Giving Stories

Devil-Goat Alumni Challenge Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Treasured Tradition

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A uniquely University of Mary Washington celebration, Devil-Goat Day pits students graduating in odd years (Devils) against those graduating in even years (Goats). Over the decades, the friendly rivalry has transformed into a lively contest of fun and games to celebrate the end of the academic year and give students a respite before final exams.

With the beloved event’s 100th anniversary approaching on April 23, the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement has launched the inaugural Devil-Goat Alumni Challenge, giving Mary Washington graduates across generations a chance to get in on the action.

The University of Mary Washington celebrates the 100th anniversary of one of its oldest and most beloved traditions, Devil-Goat Day, on April 23, 2026. UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement has launched the Devil-Goat Alumni Challenge, giving graduates across generations the chance to get in on the action.

“For many alumni, Devil-Goat Day was an important part of their Mary Washington experience, while others are discovering and embracing it for the first time,” said Mark Thaden ’02, associate vice president for alumni and donor engagement. “It’s a powerful reminder that even century-old traditions can create opportunities to engage, reconnect, and celebrate our alma mater.”

Devil-Goat Day dates to 1926, when Mary Washington juniors picked a green goat as their class symbol, pinning it to their shirts. Not to be outdone, seniors selected a red devil as their emblem.

Today’s students engage in a spirited competition that fills campus with giant inflatables, carnival-like contests, tasty treats, and more. With bragging rights at stake, seniors and sophomores compete against juniors and first-year students in obstacle courses and lawn games, culminating in an epic tug-of-war battle.

“To me, Devil-Goat Day is such a significant part of Mary Washington’s identity, as our oldest and largest campus tradition,” said Shad Yoder ’25, who organized the event during all four years of college as part of UMW’s Class Council. Now a Young Alumni Council member, he’s excited to return to volunteer for the event this spring. “I’ve always loved to see the enthusiasm and intensity that students bring to the competition, and I’m excited to experience it as an alum.”

This milestone year promises to be even more spectacular, with a campus-wide Devil-Goat printmaking event organized by Assistant Professor of Art Coorain Devin, supported by a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant. Team Goat also got a boost when Good Steward Farm welcomed a dozen goats to campus this winter to clear invasive plants in a sustainable manner.

The Devil-Goat Alumni Challenge gives graduates across generations the opportunity to join in the fun and support their alma mater.

Running from January through May, the Devil-Goat Alumni Challenge mirrors the on-campus competition, giving grads the chance to earn participation points and prizes by engaging with their alma mater in meaningful ways. Participants, who will track points using a reporting form (following the UMW Honor System), can complete activities at any time throughout the challenge, but each month will feature a special spotlight category:

January – Be an Admissions Advocate:

  • Invite prospective students to use the Refer An Eagle code (UMWFAM) on the Common App when applying to Mary Washington. Feb. 1 is the Regular Decision deadline for first-year students and April 1 is the Priority Filing date for transfer students. 
  • Encourage someone to schedule a campus visit
  • Host a prospective student for a campus conversation
  • Contribute a gift of any amount to a scholarship

February – Spread the Word:

  • Engage with alumni social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, or X)
  • Submit news to the biannual Class Notes publication
  • Update your information with the Office of Alumni Engagement
  • Write a Google or social media review of Mary Washington
  • Display UMW pride (show off Mary Wash gear or diplomas) using #UMWDevils or #UMWGoats

March – Give Back:

  • Make a gift to Mary Washington
  • Be an ambassador on Mary Wash Day, which runs noon to noon on March 25-26
  • Submit a “Why I Give” testimonial when you make a gift
  • Check if an employer participates in corporate gift matching
  • Inquire about volunteering (as a Class Notes agent, Regional Network or Affinity Group leader, Reunion Committee member, etc.)

April – Life After Mary Washington:

May – Show Up

The winning team, be it Devils or Goats, will receive bragging rights, glory, and a prize to be determined and will be announced during Reunion Weekend, held May 29-31, 2026. Those who complete at least one activity in each category will also earn an exclusive gift. All participants will receive a commemorative pennant, as well as the joy of reconnecting with their alma mater, supporting students, and celebrating a century of one of UMW’s most treasured traditions.

