The student body government at the University of California, Davis, has announced it will match gifts by faculty and staff up to a total of $100,000 to go to a $15.35 million campuswide fund-raising campaign called Students First that provides financial support for students. Believed to be the largest contribution from students to any UC campus in the history of the 127-year-old University of California, the funds will be used to endow the Associated Students of UC Davis Scholarship Fund. At a ceremony in the Memorial Union this week, ASUCD President Peter Nguyen signed the legislation, which was approved by the ASUCD Senate on Oct. 5. "With this pledge, student government is helping to foster a sense of campus community," said Nguyen, who noted that the legislation demonstrates the willingness of ASUCD to let its members benefit from the association's prosperity. "UC Davis is the first campus in the UC system to launch a fund-raising campaign exclusively for student support," said Students First Campaign Director Donna Blakemore. "This pledge from the student body is a wonderful example of the commitment the campus has to keeping higher education in California accessible to all." Students First is a campuswide effort to raise more than $15 million for student support, including scholarships, fellowships, grants, research assistantships, low-interest loans and student enrichment programs. Nearly $11 million has been raised since October 1993. Faculty and staff may make contributions to the school, college or department of their choice. The ASUCD matching funds will go toward the ASUCD Scholarship Fund, which will fund undergraduate scholarships based on merit, financial need and community service. ASUCD is one of the healthiest student associations in the nation with a reserve fund in excess of $1.5 million. The $100,000 pledge will match gifts from faculty and staff during November and December on a one-to-one basis. UC President Richard C. Atkinson praised the association for its initiative to endow a scholarship fund and to challenge faculty and staff to join the campaign. "I want to thank the Associated Students of UC Davis for their generous pledge, one that sets a commendable example and will benefit other students for years to come." Said Chancellor Larry N. Vanderhoef, "Wow! Our students here at UC Davis never cease to amaze me. Always positive, always constructive, always creative, always generous. The rest of us have to run to keep up."