Giving Stories

UMW Community Raises a Record-Breaking $1.34 Million on Mary Wash Day

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Cameron Gittings, a senior psychology major and neuroscience minor, is grateful for all the generous gifts made by University of Mary Washington supporters. For Mary Wash Day, she was invited to take over the University’s Instagram account, creating posts and sharing videos that gave donors a glimpse into the fun and hard work that made the 2026 event the most successful ever.

“The appreciation we feel for our donors and the opportunities they provide students like me is something words truly cannot express,” said Cameron, a UMW Student Alumni Ambassador who also helped coordinate activities at the Mary Wash Day student headquarters and the alumni bingo game. “It was so much fun to show everything happening behind-the scenes of this huge event and to encourage everyone to give.”

UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle and students (clockwise from top right) Cameron Gittings ’27, Allison Olivar ’27, Sophie Hubbard ’26 (the Office of Annual Giving’s digital media and marketing intern), Jo Lent ’28, and Zoe Mueller ’26. Cameron, Allison, Jo, and Zoe are also Student Alumni Ambassadors and helped coordinate student and alumni activities for the 2026 Mary Wash Day. K Pearlman Photography
Students showed up wearing their Mary Wash gear, ready to thank donors for their generosity. K Pearlman Photography.
Students wrote messages expressing gratitude to donors for their Mary Wash Day donations. K Pearlman Photography.
Students played Mary Wash trivia games and won prizes like UMW socks, playing cards, and bento boxes at the Mary Wash Day student headquarters. K Pearlman Photography.
UMW’s Pep Band treated students to a performance at the Mary Wash Day student headquarters on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio. K Pearlman Photography.
Students – and their dogs – turned up at the Mary Wash Day student headquarters to take photos, make gifts, and write thank you notes to their donors. K Pearlman Photography.
UMW students pose with the Mary Wash Day sign in front of the Cedric Rucker University Center. K Pearlman Photography.

The entire Mary Washington community helped crush participation goals throughout the 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, with $1,347,438 raised to support UMW students, faculty, and programs. A total of 2,577 donors made 3,579 gifts during the ninth annual event, held March 25 to 26 from noon to noon, benefiting 135 different areas across the University, including academics, arts, athletics, service, career, and cultural programs.

Alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students unlocked over $800,000 in challenges and matches sponsored by generous donors. Their collective efforts doubled and even tripled the impact of each gift, making a Mary Washington education more accessible and affordable for students.

“Reaching this milestone reflects far more than financial success,” said Executive Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14. She noted that giving from parents of alumni and from current faculty more than doubled from last year, while friend giving saw an increase in dollar amounts and gift counts over 2025. “It highlights the UMW community’s deep dedication to supporting and strengthening the University’s mission.”

The unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington received the most funds, which will help the University continue to provide students access to a leading liberal arts and sciences education, small class sizes, personal relationships with professors, and low student debt upon graduation.

Other popular designations included Friends of Belmont, UMW Theatre, the Soccer Complex Fund, Men’s and Women’s Tennis and Lacrosse, the Geography Alumni Scholarship, and the College of Business’ Bloomberg Lab Fund.

Students posed for photos with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle at the Mary Wash Day student headquarters at the Cedric Rucker University Center. K Pearlman Photography.
Mary Wash Day festivities kicked off on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio, where students could play games, win Mary Washington-themed prizes, write thank you notes to donors, take photos, and make donations. K Pearlman Photography.
UMW women’s lacrosse players pose for a photo after making a $5 donation to pie faculty, staff, and student volunteers in the face. K Pearlman Photography.
Students had the opportunity to pie UMW faculty, staff, and student volunteers in the face after making a $5 donation on Mary Wash Day. K Pearlman Photography.
Students enjoyed Mary Wash Day-themed treats made by UMW Dining. K Pearlman Photography.
The Richmond Alumni Regional Network (seen here) hosted a happy hour at Väsen Brewing in Forest Hill, while the Fredericksburg Alumni Regional Network hosted a bingo game in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom.

