A Tradition Takes Root: The Class of 2026 Gives Forward
What began as a simple act of gratitude has quickly become one of the University of Central Asia's (UCA) newest, distinctive traditions. Since 2024, graduating students from UCA’s School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) have marked their final months on campus through the Graduating Class Gift Campaign, an initiative that channels student generosity into scholarships for the students who follow them.
This year, the Class of 2026 raised USD 3,450 from 183 donors, representing a 13 per cent increase in funds raised and a 25 per cent increase in donor participation over the previous year.
The campaign was led by a 15-member Executive Committee of senior students from UCA's Naryn and Khorog campuses. Working closely with the Department of Advancement and Public Affairs and SAS academic leadership, the Committee mobilised support across the wider UCA community — graduating classmates, alumni, faculty and staff alike—demonstrating the collective commitment.
Balancing coursework, internships and extracurricular commitments, the student leaders brought the campaign to life through a series of events that celebrated community as much as philantrophy. Traditional tea gatherings, yoga sessions, and football tournaments created opportunities for turning fundraising into fellowship, embodying the spirit of service that has come to define the UCA community.
Elmira Köchümkulova, Associate Dean of SAS Naryn, reflected on the campaign's significance, invoking a Central Asian saying: "A thousand greetings to the place where you once tasted tea." Through this pioneering initiative, she noted, graduating students have not only honoured their time at UCA but have also contributed to sustaining and strengthening UCA's legacy for future generations.
Ozar Aini, Founding President of the SAS Alumni Association and a supporter of the campaign since its inception, put it simply: "As UCA graduates, we were privileged to receive an exceptional education. Today, as proud alumni, we have the opportunity to open that same door for someone whose potential deserves a chance."
For Ayana Supueva, a member of the Executive Committee, the campaign was equally personal and a moment of reflection: "Participating in the Graduating Class Gift Campaign allowed me to reflect on my UCA journey and give something back in gratitude for everything that UCA has given me."
In recognition of the legacy of generosity they leave behind, members of the Class of 2026 Executive Committee were honoured at the 2026 SAS Awards Night in the presence of Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, members of the UCA Board of Trustees, UCA leadership, faculty and staff, as well as students and their families.
Small in scale but rich in meaning, the Class of 2026's campaign is a reminder that generosity need not be grand to be lasting. Cup by cup, gift by gift, they have ensured that the doors UCA opened for them will open for others still to come.
