After two rounds of more than 1,200 votes, the Student Alumni Association elected to use its 2013 Gift to Tech to help preserve and enhance one of Tech’s most visible — and audible — elements of school spirit.

More than $28,000 was awarded to the Georgia Tech Band at a ceremony at the Kessler Campanile on Tuesday. The funds will go toward replacing one of the two trucks that transport equipment for the bands and School of Music.

“Any time the band moves, we use those vehicles to transport the instruments,” said Chris Moore, director of athletic bands and percussion studies. The 11-year-old trucks have been less reliable in recent years, at times causing student drivers to deal with breakdowns and jumpstarts on the road.

The band travels throughout the year, accompanying the Yellow Jackets at away games and representing Tech at events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Of course, performing at any venue is challenging if the instruments don’t make it there.

A new truck will run about $75,000, but the $28,000 gift provides a foundation for fundraising. Moore anticipates they’ll be able to raise the rest and make a purchase within the next few months.

“We have a very strong alumni group, and one of their initiatives is to help meet this goal,” he said. “Having some money in hand will help us go out and get a little more.”

The annual Gift to Tech lets students vote among several projects for funding. Other candidates this year were campus safety, bicycle infrastructure, academic advising, tutoring services, student entrepreneurship and innovation, TEAM Buzz, and a scholarship fund. The gift is meant to give students a way to start giving back to Tech while still on campus and continue the alumni and student tradition of philanthropy.

“Students once again picked something that maintains traditions and supports school spirit, which is an important pillar of SAA,” said Catie McCoy, student organizations manager with the Alumni Association. Last year, more than $25,000 went to the Dean Dull Ramblin’ Reck Endowment for Tech’s historic automobile mascot.

“It looks like students want to invest in Tech in ways that support traditions financially, and they understand the rich tradition of giving back,” McCoy said.

The final gift sum will be determined after the fiscal year ends on June 30. Until then, any new SAA member contributions will be added to the 2013 gift. This year’s gift is the sum of $5 from every SAA member and a $10,000 match from alumnus Allen Ecker (EE 1957, MS EE 1958).

Members of the Tech community can submit ideas for future Gift to Tech recipients to gifttotech@gtsaa.com.