While Devils (those who graduate in odd years) earned the most points during the 100th anniversary celebration of Devil-Goat Day in April, Goats (those who graduate in even years) made the most contributions during Mary Wash Day, with 939 gifts to the Devils’ 781 donations. As the Devil-Goat Alumni Challenge wraps up this week, alumni are encouraged to report their giving and engagement to help Team Devil and Team Goat. The winning team will be announced Saturday at the all-class party during Reunion Weekend.

Mary Wash Day festivities kicked off with a celebration on the patio of the Cedric Rucker University Center, which served as the student headquarters. Students played games, won prizes, took photos with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle, made gifts, and wrote thank you notes to the donors who made their Mary Washington education possible. They also were treated to a UMW Pep Band performance and gave $5 donations to pie faculty, staff, and student volunteers in the face.

In the evening, the Alumni Regional Networks in Fredericksburg and Richmond held celebrations. The following day, President Paino recorded a message of gratitude and preliminary totals with Mary Washington graduates across the generations who gathered at an alumni event in Cary, North Carolina.

Mary Wash Day highlights include:

  • 2026 marks the second year Mary Wash Day surpassed the million-dollar mark.
  • Alumni and students from almost every class year since 1950 made gifts.
  • Giving by friends of Mary Washington increased 5% in dollars raised and 8% in gift count from 2025.
  • Giving by parents of alumni increased 53% from 2025.
  • Giving by current faculty increased 56% from 2025.
  • The classes that made the most gifts were 2004, 2014, 2025, 1994, and 1982.
  • The classes that raised the most funds were 1971, 1969, 1974, 1984, and 1977.
  • The classes with the most donors were 2020, 2025, 2024, 2010, and 2017.

If you missed Mary Wash Day or want to support UMW students even more, there’s still time. The University’s giving year ends on June 30, and online gifts can be made at umw.edu/gift.

-This article was written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04

A Timeless Tradition: Mary Washington Hosts 2026 Reunion Weekend

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Daphne Johnston Elliott didn’t take many photos at Mary Washington, since developing film was expensive when she was in college. But she always treasured the times she spent on campus, including coming to Reunion Weekend every five years since she graduated in 1976.

Two 1976 graduates standing on the steps of the Kalnen Inn at the University of Mary Washington.
Daphne Johnston Elliott (left) and Margo Clifford have returned for almost every milestone Reunion Weekend since graduating in 1976. The alumnae volunteered together on the Reunion Weekend planning committee to prepare a memorable 50th reunion celebration for their classmates and graduates across the generations on May 29-31. Photo courtesy of Daphne Johnston Elliott and Margo Clifford.

“Our photos might be old and yellowed, but I hope they bring back fond memories,” said Daphne, a longtime reunion volunteer who assembled a slideshow for her class’s 50th Reunion Weekend dinner. But as much as she enjoys looking back on the past, she’s equally excited about the University’s future. “We’re always eager to see what’s new at Mary Washington and to get to know current students.”

More than 550 alumni and their families and friends are expected to return to the University of Mary Washington for the 2026 Reunion Weekend, May 29 to 31. The event specifically honors classes ending in 1 and 6, but all Eagles are invited to reunite, reminisce, and rediscover what they love about Mary Washington.

“Many of us have not seen each other for years, but when we do, we pick right up where we left off,” said Margo Clifford, who joined Daphne for the first time to volunteer her time and talents on the Reunion Weekend planning committee. “We’ve enjoyed sharing our stories about Mary Washington and our deep love for this place.”

Alumni and guests will have plenty of events to choose from, including class gatherings, a Ball Circle picnic, campus tours, faculty lectures, family activities, commemorative photos, art exhibits, beverage tastings, the all-class party, and visiting Carl’s for its famous frozen custard.

