Giving Stories

New Alumni of Distinction Gallery Honors Mary Washington Grads

January 25, 2024 Leave a Comment

A New York Times bestselling author. An Emmy-nominated television host. A past poet laureate. Two previous U.S. ambassadors. The former CEO of Rolls Royce North America. An award-winning chef and restauranteur. And the newly minted assistant general manager of the Chicago White Sox.

A member of the inaugural Alumni of Distinction class, Jin Wong '97 was recently named assistant general manager of the Chicago White Sox after 24 years with the Kansas City Royals. He visited UMW this month to speak with business administration students, student-athletes, the baseball team, and alumni. Photo by Tom Rothenberg. — A member of the inaugural Alumni of Distinction class, Jin Wong ’97 was recently named assistant general manager of the Chicago White Sox after 24 years with the Kansas City Royals. He visited UMW this month to speak with business administration students, student-athletes, the baseball team, and alumni. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Those are just a few of the individuals recognized in the University of Mary Washington’s inaugural Alumni of Distinction class, featuring 35 exceptional graduates who excel in the fields of business, law, medicine, arts and entertainment, sports, literature, human rights advocacy, philanthropy, scientific research, higher education, and more. Spanning generations and professions, their accolades can be found displayed on the first floor of George Washington Hall and in an online gallery. The University is accepting new submissions – grads can nominate themselves or others on the UMW Alumni website – and fresh faces will be added every five years.

“For the past 115 years, Mary Washington graduates have gone on to become accomplished leaders in every discipline, highlighting the power of a liberal arts and sciences education,” said Executive Director of Alumni Engagement Mark Thaden ’02.

The new gallery will help provide a fuller picture of the Mary Washington story, Thaden said, accompanying the restored murals originally painted by late art professor Emil Schnellock and his students in the 1940s. “I’m so excited that we are able to prominently display these amazing alumni in one of the most iconic buildings on campus.”

So are the members of the Alumni of Distinction class themselves. Jin Wong ’97, who was recently named assistant general manager for baseball administration of the Chicago White Sox, visited the gallery when he came to campus earlier this month to speak to students in the College of Business, student-athletes, fellow alumni, and the UMW baseball team. He previously worked his way up through the Kansas City Royals organization, serving the team for 24 years, including during its World Series-winning season in 2015.

Nellie King '92, pictured on the cover of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 'Champion' publication, is the organization's immediate past president. — Nellie King ’92, pictured on the cover of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers ‘Champion’ publication, is the organization’s immediate past president.

“Mary Washington holds a special place in my heart,” said Jin, who majored in business administration at Mary Washington and was a Division-III All-American outfielder on UMW’s baseball team.”I’m very proud and humbled to be honored by my alma mater.”

Nellie King ’92 considers the honor a highlight in her much-lauded career focused on protecting and expanding civil and constitutional rights in the criminal justice system.

“My personal and professional choices were distinctly influenced … by the network of friends, professors, and administrators who supported and mentored me after graduation,” said Nellie, who also was shaped by her experiences as president of UMW’s Honor Council. “The University’s emphasis on service to others encouraged me to question, explore, and engage in order to impact individuals and communities.”

Fitz Maro ’11, manager of design technology at Amazon’s Brand Innovation Lab, was one of several business administration majors from Mary Washington’s College of Business to earn a spot on the wall.

“UMW … was pivotal in discovering my professional direction,” said Fitz, who also earned a master’s degree at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Brandcenter. “The expansive coursework I found at Mary Washington gave me a panoramic perspective that continues to be indispensable in my career.”

While several graduates in the gallery continue to live and serve locally in Fredericksburg, some have moved overseas, including 2019 alumni Jalen Brown and Maria Dubiel.

2019 graduates Jalen Brown and Maria Dubiel publish The Francofile, an online project documenting their life and work in France. Photo courtesy of Jalen Brown and Maria Dubiel.

Fitz Maro ’11 is manager of design technology at Amazon’s Brand Innovation Lab. Photo courtesy of Fitz Maro.

Shortly after earning degrees in French and international affairs from Mary Washington, the couple created The Francofile, an online project chronicling their life in France and providing information on going to graduate school and working abroad.

“Everything we’ve accomplished in France bears the mark of the excellent liberal arts and sciences education that can only be found at UMW,” Maria said. “We’re thrilled that our alma mater has chosen to recognize our achievements in this way and thankful for an undergraduate experience that continues to challenge us to realize our potential.”

Alumni can browse the gallery display online or in person in George Washington Hall, and a celebration will be a prelude to the annual Alumni Awards ceremony during Reunion Weekend.

