Giving away money isn't easy, students at Northern Kentucky University confirmed Friday.

        One after another, they balanced the pain of turning away worthy applicants with the joy of being able to help others.

        They also talked about learning the disciplines of philanthropy in one semester, and knowing their grade depended on the quality of their research and decision-making.

        And it wasn't even their money.

        Using a grant from the Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation, five NKU classes turned themselves into temporary philanthropic organizations.

        Friday, they completed their assignments at a ceremony at which they gave checks to local nonprofits the students screened from among dozens of applicants.

        Watching were NKU President James C. Votruba, who pitched the idea; Robin J. Crigler, his executive assistant who guided the project; and Neal Mayerson, president of the foundation.

        “It was completely up to us,” said Kelly Berning, a senior in honors instructor Becky Sittason's Investing in the Community class.

        An environmentalist, Ms. Berning pitched the Harrison County quail restoration project undertaken near Cynthiana by the Sportsman's Network.

        It didn't bother her that most of the other students advocated grants for inner-city schools, racial justice or the homeless. “I truly believe in the cause,” Ms. Berning said, “and I knew my class was very open to new ideas.”

        In January, five more classes will undertake the same exercise with another $20,000.

        When foundation money runs out in mid-2002, Mr. Mayerson said, he hopes NKU will have raised at least $1 million to perpetuate the project.

        “Too many good things die,” Mr. Mayerson said, because advocates don't follow up.

        He invested in NKU because 85 percent of the students remain in the area.

        Ms. Sittason's students gave four equal grants.

        Only assistant professor James Roeder's class in human services administration gave a single $4,000 grant. It went to the Grant County Board of Education's Crittendon-Mount Zion Family Resource Center to serve Spanish-speaking residents.

        Two classes in social research methods, taught by associate professor Joan Ferrante, gave $1,000 or $2,000 to recipients including ProKids and Family Service of Northern Kentucky.

        Public policy students taught by Anita Raturi, a visiting assistant professor, gave $2,000 each to Fernside Center for Grieving Children and Charlie's Three-Quarters House in Mount Auburn.

        Some student philanthropists are volunteering at nonprofits they encountered during the semester.

        In addition to academic preparation, Mr. Votruba said, NKU wants “to create the next generation of civic participants.”

        Mr. Votruba said he knew of no other student philanthropy program like that being tried in NKU classes.

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