Highlights include a “Bites and Sites” dinner geared toward 2000’s alumni (but open to all), a live recording of UMW President Troy Paino’s podcast, a reception with emeriti faculty, and a special breakfast for college journalists and their faculty advisors.

“Reunion Weekend is one of my favorite events of the year — there’s nothing quite like watching alumni walk back onto campus and feel that immediate connection to this place,” said Mark Thaden ’02, associate vice president for alumni and donor engagement. “We want every graduate who comes back to leave not just with great memories rekindled, but with a renewed sense of how much this place is still a part of who they are.”

Shadwick Yoder ’25 drives alumni around on a student-led golf cart tour of campus during 2025’s Reunion Weekend. K Pearlman Photography.
A group of alumni and guests enjoy an Alumni College tour of campus. K Pearlman Photography.
From left: Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte, who is also the UMW Foundation executive director, with Alumni Association Board member Colette Strawn Johnson ’96 and her husband, Michael Johnson ’96, and Associate Vice President for Alumni and Donor Engagement Mark Thaden ’02, at the president’s welcome event. K Pearlman Photography.
Alumni Association Board member Sye Smith ’96 and Dawn Rock Miller ’95 chat during the Virginia wine, beer, and cider tasting during 2025’s Reunion Weekend. K Pearlman Photography.
A group of 2005 grads attend the 2000’s class party during 2025’s Reunion Weekend. This year’s 2000s class gathering will feature a progressive dinner that begins at Jefferson Square. K Pearlman Photography.
1979 alumni at the Ball Circle picnic during 2025’s Reunion Weekend. K Pearlman Photography.
Alumnae pose for a photo at Carl’s, a favorite Fredericksburg spot for its famous frozen custard. K Pearlman Photography.

Festivities kick off Friday with breakfast in the Cedric Rucker University Center, student-led tours on foot or by golf cart, and the popular wine-pairing lunch.

Alumni College lectures on Friday and Saturday will feature faculty and staff providing unique insights into topics like Fredericksburg history, the relics of Farmer Hall (formerly Trinkle), and the popular First-Year Seminar, “Disneyland Meets Mary Washington: Lessons in Storytelling and Space.” Assistant Professor of Studio Art Coorain Devin will lead a silkscreen workshop for those who wish to create their own souvenir tote bag.

President Paino will host a live recording of his new podcast, “What Matters Most,” with guests Donna Sheehan Gladis ’68, a member of UMW’s Foundation Board of Trustees, and her husband, Steve, in the Underground in Lee Hall.

A group of alumni and their families seated at the fountain in front of Monroe Hall during 2025’s Reunion Weekend. K Pearlman Photography.
Two alumnae catch up while taking a student-led golf cart tour of campus. K Pearlman Photography.
Assistant Professor of Studio Art Coorain Devin will present an Alumni College screenprinting workshop where alumni and guests will get to print their own tote bag. K Pearlman Photography.
Young alumni, including UMW’s Assistant Director of Annual Giving Cadi Treviño Pinto ’22 (pink shirt) and Advancement Specialist Sophia Weldi-Miller ’22 (green shirt), pose for a photo outside Monroe Hall. K Pearlman Photography.
A group of alumni, including UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80 (front, right), raise their glasses in a toast at the all-class party during 2025’s Reunion Weekend. K Pearlman Photography.
A live band performs at the all-class party during 2025’s Reunion Weekend. K Pearlman Photography.
Alumni dance the night away at the all-class party at 2025’s Reunion Weekend. K Pearlman Photography.

Alumni can reunite with former faculty and staff across disciplines at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center before a Brompton welcome reception hosted by President Paino and his wife, Kelly. The 1908 Society – honoring those who graduated 50 years ago or more – and 1976 alumni will be treated to celebratory dinners, while other grads will enjoy class gatherings, including a progressive dinner beginning in Jefferson Square.