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

STEM Students Share Gratitude at UMW’s Celebration of Giving

December 13, 2023 Leave a Comment

One of Hannah Stottlemyer’s most memorable moments at the University of Mary Washington came on a Global Medical Brigades trip to treat underserved communities in Panama. There, she put her majors in biomedical sciences and Spanish into practice when she extracted a patient’s tooth and watched his sudden relief.

The Celebration of Giving, held on Dec. 6, honored Irene Piscopo Rodgers '59 and other Mary Washington alumnae who majored in the sciences and gave back to support the University and STEM students. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography. — The Celebration of Giving, held on Dec. 6, honored Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 and other Mary Washington alumnae who majored in the sciences and gave back to support the University and STEM students. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

Having this experience as an undergraduate was possible because she earned an Alvey Scholarship, she said, providing her with full tuition, fees, and room and board. “I feel such gratitude toward my donor,” said Hannah, a Mary Washington senior who plans to apply to dental school this spring. “She achieved success and decided to selflessly invest in UMW students to ensure they also have opportunities to succeed.”

At the Celebration of Giving, Hannah shared her story, honoring her late donor, Irene Piscopo Rodgers, who passed away in July 2022. The 1959 alumna left the University a transformational $30 million estate gift for undergraduate STEM research and to establish four new Alvey Scholarships for out-of-state students, in addition to the eight she created in her lifetime. This year’s event, held Dec. 6 at UMW’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center, focused on the tremendous impact that Irene and other alumnae in the sciences have made at Mary Washington by prioritizing the University in their philanthropic giving.

“They overcame obstacles at a time when there were few women in STEM, found success in their fields, and gave back to their alma mater so students could follow their dreams and change the world,” said Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte, who shared highlights from the past fundraising year and thanked those who donated in 2023.

Seniors Hannah Stottlemyer (left) and Sofia Taylor, who both earned full-ride Alvey Scholarships established by Irene Piscopo Rodgers, pose with Ron Pohl, Irene’s friend and attorney. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

Jerri Barden Perkins, MD ’61 at 2023’s Celebration of Giving with Harrison Miles ’15, ’23, the recipient of John C. and Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 College of Arts and Sciences Student Research Fellowship. Dr. Perkins has established six scholarships to support Mary Washington students. Proceeds from her book’s sales support UMW’s General Scholarship Fund. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

President Troy Paino and wife Kelly pose with Ron Pohl, attorney and friend of Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59, and his son, Remy Pohl, a 2016 alum of Mary Washington. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

2023 marked the most successful fundraising year in Mary Washington’s 115-year history, she told the 200-plus guests in attendance, who contributed toward the $21.3 million raised in donations and pledges over the past year in support of UMW students, faculty, and programs. “Through your philanthropy, your volunteerism, and your engagement, you have given so much back to the University, and our students see that and are inspired by each of you.”

Seated at tables adorned with microscopes, drones, and beakers and flasks filled with colorful liquids, guests embraced the evening’s science theme, especially a chemistry concoction for dessert created by UMW Catering. Showcasing a broad liberal arts and sciences education, junior Sasha Murphy, a biochemistry major and neuroscience minor, played flute, accompanied by Department of Music Professor and Chair Brooks Kuykendall on piano. Attendees then listened as a series of speakers thanked donors for their contributions.

With science as the theme of the evening, tables were adorned with beakers, flasks, and other laboratory tools. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

UMW Catering chefs cooked up a chemistry concoction for dessert. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

Junior Sasha Murphy, a biochemistry major and neuroscience minor, played the flute, accompanied by Department of Music Professor and Chair Brooks Kuykendall. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

“When you invest in a student’s education, it not only transforms their lives, but they have the opportunity to go out and pay it forward,” President Troy Paino said. “You model exactly what we hope to instill in our students.”

Ron Pohl, Irene’s attorney and friend, spoke about how Mary Washington transformed her life. “Nothing made her happier than giving money to this school, creating Alvey Scholarships, seeing students get their tuition paid for, and watching them grow up and have careers,” he said.

Guests also heard from several recipients, including Harrison Miles, a 2015 alumnus pursuing a post-baccalaureate degree in conservation biology. His research using fungus extracted from the invasive spotted lantern fly earned him the John C. and Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 College of Arts and Sciences Student Research Fellowship at this year’s Summer Science Institute.

Dan ’07 and Ginny Clendenin ’09 at the Celebration of Giving. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

From left: Daryl-Sue Mueller, UMW sophomore Aloysius Kabonge, and Hunter Morin at the Celebration of Giving. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

Joe Shepherd, Megan Carter Shepherd ’94, Jill Marmo, and Lou Marmo ’94 at the Celebration of Giving. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

“Dr. Perkins, I’m incredibly grateful to you for recognizing my research and for the invaluable role you played in my Mary Washington journey,” said Harrison, who will begin a Ph.D. in forestry this spring. “Thank you for contributing to my undergraduate education and that of so many others at UMW.”

