Anna Gindlesperger
Reporter
October 22, 2004
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New Milligan license plate |
The picture of Seeger Chapel has appeared on posters and postcards, mugs and t-shirts, and will soon be found below the rear bumpers of Milligan College alumni.
The Alumni Relations Office recently approved the design for a Milligan College
license plate, available for Tennessee residents.
“As long as I have worked in Alumni Relations, there have been alumni asking for
a Milligan plate,” said Theresa Garbe, director of Alumni Relations. “The
criteria for getting a plate has changed in recent years, reducing the required
minimum from 500 [prepaid buyers] to 100.”
After the office has 100 prepaid buyers, the Department of Transportation will
approve the plate and make it available to the general public.
“Once we have reached our minimum of 100 [prepaid buyers], people not included
in the initial 100 will be able to request a Milligan College plate through
their local county clerk’s office,”said Garbe.
Unfortunately, the Alumni Office has had a hard time finding the initial number
of buyers. An online survey taken this past summer showed a good response,
approximately 50 interests, but only 24 people have made the $35 down payment.
Garbe hopes the gathering of alumni this weekend for homecoming will boost
sales.
The specialty plates are only available to residents of Tennessee, this being
the state with the highest concentration of Milligan alumni. Whether or not the
offer will be extended to other states depends on the response they receive this
year from Tennessee. The next states to be offered the plates would most likely
be Indiana, Kentucky or Florida because of the number of alumni residing there.
The license plates cost $35 above each county’s usual renewal amount each year.
For example, Washington County residents usually pay $24 each year for the
renewal of their license plates. Those wishing to have a Milligan College plate
would pay $59 this year and every ensuing year that they choose to keep the
Milligan plate.
This is not a fundraiser for the Alumni Relations Office. The $35 per-plate fee
paid each year goes to the state.“The money is used to fund the TN Arts and
Commission and state highway projects,” said Garbe. “This is true of all
specialty plate fees.”
The tentative deadline for orders is mid-November.