Saturday morning will feature a fun run and walk across campus, the College of Business Alumni Awards and breakfast, an alumni authors meet-and-greet, and departmental open houses.

Alumni who wrote for The Bullet, The Blue & Gray Press, The Weekly Ringer, and other campus publications are invited to a breakfast with their former advisors, including Professor Emeritus of English Steve Watkins. Associate Professor of Communication and Digital Studies Sushma Subramanian will present “Why College Newspapers Matter,” exploring the increasing importance of college journalism.

President Paino will provide a university update before the Alumni Association award ceremony in Seacobeck Hall’s Weatherly Wing, followed by the Ball Circle picnic with class photos and a children’s playtime.

Alumni will learn the latest about the new theatre construction – which broke ground this spring – and the fine arts renovation. Adults can then enjoy a Virginia wine, beer, and cider tasting on Jefferson Square, while children attend a supervised matinee of Dreamworks’ Home in Combs Hall.

Grads and guests can dance the night away at the all-class party in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom, complete with a live band, full bar, a heavy hors d’oeuvres buffet, carving station, and dessert bar. During the party, the Eagles in Recovery program will host a support meeting facilitated by UMW’s peer recovery specialist.

The weekend concludes Sunday with a farewell brunch in the Jepson Alumni Executive Center’s Rappahannock Grand Ballroom.

UMW Galleries will display Mark and Method, an exhibition curated by students in the Art Museum Studies course, featuring works donated by Russell and Barbara Burt Bowman ’69. Simpson Library and the campus bookstore will be open select times throughout the weekend.

Register for Reunion Weekend. Download the Whova app and search for “Mary Washington Reunion Weekend 2026” for a full schedule of events, updates, and announcements. Follow “UMW Alumni” on Instagram and Facebook and tag #MaryWashReunion and #LifeAfterMaryWash.

‘World on a Plate’ Course Gives UMW Community a Taste of Global Cuisines

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When University of Mary Washington College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger first visited Europe nearly 25 years ago, he found himself in a restaurant in Rome, off the beaten path, eating an eggplant dish he’d never heard of before.

'World on a Plate: A Journey Through Global Cuisines' logo.
UMW’s new five-week course, ‘World on a Plate: A Journey Through Global Cuisines,’ will examine food as cultural text – covering topics like migration, colonialism, sustainability, and celebrations – through scholarly readings, public lectures, and live cooking demonstrations over Zoom.

“I didn’t even know that I had ordered it, but it was absolutely amazing,” Mellinger said of the meal that opened his eyes to tasting unfamiliar foods during his travels. He recalled a recent trip to Bilbao, Spain, with UMW Center for International Education Director Jose Sainz, where they enjoyed pintxos – small snacks, often held together by skewers – that are popular in the Basque region. “Again, such amazing food!”

That willingness to explore new culinary experiences and food traditions is what inspired the University to introduce “World on a Plate: A Journey Through Global Cuisines,” an online course that will be held during the summer session starting June 22. Classes will examine food as cultural text – covering topics like migration, colonialism, sustainability, and celebrations – through scholarly readings, public lectures, and live cooking demonstrations over Zoom.

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger (navy sweater) and Center for International Education Director Jose Sainz (gray sweater) and a group of UMW students studying in Bilbao, Spain. Photo courtesy of UMW’s Center for International Education/Jose Sainz.
A group of Mary Washington students dining in a restaurant on the UMW in Berlin trip during spring break in 2025. Photo courtesy of UMW’s Center for International Education.
A group of Mary Washington students on the UMW Classics Abroad trip to Greece in the summer of 2024. Photo courtesy of UMW’s Center for International Education.

Modeled after the popular “COVID-19 in Context” series that provided insights on the pandemic’s impact during the summer of 2020, the three-credit course is designed for current UMW students. However, the public lecture component will also be open to alumni and other members of the Mary Washington and Fredericksburg communities.

