Every semester, the students who hold endowed scholarships at Missouri S&T do something “old fashioned” in the Instagram Age — they pick up pen and paper and write thank you notes to their donors. This fall, more than 1,100 students participated in a letter-writing marathon at Hasselmann Alumni House during the first week of classes. “The act of writing a thank you note — and the reciprocal act of receiving it — creates a one-to-one connection,” says Joan Nesbitt, vice chancellor for University Advancement “The feedback we receive from donors is exceptionally positive. But what is equally gratifying is the fact that so many students say they appreciate the opportunity to communicate with their donors.”