Senior Sofia Taylor, who received an Alvey Scholarship to study psychology, neuroscience, and music, spoke about her close relationship with her benefactor, who often kept up with her recipients through emails, cards, and letters.

“Irene, I hope you know that everything I’m doing here at UMW was made possible because of your generosity,” Sofia said. “I will continue to make you proud as a woman in STEM and sing your praises for all past and future Alvey Scholars to hear.”

Learn more about establishing scholarships and how private support makes a difference in the lives of UMW students who receive scholarships, research fellowships, and internship grants.

View photos from the 2023 Celebration of Giving.

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

UMW’s Giving Tuesday Totals Top $215K

December 12, 2023 Leave a Comment

That’s a wrap! Donors to the University of Mary Washington gave more than $215,000, based on preliminary totals, in support of the UMW student experience during 2023’s Giving Tuesday celebration on Nov. 28.

Members of the Mary Washington community – including alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students – gathered together for the 24-hour event to #MakeItPossible on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, contributing 575 gifts to areas across the University.

Nearly 300 alumni made gifts, helping to unlock more than $45,000 in matching and challenge funds from generous donors, inspiring others to give and maximizing the impact of each gift.

“I’m always amazed at the way our Mary Washington family comes together for students on Giving Tuesday year after year,” said Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14. “Their enthusiastic support is a testament to their generosity and belief in UMW’s mission.”

The following challenges and matches were met in full on Giving Tuesday:

$12,500 match from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund for gifts of $500 or less to the Fund for Mary Washington
$10,000 challenge gift from Mary T. Bradley MacPherson ’71 after 200 gifts were made in November to the Beyond the Classroom Endowment, a College of Arts and Sciences initiative, which focused on student study abroad this year
$5,000 match for the College of Business from the COB Executive Advisory Board
$5,000 match for the Veterans Endowment from Brian ’84 and Erma Baker ’82
$5,000 match for the General Scholarship Fund from Alec and Betty Olander Adams ’69

Ryan Donaldson ’14 donated in honor of his former roommate, who had served in the military. “I’d like to make it easier for veterans like him to go to college,” he said.

Ryan’s gift of $19.08 also earned him the opportunity to name a campus squirrel after his current roommate as an early Christmas gift. More than 200 donors gave squirrels fun names like Henrietta Minerva Nutkin, Sir Donald Edward Fluffington, Sammy T. Squirrel, and Ms. Zippy Chatternut, receiving a digital certificate with their chosen name.

Alumni were also invited to make gifts in honor or in memory of the person who made their Mary Washington experience a special one. Beth Unklesbay ’74 paid homage to Karen Laino Giannuzzi ’71 – they’re both part of a small group of female retired military officers – whom she met almost five decades after leaving Mary Washington.

“From the beginning of our newfound friendship, Karen has been an enthusiastic advocate for our alma mater,” Beth said. “I credit her with bringing me back into the UMW fold.”

To learn more about the #GivingTuesday totals, please visit givingday.umw.edu/makeitpossible.

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

#MakeItPossible for Mary Washington Students on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28

November 15, 2023 Leave a Comment

The University of Mary Washington is inviting members of its community to give back in honor or in memory of the person who had the greatest impact on them at Mary Washington.

With a theme of #MakeItPossible, UMW’s Giving Tuesday celebration will give donors the opportunity to invest in the education of current and future students so they can fulfill their dreams – while thanking those at Mary Washington who supported their own.

Alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students are invited to make gifts of any size to areas across the University on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on givingday.umw.edu/makeitpossible. More than $47,000 in challenges and matches sponsored by generous donors are waiting to be unlocked throughout the day, doubling the impact of each gift:

Each gift of $500 or less made to the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, up to $12,500.
If 200 donations are made to the Beyond the Classroom Endowment during the month of November, Mary T. Bradley MacPherson ’71 will unlock $10,000 for the College of Arts and Sciences initiative to support students studying abroad.
The College of Business Executive Advisory Board will match all gifts to the College of Business up to $5,000.
Steve and Donna Sheehan Gladis ’68 will match each gift made to the College of Education, dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000.
Alec and Betty Olander Adams ’69 will match each gift to the General Scholarship Fund, dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000.
Sheehy Toyota of Fredericksburg will match all gifts to Friends of Athletics up to $5,000.
Brian ’84 and Erma Baker ’82 will match all gifts to the UMW Veterans Endowment, up to $5,000, supporting Mary Washington students who have served or are active service members.

Other areas addressing critical needs include the Cedric Rucker ’81 S.O.S. Fund, an endowment in “support of our students,” helping those who have unexpected or life-altering emergencies, and the Gwen Hale Resource Center, which provides food, toiletries, clothing, and other necessities for students in need.