Learn about the Devil-Goat Alumni Challenge. Use our form to report your activities.

– Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications (and a Goat!) Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04 

National Recognition, Record Philanthropy: UMW’s Remarkable ‘Year in Review’

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As the spring semester takes off, the University of Mary Washington is moving its mission forward while looking back on a landmark year defined by record-breaking philanthropy and numerous national rankings.

Cover of the 2024-25 Year in Review, with six student-athletes standing in the bleachers.
The 2024-25 Year in Review chronicled a year marked by record-breaking philanthropy and numerous college rankings.

UMW’s 2024-25 Year in Review publication showcases these achievements and highlights student research, athletics, the arts, and so much more.

U.S. News & World Report put Mary Washington in the No. 8 spot for Top Public Schools – National Liberal Arts Colleges, while Fiske Guide to Colleges and The Princeton Review highlighted the University’s academic reputation and commitment to affordability. They also showcased its student support and counseling services, town-gown relations, theatre program, health services, and how UMW is making an impact and providing internships that prepare students for Life After Mary Washington.

The University achieved a historic fundraising year – with more than $37.8 million in gifts and pledges made by generous donors – and met major milestones for Mary Wash Day and the Beyond the Classroom endowment, which both topped $1 million. UMW’s endowment surpassed the $100 million threshold, creating lasting philanthropic support for scholarships, academic programs, experiential learning, faculty resources, and more. For the second year, Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grants bolstered innovative projects designed by students, faculty, and staff.

First-year and transfer students were welcomed to campus, while graduates said goodbye during a Commencement ceremony filled with meaningful Mary Washington traditions. Alumni of all ages returned for Reunion Weekend to reconnect with each other and their alma mater. Recent grads shared their real-world successes, with nearly 90% reporting being employed, enrolled in graduate school, or engaged in service, military, or volunteer positions.

Focusing on the future, the University announced the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts, a vibrant hub for research, teaching, and community engagement, exploring artificial intelligence through a multidisciplinary lens. The Hurley Convergence Center celebrated a decade of leading in the digital liberal arts, as well as exciting donor-funded technological updates that will help prepare students for their careers.

Students shared their studies on campus and at academic conferences – from sciences to the arts, humanities, and social sciences – and showcased their commitment to their communities through service and civic engagement. At advancement events, they thanked the donors who’ve made their undergraduate research, study abroad, and internship experiences possible.

Excellence in both athletics and the arts was on display, with the naming of the Roy Gordon Field after the founding men’s soccer coach and UMW Galleries sharing art by alumni inspired by a beloved professor emerita who taught at Mary Washington for a quarter-century.

UMW’s College of Arts and Sciences celebrated grants and partnerships with other institutions and gave students the chance to reveal their undergraduate research and projects. The Academy of Technology and Innovation at UMW officially opened its doors to high-school students and educators, and the College of Education received high marks for excellence in teaching. The College of Business continued innovative contests to prepare young entrepreneurs for the business world and ranked among the country’s best business schools and MBA majors.

UMW added new, flexible pathways for career success for students and alumni, while the Dahlgren campus offered innovative partnerships and programs, equipping regional students with STEM skillsets.

This year celebrated accomplishments of alumni, from recent Fulbright winners and Peace Corps volunteers to graduates who give back in many ways to Mary Washington. The University also honored faculty, staff, and administrators of the past and present, including the late President William M. Anderson, who passed away last summer.

All the while – as President Troy Paino writes in his Year in Review opening letter – UMW remained deeply committed to the liberal arts and sciences and their power to provide transformative educational experiences.

Take a look back as we showcase stories from 2024-25 in the annual publication.

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

UMW’s Mock Interview Competition Helps Students Build Career-Ready Skills

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University of Mary Washington sophomore Maggie Alt’s strong response to a question about her greatest weakness impressed judges during last month’s Mock Interview Competition.

“I told them I need time and a few conversations with people before I can fully open up and make connections with them,” said Maggie, a historic preservation major, who added that UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassador (SAA) program has helped her acclimate to others more quickly.

