Generous Reunion Gifts Celebrated
8 June 2008 Generous Reunion Gifts Celebrated
During the 2008 Presidents Reunion Forum, representatives from the 10 returning classesand one special guest classpresented Colleges President Mark D. Gearan with checks for gifts to the Colleges totaling an unprecedented $9,973,613.45.
The great success of The Fund for Hobart and William Smith this year can be attributed in part to the exceptional generosity of the members of this years Reunion classes the 3s and 8s and the excellent work of the Reunion Class volunteers, said Hobart Master of Ceremonies Joe Tully 88, who was joined on stage by co-presenter and Assistant Professor of Biology Susan Flanders Cushman 98.
Highlights of the Forum included Georgiana Prince and Roger Turner, from the Classes of 1968, who entertained the audience with anecdotes about the good old days of HWS before presenting Gearan with a check for $647,087, representing their $73,399 Reunion year gift as well as all of their gifts since their last Reunion in 2003.
Celebrating their 50th Reunion, the Classes of 1958 were honored both for giving the largest gift and having the largest percent of participation 54.7 percent. Since their 45th Reunion in 2003, the classes have raised a total of $2,966,006.81. Alums in attendance were also awed by the presentation of a special guest class, the newly graduated Classes of 2008, who raised $4,520 for the Colleges Annual Fund this year. Impressed by the 53 percent of seniors who gave, Board Chair David Deming 75 matched each of their gifts, dollar-for-dollar, bringing their total donation to the Fund to $9,040, a record gift for a recently graduated class.
After the presentation of gifts, The Hobart Alumni and William Smith Alumnae Associations awarded citations and other honors to those who have made significant contributions to the Colleges. Director of Alumni Relations Jared Weeden 91 awarded seven alums for their generosity on behalf of the Alumni Association, including Brendan Neary 93, Assistant Dean David Mapstone 93, Joseph Tully 88, Daniel Rosensweig 83, Christian Coffin 83, Timothy Spry 73, and Trustee Thomas Bozzuto 68.
The 2008 Young Alumnus Award was presented to Luke Gutelius 98, who is known as a varsity member of the Admissions Volunteer Network. His successful business, maax Inc. (named for Hobart football Coach Bill Maxwell), created the official Reunion 2008 T-shirts. Director of Alumnae Relations Kathy Regan 82 awarded citations to five deserving women on behalf of the William Smith Alumnae Association: Laurie Kerschner 78, Mary Collins 78, Carol Shanks Dougherty 83, Adele Schlotzhauer 83, and Trustee Linda Arrington 88.
This year, three women received the Young Alumna Award. Dr. Cynthia Oyler Teerlinck 93 was recognized for her work as a physician, volunteer and vice president of the Heron Society Board of Directors. Dana Glaser 98 also received this award for her support for the HWS career services program and her work at NBC in New York.
Lastly, Colleen McDonough 98 was honored for her work with the HWS Club of Los Angeles and the Alumnae Council, as well as for serving as a class reunion campaign chair, class correspondent and admissions volunteer. The 2008 Lifetime Service Award was given on behalf of both Associations to Trustee Herbert J. Stern 58, LL.D74, P03.
Stern forged a path with these Colleges that is almost as distinguished as his professional career, said Weeden. And Stern is quick to note that much of his career successes can be attributed to the experiences he gained here. In his words, it was at Hobart and William Smith that I was first exposed to the richness of human life, history and thought. Gearan concluded the ceremony with two simple but powerful words, summarizing the afternoon and the incredible success of the Annual Fund: Thank you.