The University of Alabama’s National Alumni Association has succeeded in raising more than $4 million during the 2012 fiscal year through their Ride With the Tide license plate program, contributing to scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students.

The Alabama Department of Revenue recently reported that The University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa sold 97,412 tags from Oct. 1, 2011 to Sept. 30, 2012. The sold plates accounted for 49.13 percent of the state’s collegiate license plate sales.

Contributing significantly to scholarships, 20 percent of all UA collegiate tag sales back the association’s chapter scholarships, while 80 percent support graduate students. Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School David Francko explained how graduate students are selected to receive the license plate funding.

“Each spring, I solicit nominations from our graduate academic programs for what we call NAA License Tag Fellowships,” Francko said. “Nominated students must be Alabama residents, possess excellent academic records and be committed to using their graduate degrees to provide meaningful service to the citizens of the state.”

To spread the University’s name to grads and undergrads alike, tags are sold in Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Maryland. Contracts for sales within the state of South Carolina have been approved and are being finalized by the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

In an attempt to further sales, the license plate program is leading in the 2012 Plate Playoffs competition on the website myplates.com. David Wilson, director of Alumni Funds, described how the contest works.

“The Myplates competition is between all the SEC schools, excluding A&M, and the first school to sell 100 tags by December 1 will receive $1,500.” Wilson said. “If The University of Alabama wins, the Alumni Association will use the money for UA scholarships.”

The University is competing in the “Blitz” division of the playoffs and is leading with 53 plates sold as of Oct. 28, 2012. Alabama is followed by LSU and Arkansas, with 36 plates and 22 plates sold, respectively.

The tags can be purchased at a local county license office and can be a standard numbered plate or a personalized tag that would take a three- to four-week delivery. The purchase amount for a UA tag is $50 above the normal tag cost, tax deductible and can be bought regardless of the tag renewal month.

“UA license tags are not only a great way to demonstrate to all that you support the Capstone as you drive around our state and the nation, but also a great way to contribute to the education of some of our finest students in a real and tangible way,” Francko said.

To renew a University of Alabama collegiate license plate, let the local county license office know that you want to continue to Ride with the Tide.