“This course invites students to move beyond a surface-level familiarity with foods they may already know,” said Professor of French Scott Powers, one of the five faculty members from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures (MLL) who developed the course, which guides participants as they delve into the cultural, historical, and political forces that shape cuisines.

For students, the writing-intensive course fulfills UMW’s diverse and global perspectives requirement and gives them the chance to engage in research combining cultural analysis and creative reflections.

“Food is something every person shares, regardless of culture, language, or background, making it a powerful way to build connections and understanding,” Professor of French Brooke Di Lauro said. “A food course is thus an ideal space for students to engage directly with members of the Fredericksburg community, sharing meals, stories, traditions, and personal experiences.”

The course will also count toward UMW’s newly developed food studies minor, complementing majors in business, biology, environmental science, and the humanities. “The minor is particularly useful for careers in policy, nonprofits, journalism, marketing, hospitality, and even urban planning,” Di Lauro said. “Basically, anywhere food intersects with people and systems.”

Pintxos in Bilbao, Spain. Photo courtesy of Center for International Education Director Jose Sainz.
A Middle Eastern falafel dish in Aix-en-Provence, France. Photo courtesy of Center for International Education Assistant Director Sarah Kersey Moran ’10.
A ramen dish in Seoul, South Korea. Photo courtesy of Center for International Education Assistant Director Sarah Kersey Moran ’10.
A burrata and tomato salad in Rome, Italy. Photo courtesy of Center for International Education Assistant Director Sarah Kersey Moran ’10.
A fish carpaccio appetizer in Iceland. Photo courtesy of Center for International Education Assistant Director Sarah Kersey Moran ’10.

Faculty will discuss how trade routes like the Silk Road influenced dishes across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and how migration and colonization blended food traditions. The course will also cover religious dietary restrictions such as being kosher and halal, how immigrants navigate between the traditions of their homeland and those of their new country, sustainability issues, labor conditions in agriculture, and food access in low-income communities.

In addition, participants will hear from Danilo Orofino, a Sicilian-born chef who highlights different culinary regions of Italy at his restaurant, Orofino, and Joy Crump, co-owner of New American restaurant Foode, city councilmember, and former Top Chef contestant, who has cooked for the James Beard Foundation and is involved in its programs focusing on food policy, chef advocacy, and change. Marielle Risse, an expert in literature, cultural studies, and pedagogy who taught on the Arabian peninsula for two decades, will also lecture, as well as UMW Professor of Marketing Kashef Majid, who teaches the popular “Alleviating Food Waste” course at Mary Washington.

“Ultimately, food becomes a powerful entry point for cross-cultural understanding,” Powers said. “It allows students to develop a more nuanced, empathetic view of cultures beyond their own.”

Di Lauro hopes participants will come away with more humility, curiosity, and respect for different perspectives – not just when it comes to food but for culture more broadly.

“If they’re willing to pause, ask, and understand before judging another person’s food or culture, then we will have done something truly meaningful,” she said. “We hope to turn an everyday occurrence, something simple as a meal, into an opportunity for connection over division.”

Learn more about World on a Plate. Students who wish to enroll in the course for credit can do so through the UMW Banner portal, while alumni and community members can register on the UMW Alumni website. 

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04

UMW Honors Couple’s STEM Contributions with Chemistry Classroom Naming

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Cathie O’Connor Woteki ’69 and husband Tom have both led distinguished careers in government, industry, and academia. Cathie got her start in STEM as an assistant in a lab in college – much like the one named for them last week in the University of Mary Washington’s Jepson Science Center – where she prepped solutions and lab equipment for experiments.

“I learned so much from that experience and my interactions with faculty,” said Cathie, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry at Mary Washington and went on to shape food safety policy for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the White House. “I want to provide the same kinds of experiences for today’s students that I had in college.”

