Last year, almost 27,000 people bought a personalized car tag to show their school spirit.
The University released a new design for its collegiate license plate Jan. 5.
Every five years, Auburn is required to change the design.
All of the money raised from the sale of these license plates goes toward the Auburn University "License to Learn" Scholarship Endowment Fund. This fund is a statewide program that raises money for freshman scholarships.
In 2012-13 alone, roughly $1.9 million in scholarships was awarded to incoming freshmen. Since the program began, more than $38 million has been raised to support academic scholarships.
According to the Alabama Department of Revenue, there were 37,084 Auburn University standard collegiate car tags and 26,993 personalized tags sold in 2014. That is almost $4 million in scholarship money.
The new design showcases the Auburn logo on the left side of the tag with a band of blue and Auburn written in white. Across the top is a band of orange with Alabama written in blue.
"The Office of Communications, with the University, put together several choices," said Debbie Shaw, vice president of Alumni Affairs for Auburn University. "The winning design, really by significant measure, was the one chosen. This is the first year that all in-state alumni have been asked to vote on the design."
Shaw said she believes this design will be successful.
"We really believe that most people want the AU logo on their car, that's the most important piece of this design," Shaw sad. "And we kept the AU logo on it in a way that can be clearly seen. We made sure that the AU was positioned in the design so that it was significant, because that's what people want to see."
Toby Atkinson, a veterinarian in Andalusia, and 1990 Auburn graduate, said he likes to get creative with his Auburn tag.
"I've had a custom tag since 1995, it says K9DOC," Atkinson said.
Jim Evans, 1967 Auburn graduate, said he wants to display his Auburn loyalty.
"The big reason is that I know it does help Auburn, and it does show my loyalty to the University and that I'm an Auburn fan." Evans said. "And I like the tag."
Evans said times have changed since he graduated from college.
"When I first graduated from Auburn, I wanted everyone to know I was an Auburn graduate so I had these window decals that I'd use," Evans said. "We'd have them in our back car window and they used to say 'Auburn' or 'War Eagle.' I'll probably keep an Auburn tag on my car for as long as I can drive."
Alabama offers 25 collegiate plates for people who want to show their school spirit.
The design changes every five years and the new look for 2015 has just been introduced. The newly redesigned Auburn tag still features six characters. Drivers can order the tag for $50 plus the regular state vehicle fee of $24.25 from local tag offices throughout the state. There is no extra cost to personalize the tag.
For more information, visit: http://revenue.alabama.gov/motorvehicle/collegeview.cfm.
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