Three smiling students in professional dress.
From left: Mock Interview Competition finalists Elaina Dongieux ’27, Maggie Alt ’28, and Zoë Mueller ’26. Maggie won the competition, held every other year for UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassadors to help them hone career-launching strategies and techniques. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

The confidence-boosting moment – the judges applauded her thoughtfulness – helped Maggie clinch the competition, held every other year to equip SAAs with career-launching strategies and techniques. Organized by UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, it’s one of numerous initiatives that help connect students with alumni whose advice and expertise can prepare them for Life After Mary Washington.

Maggie was one of 20 students who vied for a fictional position planning programming for Mary Washington graduates. Yet, she received a real reward – an overnight stay at a regional alumni event and a recommendation from Katie Turcotte, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement and executive director of the UMW Foundation.

“I was thrilled, knowing I went up against such strong competition,” said Maggie, who hopes to work in urban planning and geographic information systems (GIS). “I now know the mindset I need to bring to an interview and how to prepare for success.”

The made-up job was updated to tie into competitors’ experiences as SAAs and to teach them about philanthropy, said Assistant Director of Annual Giving Cadi Treviño Pinto ’22, who was a competition finalist during her senior year at Mary Washington.

Now the SAA staff advisor, she oversees students who support alumni and donor events, along with planning résumé writing workshops, networking mocktail mixers, and dinners to teach professional etiquette.

These events, along with Network MaryWash – a platform designed to connect students with UMW’s vast network of alumni in various fields – build upon resources offered by the Center for Career and Professional Development to help students strengthen their career-readiness skills.

A panel of judges including (from left) Fredericksburg Regional Alliance President Curry Roberts, Tara Corrigall ’82, and Vice President for Student Affairs Mike Walsh interview Elaina Dongieux ’27, a business administration and political science major. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
“After going through a challenging round, being able to practice questions that not only relate to your skills and experience, but ones that are more personal, make you feel like a more well-rounded interviewee,” said Elaina Dongieux ’27, seen here with Tara Corrigall ’82, a financial services director, and Curry Roberts, president of the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
2025 Mock Interview Competition winner Maggie Alt ’28, a historic preservation major, shakes the hand of Tara Corrigall ’82, who previously was a member of UMW’s Board of Visitors, the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees, and Alumni Association Board of Directors. A director at a financial services firm, she served as one of the judges in 2025’s Mock Interview Competition. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Members of UMW’s Student Alumni Ambassadors watched the finalists participate in the second round of interviews from the Hurley Convergence Center’s Digital Auditorium. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
From left: Vice President for Student Affairs Mike Walsh, Elaina Dongieux ’27, Tara Corrigall ’82, Maggie Alt ’28, Fredericksburg Regional Alliance President Curry Roberts, and Zoë Mueller ’26. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

The competition begins with an initial round of questions from judges, who score applicants on their answers, wardrobe, eye contact and body language, communication techniques, and other factors. The top three advance to the final round, while others watch and discuss the interviews during a viewing party in the Hurley Convergence Center’s Digital Auditorium.

“We were impressed to see these students rise to the stressful challenge of interviewing with highly experienced professionals in front of their peers,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Mike Walsh. Serving as a judge with Tara Corrigall ’82, a director at a financial services firm, and Curry Roberts, president of the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, he said all three finalists excelled, but Maggie’s personal anecdotes set her apart. “She displayed overall confidence, illustrated her answers with real-life examples, and asked great questions.”

Elaina Dongieux ’27, a business administration and political science major, gained confidence about interviewing for internships and jobs, and delivered a strong answer about personal skills she’d like to develop. “I’d love to learn multiple languages,” said Elaina, who plans to pursue a career in government or corporate law. “It would help me build communication skills while making my workplace a more welcoming environment.”

Zoë Mueller ’26, an international affairs major, relied on her previous experience interviewing for her current internship with the Institute for the Study of War, a public policy research nonprofit in Washington, D.C. She felt prepared for some questions but also knew how to think on her feet.

“Being in SAA has absolutely helped with my interviewing skills,” said Zoë, who plans to apply for graduate programs focusing on the Middle East and international affairs. “This competition gave me much more confidence in myself as a candidate.”

Learn more about the Student Alumni Ambassador program at the University of Mary Washington by contacting Assistant Director of Annual Giving Cadi Treviño Pinto ’22 at ctrevino@umw.edu or 540-654-1153.