The Wotekis visited that fourth-floor lab for an unveiling, where UMW President Troy Paino, Provost Tim O’Donnell, and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger expressed their gratitude to the couple for their generous gifts. Current and retired science faculty and university staff gathered in the space, which Professor of Biology Lynn Lewis, director of the Irene Piscopo Rodgers School of Science, said will hold introductory and upper-level chemistry courses and be used for the Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute.

Mary Washington alumna Cathie O’Connor Woteki ’69 and husband Tom in the doorway of the ‘Drs. Catherine O’Connor Woteki ’69 and Thomas H. Woteki Laboratory,’ in the Jepson Science Center, Room 416. The couple returned to campus last week for the lab’s naming ceremony, where University administrators and faculty thanked them for their generous gifts to UMW. K Pearlman Photography.
From left: UMW Provost Tim O’Donnell, President Troy Paino, Tom Woteki, Cathie O’Connor Woteki ’69, and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger. K Pearlman Photography.
Cathie and Tom Woteki listen as College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger reads the Board of Visitors Resolution to name the classroom after the Wotekis. K Pearlman Photography.

Cathie and Tom have made gifts to the Class of 1969 50th Reunion Scholarship and the Fund for Mary Washington, but their greatest impact has come from their contributions to the Beyond the Classroom (BtC) Endowment since its inception.

Mellinger recalled a 2019 lunch, where Cathie posed the question: “What do you need?” Requests for undergraduate research funding were greater than the University could provide at the time, he said, so the Wotekis sponsored the endowment’s first significant campaign challenge, inspiring numerous alumni to make similar commitments in future years.

Gifts and pledges to BtC have since surpassed $1 million, providing experiential learning opportunities for dozens of UMW students for undergraduate research, internships, study abroad, and academic conference travel.

“Thank you for being here and for your continued investments in our students and the University,” said President Paino, acknowledging the importance of a public liberal arts and sciences education in addressing 21st-century challenges. “Cathie, you’re a wonderful example of a Mary Washington education. We’re so proud of everything that you and Tom have accomplished throughout your careers.”

Cathie and Tom Woteki chat with science faculty, including Professor of Physics Matt Fleenor (left) at a reception in the Jepson Science Center in the Wotekis’ honor. K Pearlman Photography.
President Paino thanks the Wotekis for their generous gifts to Mary Washington, especially the Beyond the Classroom Endowment, which they supported from its inception. K Pearlman Photography.
Professor of Biology Lynn Lewis, who is also chair of the Irene Piscopo Rodgers School of Science, explains how the laboratory named for the Wotekis will be used. K Pearlman Photography.
From left: Professor of Chemistry and UMW Honors Program Director Kelli Slunt ’89 and Assistant Professor of Chemistry Sarah Smith ’12 react to the Wotekis’ story of how they met and fell in love via one of the earliest computerized dating match sites. The couple joked that they were “the first and last” people they were each matched with. K Pearlman Photography.
Cathie O’Connor Woteki ’69 shares how she met and fell in love with her husband, Tom, after meeting on an early computerized match program. The Wotekis had their first date on the Mary Washington campus in February 1966. K Pearlman Photography.

Cathie earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in human nutrition from Virginia Tech and became the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first undersecretary for food safety, leading the agency through a transformation of the meat inspection system. She also co-authored the Clinton Administration’s national science policy statement and became the first female dean of agriculture at Iowa State University. At Mary Washington, she served on the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Advisory Board and received the UMW Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2009.

Tom, a three-time Virginia Tech alum, was chief statistician at the U.S. Department of Energy’s information administration and founding director of Virginia Tech’s Academy of Data Science. He was also chief data scientist and a senior vice president at MAXIMUS Inc. and held senior roles at Cisco, Northup Grumman, Merck, and the American Red Cross.

As she described her academic experience at Mary Washington, Cathie shared that she and Tom had their first date on campus in February 1966, after being matched by an early computerized dating program. The couple discovered their shared passion for scientific research, she said, connecting it to the conversation they’d have with Mellinger over five decades later.

