Light jazz filled the air in Red Square at noon on October 15, as yellow and black balloons marked the start of PLU’s annual Bjug Day. The long-standing tradition unites Lutes worldwide to support students and strengthen their community.
Behind the event lie months of preparation. Amy Barrera, the manager of the Donor Communications Department, introduced this year’s Bjug Day’s goal: “The whole idea behind Bjug Day is to give to what you love at PLU,” Barrera explained. “The more campus partners we can get involved in that, the better outcome for everybody.”
Three new members joined the Bjug Day planning team this year, including Barrera herself. Based on previous surveys showing that many students, particularly commuters, were unfamiliar with Bjug Day, the team launched the Passport Project to “entice” students to visit stations and learn what philanthropy means to PLU students.
At each table, students collected a sticker after completing an activity, such as taking a photo at the photo booth, recording a thank you video for donors, or writing a heart that represents gratitude. Once a student collected three stickers in a row, they earned a free PLU tote bag. The simple incentive encouraged participation and helped students learn about Bjug Day and how donor support impacts students.
Donors made a strong impact on students, supporting scholarships, internships, and clubs, such as athletics collectives. Barrera recalled stories of students who used donor support to study in Namibia, pursue internships, and worry less about daily expenses like gas or meals. “I have the joy of hearing students’ stories and translating them into a way that is meaningful for donors to read,” she shared.“That’s where the marriage happens between student stories and impact donors keep on giving.”
The impact of Bjug Day is significant for athletics. According to GiveCampus, the women’s soccer team received $22,740 from 202 donors. Seth Spidahl, the Head Coach of the Women’s Soccer team, explained that the funds raised go directly back into the players’ experience, including meals, travel, and team-building. “If you don’t do team stuff, it’s like forced family time. Meals and food are a great way to connect and talk to teammates,” Spidahl said.“When someone is valued as a person and they’re treated well during their time here, whether they play on the field or not, that creates a connection to the program to the university.”
Looking ahead, the women’s soccer program continues to aim high. Coach Spidahl hopes to lead the team to its ninth consecutive Northwest Conference title and advance deeper into the NCAA tournament. He emphasized that the program’s mission remains unchanged: to help players grow as people, achieve academically, and enjoy a big-time college soccer experience at the Division III level.
Donors’ connections also reflect the broader support system beyond PLU. “Outside of the PLU bubble, there are many people who care about women’s soccer journey. People are doing it because they want players that they’re supporting to have an awesome journey.” Spidahl added.
Despite women’s football’s solo achievement, Bjug Day reached a major success. The donors increased from 2025 to 2062. Beyond the numbers, the campaign strengthened the sense of community on campus and among alumni.
As the campaign came to a close, Barrera reflected on the meaning of this year’s success. “Times are crazy. It’s shocking that we met our goal in the midst of a government shutdown. The fact that we exceeded our goal shows that there is something special about PLU. People love this place and show up when it matters most.”