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

Powering Possibility: Alumni Challenges Boost UMW’s College of Arts and Sciences

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When Paddy Link ’72 arrived at Mary Washington, she discovered a passion for public service. She joined Student Government, served as her residence hall president junior year, and found that a liberal arts and sciences education—rooted in her art history major—would prepare her for a future she hadn’t yet imagined.

Paddy Link ’72, who earned a bachelor’s degree in art history at Mary Washington and had a successful career as a public servant on Capitol Hill, is sponsoring a challenge to support the College of Arts and Sciences General Fund.
Paddy Link from the 1971 Battlefield Yearbook. Photo courtesy of UMW Special Collections and University Archives.

“In college, I learned to work with people whose beliefs, values, and political leanings didn’t necessarily mirror my own,” said Paddy, who began a career on Capitol Hill after graduation. She worked for members of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and helped staff congressional committees focused on science, commerce, transportation, and appropriations. “But we worked together for the good of our institution.”

That spirit guides her giving today. A dedicated supporter of her alma mater, Paddy is encouraging alumni, friends, families, faculty, staff, and students to contribute to the University of Mary Washington’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and ensure its mission endures. She has pledged to match all gifts made on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, to UMW’s College of Arts and Sciences General Fund, up to $5,000—continuing her commitment to the liberal arts foundation that shaped her career.

One week until Giving Tuesday, when the Mary Washington community can #MakeItPossibleUMW by supporting students, faculty, and programs through their generous gifts to the College of Arts and Sciences and other areas across the University on Dec. 2, 2025.
Alanah Cleare ’25, who earned a degree in marketing from UMW in May; junior Owen Wheeler; and senior Chloe Adler review recently captured footage for a project aimed at assessing the usefulness of AI in filmmaking. The trio conducted research under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Communication and Digital Studies J.D. Swerzenski in UMW’s Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Summer Institute. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Senior conservation biology major Autumn Pembelton studied insect communication this summer as part of Mary Washington’s Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
UMW Theatre performing ‘Godspell’ in fall 2025. From left: Giannii Marshall ’26, Caroline Rous ’28, Jonah Hilbert ’28, and Jeffrey Cobb Jr. ’29. Photo by Geoff Greene.

With 40 diverse majors, CAS fosters critical thinking, leadership, and innovation to prepare students for Life After Mary Washington. The CAS General Fund helps faculty and staff create meaningful learning opportunities and sustain a dynamic academic environment. Gifts support:

  • Planning and piloting programming for a new humanities center—a vibrant hub reimagining the liberal arts for the 21st century through innovative courses, internships, and community-engaged events.
    • Guest speakers and cultural programming that bring students, faculty, and the community together for academic pursuits.
    • Upgrades to critical classroom, laboratory, and studio equipment.
    • Collaborative campus-community partnerships that build networks and career-advancing experiences.

“Developing a broad background in the arts and sciences is a great launching pad in any field,” Paddy said. She especially valued her own coursework with the late Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English Donald Glover and the late Professor of Art History Mathew Herban—training she considered essential to her career.

1971 Yearbook photo of three Mary Washington students sitting on a wall on Campus Walk. Caption reads: Senate Committee Chairmen.
Paddy Link ’72 (first on the left) with several other members of the Senate Committee from the 1971 Battlefield Yearbook. Photo courtesy of UMW Special Collections and University Archives.

After retiring from federal service, she worked as a lobbyist, primarily for the aerospace, high tech, and telecommunications industries. She said those experiences only reinforced her belief in the power of a well-rounded education.

“Throughout my life, I’ve met brilliant physicians and scientists who struggled to clearly communicate their work,” she said. “Strong writing and critical thinking skills matter everywhere. A truly good education blends the humanities with the sciences—each strengthens the other.”

Several other alums are stepping up to sponsor challenges and matches for CAS:

An anonymous donor will match all gifts to the Irene Piscopo Rodgers School of Science General Fund, up to $10,000—doubling support for STEM students. This fund bolsters the School’s ability to respond to unexpected needs that enhance learning, especially the hands-on faculty mentorship made possible through Irene Piscopo Rodgers’ transformative endowment for student research.