UMW’s Office of Annual Giving has several perks for gift-givers, including an opportunity for young alumni to name a campus squirrel – and get a digital certificate as a keepsake – when a donation of $19.08 or more (in honor of the University’s founding year) is made to the Fund for Mary Washington. Parents, guardians, and family members of current students will earn their Eagle a note of encouragement and bag of Hershey’s Hugs and Kisses during finals week when they make a gift on Giving Tuesday.

Alumni and friends can pitch in even more by serving as a #GivingTuesday ambassador. They’ll receive an exclusive toolkit and a unique referral link to inspire others to give. Anyone who posts on social media throughout the day is encouraged to use #MakeItPossible and #GivingTuesday.

Visit givingday.umw.edu/makeitpossible to learn more about Giving Tuesday challenges and to sign up to be a Giving Tuesday ambassador.

Why I Give: Barbara Upson Gravely Welch ’61

November 14, 2023 Leave a Comment

Six decades have passed since Barbara Upson Gravely Welch donned her graduation cap and gown, but she still remembers the bittersweet feelings she had about leaving Mary Washington.

Barbara Upson Gravely Welch '61 as a senior at Mary Washington. Photo courtesy of The Battlefield Yearbook/UMW Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives. — Barbara Upson Gravely Welch ’61 as a senior at Mary Washington. Photo courtesy of The Battlefield Yearbook/UMW Libraries’ Special Collections and University Archives.

“I was almost sad to graduate,” said Barbara, who started out a shy history major but was eventually elected senior class president. “I enjoyed my college years immensely and realized what a difference Mary Washington made in my life. That’s what inspired my giving.”

Barbara has donated to the University of Mary Washington every year since she graduated, earning her a spot in UMW’s new Forever True Circle, which honors donors who have made a recurring or annual contribution for three or more years. Her gifts to the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington underscore her trust in the University and help guarantee that it can continue to address its most pressing needs.

“I benefited from all aspects of my Mary Washington education,” said Barbara, who grew up in Delaware and Central New Jersey. She hadn’t even heard of the small school in Fredericksburg until several friends mentioned it, but a visit to campus confirmed that it was the place for her.

She loved the history courses she took with Professors Carrol H. Quenzel and Laura Sumner, as well as the broad liberal arts and sciences curriculum she found at Mary Washington. “College really opens your mind to different perspectives, opinions, and ideas,” she said.

Barbara then became president of her senior class and gained a seat on Honor Council, serving as its vice president. “Those experiences made me into a confident young adult,” she said. “Faculty at my high school said that they needed to send more students to Mary Washington, because of how I had turned out.”

After graduation, she taught high school history until her children were born. She jumped into a new profession over a decade later, becoming an environmental paralegal in the legal department of chemical manufacturer DuPont, where her father had also worked.

Barbara Upson Gravely Welch '61 with her late husband, Charles Welch. — Barbara Upson Gravely Welch ’61 with her late husband, Charles Welch.

“I fell in love with the law,” said Barbara, who rose through the ranks for 25 years, until she retired in 2004. She spent the next decade earning her pilot’s license and learning how to fly her husband’s plane. “My education has allowed me to zigzag and try many different things.”

Over the years, she has kept in touch with Mary Washington, at first by interviewing scholarship applicants and participating in a regional alumni network, where she enjoyed connecting with older alumni from the 1930s and 1940s. Now, Barbara misses her dear friend, Connie Booth Logothetis ’61, who always shared her important milestones with their classmates in Class Notes.

And Barbara continues to invest in UMW and its students. “College is such a formative time and what you do with it makes a difference for the rest of your life,” she said. “Mary Washington helped me, and I want to honor that by giving back.”

Q: As a student, what was your favorite spot on the Mary Washington campus?
A: The Ann Carter Lee Hall kitchen/café.

Q: What might surprise your classmates to learn about you?
A: I’m taking voice lessons for the first time. After COVID, it seemed like we didn’t talk or sing as much. Now that I’m alone, I needed a new challenge and wanted to try something creative.

Q: What else do you do in your free time?
A: I no longer fly our plane, but I love to travel and just returned from Hawaii. I also exercise and volunteer at the Mary Campbell Center in Wilmington, Delaware. My second husband, Charles Welch, founded it in 1976 as a residence for disabled adults, in honor of his daughter, Charmie.

Q: What are the words you live by?
A: When I was nervous about taking on leadership roles in college, my father said, “Barbara, if you respect the people who asked you, you should have no doubt that they believe you can do it.” After that, I went through life accepting any challenge that came my way.

To learn more about the Forever True Circle or the Fund for Mary Washington, please contact Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14 at sorlando@umw.edu or 540-654-1361.

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

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