Giving Stories

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 

Gift Planning Connections – Spring 2026

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In this issue:

An image of the Spring 2026 Gift Planning Connections newsletter.Meet Evan Fletcher ’26, a biology major and U.S. Army veteran, who received numerous scholarships to support his UMW education, including the Col. Patricia Hess Jernigan ’64 Veterans Scholarship.

Discover how Sallie Galloway Gill ’65, who majored in history at Mary Washington, and husband George have supported students who’ve served or come from military families through the Carrie S. and Arthur L. Galloway Scholarship.

Learn five quick tips to give your estate plans a “spring legacy tune-up.”

Read a special message from UMW President Troy D. Paino.

See how the late Carolyn Eldred ’66 kept learning throughout her life and established scholarships through her estate to support psychology and theatre students for generations to come.

Read each story by selecting the links above or view a PDF of the Spring 2026 Gift Planning Connections newsletter.

For more information about estate planning, visit our website or contact Executive Director of Gift Planning and Major Gifts Jeremy Vaughn ’08 by email or by phone at 540-654-2063.

In Support of Service

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Alumna’s military roots inspire scholarship for service members and their families

A married couple dressed up for an event, standing outside and smiling. The husband's arm is around the wife's shoulder.
George and Sallie Galloway Gill ’65 were both scholarship recipients at their respective schools. At Mary Washington, they established the Carrie S. and Arthur L. Galloway Scholarship to support students from military families, veterans, and current service members earning their degrees. Photo courtesy of Sallie Galloway Gill.

Sallie Galloway Gill ’65 knows the sacrifices military families make in service to their country.

On the night she was born, her father sailed for North Africa during World War II and didn’t return until she was 3. Her brother was a decorated U.S. Army lieutenant killed in Vietnam. And her husband spent over three decades in the Marine Corps Reserve.

“A life in the military is honorable and good, but it puts strains and stresses on families that most people will never know, experience, or understand,” said Sallie, who earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Mary Washington.

Both Sallie and husband George relied on private support to attend college, inspiring them to create the Carrie S. and Arthur L. Galloway Scholarship at the University of Mary Washington. Their generous gifts – including recognizing UMW in their estate plans – support numerous students from military families, veterans, and current service members earning their degrees.

“We wanted to honor my parents and family by helping others who’ve chosen to serve their country,” said Sallie, the first-ever recipient of the Lt. Gen. Albert J. Bowley Scholarship at Mary Washington. “George and I were both raised in homes where finances were tight, but love, guidance, and a desire for us to succeed were abundant.”

Sallie’s father, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Arthur L. Galloway, sailed for North Africa during World War II on the night she was born and didn’t return home until she was 3. Photo courtesy of Sallie Galloway Gill.
‘In my dad’s unit, every new father was allowed to have the name of their new child painted on one of the jeeps in the unit for a few days,’ said Sallie, noting this is one of her favorite photos, despite the incorrect spelling of her name. ‘How many people in the world ever had a WWII jeep named for them, even for a day?’ Photo courtesy of Sallie Galloway Gill.
A 1945 newspaper clipping from the Newport News Daily Press reporting on Sallie’s father meeting her for the first time. Photo courtesy of Sallie Galloway Gill.
Sallie’s brother, Arthur Lee Galloway Jr., a decorated U.S. Army lieutenant, died in Vietnam on March 3, 1971. Photo courtesy of Sallie Galloway Gill.
Sallie’s parents, Carrie S. and Arthur L. Galloway, were the namesakes of the scholarship she and husband George established at Mary Washington for veteran students and those from military families. Photo courtesy of Sallie Galloway Gill.
Sallie’s husband, George Keener Gill Sr., spent over three decades in the Marine Corps Reserve. Photo courtesy of Sallie Galloway Gill.
From right: Sallie Galloway Gill’s husband, George; his brother, John; John’s son, Ward; and Sallie and George’s son, Keener. Photo courtesy of Sallie Galloway Gill.
Sallie and George’s son, George Keener Gill Jr. Photo courtesy of Sallie Galloway Gill.

As a child, Sallie’s family moved across the U.S., Taiwan, and Germany. Everywhere they went, her parents encouraged their children to learn about languages, history, and people.

Sallie found the right fit for a history major at Mary Washington, where she fell in love with the stately brick architecture, ivy-covered grounds, and a charming city full of historical sites and cemeteries, perfect for someone with a passion for studying the past.

A black and white yearbook photo of Sallie Galloway Gill.
Sallie from the 1965 Battlefield Yearbook at Mary Washington. Photo courtesy of Special Collections and University Archives.

Faculty members like Myra Irby, Donald Glover, and Samuel T. Emory “opened up new worlds for those of us lucky to learn from them,” Sallie said. She furthered her love of history while working at the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library as part of the Bowley Scholarship, and worked in Seacobeck Hall to fill in the gaps. “I enjoyed the comradery,” she said, “as well as taking pride in helping financially with the cost of college.”

After graduation, Sallie taught high school geography in her hometown of Newport News, Virginia. She soon met George, stationed in Yorktown, through a young adult group at their church. He had attended Vanderbilt University on a scholarship he earned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) and held several campus jobs to support his own education. They married a year later and moved across the country, eventually settling outside of Chicago.

A couple who are donors to Mary Washington and their scholarship recipient.
George and Sallie Galloway Gill ’65 with their scholarship recipient, Jarad Ponce ’24, at UMW’s 2024 Scholarship Luncheon. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

The couple, who are members of UMW’s Heritage Society, returned to her alma mater two years ago to attend the spring Scholarship Luncheon and Student Showcase, where they met their recipient, Jarad Ponce ’24, a veteran who is now an early venture consultant with UMW’s Small Business Development Center.

“George and I were delighted our scholarship was helping someone so deserving and willing to work hard to achieve his ambitions,” Sallie said of Jarad, who earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Mary Washington after serving in the Marine Corps. “Our goal is to help future generations by supporting young people in the way that others supported us.”

For information about supporting student success through scholarships now and through your estate plans, email Executive Director of Gift Planning and Major Gifts Jeremy Vaughn or call 540-654-2063.

This article was written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04 and originally ran in the Spring 2026 Gift Planning Connections newsletter.