“As scientists, we appreciate how important field and lab work is,” she said. “You apply principles, play with ideas, and experience the joys of human insights as well as the frustrations when things don’t work out.”

Tom, who has also made gifts with his wife to his own alma mater, spoke about the gratifying experience of receiving letters from UMW scholarship recipients who’ve benefited from their generosity.

“We’re so fortunate that we’ve been able to support Mary Washington and Virginia Tech,” he said. “It means a great deal to us to be able to help students and these institutions that mean so much to us.”

Learn more about Beyond the Classroom or make your gift. For information, please email Executive Director of Gift Planning and Major Gifts Jeremy Vaughn ’08 in the Office of University Advancement or call 540-654-2063. 

This article was written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04 

Impact Grant Program Boosts Positive Change Across Campus and Community

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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.

Eight projects and initiatives pitched by UMW students, faculty, and staff earned Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grants after their presentations to members of the UMW Alumni Association Board of Directors and Young Alumni Council earlier this month. K Pearlman Photography.
Junior Journey Mason, an elementary education and English literature double major, earned a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant to help purchase educational resources and organizational tools for a tutoring space for unhoused K-12 students at Loisann’s Hope House in Fredericksburg. K Pearlman Photography.
Alumni Association Board of Directors President-Elect Charmayne Staloff ’05 (left) and Young Alumni Council member Jaylyn Long ’24 listen to presentations. K Pearlman Photography.
Alumni Association Board of Directors Immediate Past President Vicki Sprague Ravenel ’77, who oversaw the past two Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant Awards, speaks to her fellow alumni on the AABOD and the Young Alumni Council, as well as the student, faculty, and staff presenters. K Pearlman Photography.
From left: Alumni Association Board of Directors members Meghan Kishman ’13, Lisa Maloney Keyser ’05, and Susan Leavitt ’83 listen to presentations. K Pearlman Photography.
Senior Bethanie Hackett (left) and junior Garrett McKenzie, both computer science majors, present ‘Project Frozone’ on behalf of the Department of Computer Science. They’ll use the Impact Grants they received to support their research focused on online political discourse using AI. K Pearlman Photography.
Junior Allie Davis helps with a presentation to fund a professional conference for UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassadors and students in similar programs at other Virginia colleges and universities. K Pearlman Photography.

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.”

From right: Sophomore Natalie Froustet (far right) and junior Caty Taylor clap with other students for the presentations. The two Washington Guides will use the Impact Grant they received to help purchase additional gear in the form of UMW-branded jackets for the guides. K Pearlman Photography.
Junior Shane Maguire, a philosophy: pre-law major (at the podium) and sophomore Kimberlyn Pasch, a biomedical sciences and psychology major, pitch a program to create laundry vouchers for students in need, on behalf of UMW’s Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter. K Pearlman Photography.
Professor of Historic Preservation Andréa Livi Smith shares her presentation to help secure funding to reorganize and display the Department of Historic Preservation’s historical fragment collection. K Pearlman Photography.
From left: Alumni Association Board of Directors members Kathy Vi ’04, Alex Clegg ’17, Sye Smith ’96, and Colette Strawn Johnson ’97 listen to presentations. K Pearlman Photography.
Center for Career and Professional Development Director Michael Dunn and Associate Director of Employer Engagement Linda Catullo pitch an expansion of the Career Trek program, which provides students with on site visits to local employers. Assistant Vice President for Development and Campaign Operations Beth Hunsinger ’01 listens in the background. K Pearlman Photography.
Assistant Director of Annual Giving Cadi Treviño Pinto ’22, staff advisor for UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassador program, pitches a professional conference to help SAAs with networking and leadership. K Pearlman Photography.
Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte, who is also executive director of the UMW Foundation, chats with Young Alumni Council member Alex Obolensky ’16 (center) and YAC Chair Reid Merritt ’20. K Pearlman Photography.

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