University alumnus Omobayo Famoriyo raised $86,159 for the University while he was an engineering student.He was a “Tiger Talker” for four years and is listed as the “Top Tiger Talker of All Time.” Tiger Talkers work to raise money for the University by calling alumni and other donors for contributions.Tiger Talk, a roughly 7-year-old fundraising initiative, provides part-time jobs for full-time students beginning at $7.25 per hour, said Quinn Rainwater, creator of Tiger Talk and director of The LSU Funds.The Tiger Talk calling office is a computer-filled room in the Manship School Research Facility, on South Stadium Drive. There are 24 calling stations, and 60 to 70 students each semester are hired to work.Students must be committed to working twice a week, and work hours are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, said Josh Dicharry, assistant director of The LSU Funds. Tiger Talk helps maintain a database of all University alumni, including recent graduates.Funds raised by student Tiger Talkers in the fall go toward the LSU Chancellor’s Flagship Fund, and Chancellor Michael Martin determines where the money is most needed in the University, Dicharry said.In the spring, contributors’ donations are distributed among the University colleges.”One student can make a difference,” Rainwater said. “They are left feeling good and want to give back to their former university.”Tiger Talk is a campaign initiative under the LSU Foundation, Dicharry said. The Foundation is one of the fundraising support organizations for the University.Another campaign initiative is Forever LSU, which has a goal of raising $750 million by December 31, said Beverly Brooks Major, director of Forever LSU. So far, more than $710 million in private funds and more than $34 million in state funds have been raised, Major said.Scholarship fundraising is the special focus of the Tiger Talkers campaign until December.Student Tiger Talkers must be open, patient, friendly and engaging with new people, Dicharry said. As students gain more experience, they also learn negotiation and conversation skills.”Just be yourself, and be calm and polite. If you sense that people are stressed out, it’s important not to be overbearing,” said Kevin Oubre, political science junior who has been a Tiger Talker for a year and a half. “You actually learn how to relax people.”The job requires high energy, and on a productive work night students should make between 100 and 150 sales calls, Dicharry said.The job is not only about asking for donations, Rainwater said. “Tiger Talkers also act as ambassadors for the University,” he said.The best callers are the ones with true LSU spirit, who follow University events, love the campus community and enjoy sharing their experiences, Dicharry said.”Sometimes phone conversations may turn in to a trip down memory lane for one of our alum,” Rainwater said.—-Contact Linden Uter at [email protected]