall Family Weekend.

Student Organizations

Large Student Orgs

The Trinity University Latino Association was the large student organization with the most donors (80) and received an additional $150. Greek Council had the second-most donors (73) and received $75, and the Black Student Union had the third-most donors (70) and received $50.

Small Student Orgs

The Trinity University Mock Trial was the small student organization with the most donors (74) received an additional $150. The Filipino Student Association had the second-most donors (39) and received $75, and the First Time Offenders Improv Comedy Troupe had the third-most donors (17) and received $50.

Greek Life - Highest Dollar Amount

The Bengal Lancers Fraternity raised the most dollars ($32,382.97) during the 1869 Challenge and won free tacos at a club meeting delivered by LeeRoy the Tiger.

Greek Life - Most Donors

Sigma Theta Tau Sorority had the most unique donors (121) and won the honor of having LeeRoy the Tiger wear their jersey on Bid Day 2025.

Greek Life - Most Student Donors 

The Spurs Sorority and Triniteer Fraternity had the most student donors to Greek Council and won the honor of Wills Brown, M.Ed., director of Student Engagement and Development, or Cleighton Schedule, M.Ed., coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life, wearing their jersey at the fountain on Bid Day 2025.

Greek Life - Top 3 Fraternities - Most Donors

These three fraternities had the most donors during the Challenge and will each receive 25 standards points: Triniteer Fraternity (46 donors), Bengal Lancers Fraternity (39 donors), and Omega Phi Fraternity (30 donors).

Greek Life - Top 3 Sororities - Most Donors

These three sororities had the most donors during the Challenge and will each receive 25 standards points: Sigma Theta Tau Sorority (121 donors), Spurs Sorority (107 donors), and Gamma Chi Delta Sorority (82 donors).

Thank you again to our donors for accepting this year’s 1869 Challenge and joining a 10-year streak of generosity. Your support is already making a difference for our Tigers.

Explore the rest of the Challenge’s results at gotu.us/challenge!