University of Mary Washington junior Journey Mason understands the challenges often faced by the unhoused children she tutors through Loisann’s Hope House.
“From day one, College of Education professors hammer into us building the foundation of a learning space,” said Journey, an elementary education and English literature double major. “Resources and organization are literally the cornerstones of learning.”
She and her fellow volunteers in UMW’s Community Outreach and Resources program (COAR) can now purchase educational and organizational tools to build a space at Hope House to help their K-12 students succeed, thanks to a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant. “This will have a lasting impact on their lives and open a world of opportunities and access,” she said.
Earlier this month, UMW’s Alumni Association Board of Directors (AABOD) and Young Alumni Council (YAC) awarded $25,000 in donor-funded grants to eight projects and initiatives proposed by students, faculty, and staff on behalf of recognized campus organizations.
The brainchild of the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, the program has given funding to 25 different ventures across campus over the past three years. These include an initiative to teach critical college success skills to incoming students, a public-facing printmaking event, and introducing technology upgrades to the Hurley Convergence Center’s Charnoff Production Studio.
Each applicant was required to submit a slide deck outlining their proposed project’s measurable objectives, budget, sustainability plan, and targeted audience, along with a short pitch video. Members of the AABOD and YAC evaluated the presentations, also considering how closely projects aligned with UMW’s ASPIRE values.
As a Washington Guide, sophomore Natalie Froustet shows off UMW’s beautiful campus to prospective students and families. But the unexpected wintry weather early this semester came as a surprise to her and her fellow guides. The grant she earned will help purchase additional gear in the form of UMW-branded jackets to protect them from the elements.
“Donors are helping us keep warm and dry while promoting Mary Washington,” said Natalie, a double major in historic preservation and environmental science. “And we can ensure our guests leave with a positive and professional impression of the University.”
Laurie Zdenek, a junior historic preservation major who serves as president of the Living History Club, received a grant to purchase historically accurate costumes for reenactment events in the Fredericksburg area.
During the U.S. Civil War, soldiers would be issued a basic uniform, Zdenek said. But the same attire today costs several hundred dollars, putting it outside the campus organization’s budget. “By providing costumes in a variety of sizes, we can ensure that financial position or body size aren’t barriers to participation.”
The Department of Historic Preservation earned a grant to reorganize and display its historical fragment collection, while the Department of Computer Science plans to use its funds to support its research focused on online political discourse using AI.
The Center for Career and Professional Development will put its award toward expanding its Career Trek program, which brings students on site visits with local employers so they can tour workplaces and network with Mary Washington alumni working in the field.
UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA) received funds to pilot a professional development conference for its students and those from other Virginia colleges and universities.
“Our goal is helping SAAs gain confidence in their networking skills so they’ll be able to navigate a professional space with ease,” said Assistant Director of Annual Giving Cadi Treviño Pinto ’22, the organization’s staff advisor. “They’ll also acquire the leadership experience that comes with planning, hosting, and leading a conference.”
Kimberlyn Pasch, Shane Maguire, and Keely Butler secured a grant for laundry vouchers for students, a longtime goal of the Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter at Mary Washington. Their proposal shared that many students reported having to choose between clean clothes and buying other necessities.
“With such a great demonstrated need, we couldn’t think of a better project to devote our time and energy to,” said Kimberlyn, a sophomore double majoring in biomedical sciences and psychology. “Knowing I was presenting to alumni who care just as much about UMW as I do was truly heartening.”
UMW’s Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grants program is made possible through donors’ gifts to the Fund for Mary Washington. These gifts are vital to the University’s ability to improve the student experience and support faculty, providing crucial flexibility to respond to emerging challenges and seize opportunities as they arise. When alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff give to the Fund for Mary Washington, they are choosing to be part of a community that is committed to giving back and making the world a better place – enabling students to make positive change through programs like the Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grants.
-Article by Assistant Director of Assistant Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04
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