EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) -- While students gear up for the first day of class, a yearly tradition at the UO bookstore has returned with campus reps handing out thousands of dollars in cash to help cut student textbook bills.
The UO Athletic Department and the UO Duck Store surprised several students on Thursday, September 20. Three students were each given academic gift cards worth $300 around 1 PM. The winners were picked at random.
Alice Scharf was the first winner. She's an Italian major in her senior year. The academic gift card will let her keep a little extra spending cash in the bank.
“I usually end up spending anywhere from $50 to 100, but this will help in maybe buying notebooks and things like that,” says Scharf.
When Scharf won, she was surprised by UO bookstore staff and Athletic Director Rob Mullens along with the Oregon Duck.
“I just heard people rushing at me and Puddles was at my side so it was very surprising. I've never won anything before, so that's cool,” says Scharf.
Over the last six years, the UO has given out $5,000 in academic cash. The store attributes a big part of increased sales to the success in athletics and selling more athletic gear.
The Duck Store has about 27 more $300 gift cards left to give out. They'll pick winners are random in the morning and afternoon in the textbook and art departments.