If 50 gifts are made to the School of the Arts General Fund, Elizabeth Bray Saunders Morris ’64 will give $8,000 to support the arts at Mary Washington. Her challenge will fuel high-impact teaching and learning—in studios, classrooms, labs, and in the field—and help establish the School of the Arts as a destination for future students eager to learn from exceptional faculty.

Looking to support other areas?

Judith Saul Kraft ’75 will match each gift made to the College of Education, dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. Gifts to COE will support resources and programs to prepare future educators as they embark on their teaching careers in the Fredericksburg area and in other communities.

Members of the College of Business Executive Advisory Board will match gifts to the College of Business, up to $6,000. Donations to COB will help fuel high-impact learning experiences such as undergraduate research partnerships, access to industry-standard technology, professional development and career readiness preparation, entrepreneurship and innovation funding, and more.

On Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, donors can #MakeItPossibleUMW for students and programs. Visit the Giving Tuesday site to see other areas you can support and how the impact of your gift can go further.

School Spirit and Donor Impact Take Center Stage at UMW’s Celebration of Giving

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Olivia-Lena De Veaux, a senior international affairs and Spanish major at the University of Mary Washington, has embraced study abroad in college, spending a semester in Mexico and going on a faculty-led trip to Guatemala over spring break.

“It’s been exhilarating to expand my horizons in ways I couldn’t have imagined four years ago,” said Olivia-Lena, who earned the Gail Madden Shedlick ’78 Scholarship, which helped fund her summer internship working at a hotel in Prague. “It was my first experience navigating professional life in a foreign culture. I learned to translate my academic studies into real-world action – skills I’ll carry forward into my career.”

Olivia-Lena was one of several students who spoke at the Celebration of Giving, sharing how donor-funded scholarships and awards that support internships, study abroad, and undergraduate research have prepared them for Life After Mary Washington. With a theme of UMW pride and school spirit, the Nov. 13 event welcomed more than 200 guests to thank donors who contributed to the University’s success and celebrate its historic fundraising year and impressive college rankings.

Olivia-Lena, before speaking at the Celebration of Giving last fall, posing for a photo with Student Alumni Ambassador Cameron Gittings ’27. K Pearlman Photography.
The UMW Pep Band and Pep Dance with its leader, Matt Case, adjunct professor of percussion and music technology (front, second from left), pose for a photo in the Cedric Rucker University Center before performing at the Celebration of Giving. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
The 2025 Celebration of Giving was held in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom. Lights illuminated the center’s College Avenue entrance. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
The UMW Pep Dance group performed with the Pep Band. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
The UMW Pep Band played rousing renditions of Mary Washington’s fight song, Kool & The Gang’s ‘Celebration,’ and other hits during the 2025 Celebration of Giving. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Tables were adorned with lanterns featuring UMW’s impressive national rankings. Guests enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by UMW Dining. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
President Troy Paino, who hosted the event with wife Kelly, thanked donors for the meaningful impact they’ve made on the lives and future careers of UMW students. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

The evening opened with the UMW Pep Band filling the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom with rousing renditions of fan favorites like the Mary Washington fight song, “Soar Eagle Nation, Soar.” Guests then heard from a lineup of speakers, beginning with Katie Turcotte, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement and executive director of the UMW Foundation.

She thanked supporters for contributing $37.8 million in gifts and pledges and helping UMW’s endowment surpass $100 million. She also highlighted several milestones, including Mary Wash Day exceeding $1 million in donations for the first time, and the Fund for Mary Washington receiving more than $1 million in unrestricted support. Donors funded 824 scholarships totaling $2.3 million for 553 students this year.

“Transformational impact isn’t about the size of the gift – it’s about purpose,” she said. “Every contribution, every volunteer hour, every act of support helps move this University forward.”

Janet Hedrick ’73, a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and UMW Reference and Humanities Librarian Emeritus Jack Bales attend the 2025 Celebration of Giving. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Curry Roberts and Irene Cimino Roberts ’86, a member of the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees, share a laugh with Kelly Paino. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Ginny Tapscott Clendenin ’09 and Dan Clendenin ’07, a member of the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Kate Stoneman ’26, a senior environmental science major who had an internship with the Chesapeake Water Watch, served as a student speaker at the Celebration of Giving. Here, they pose with their parents, Jamie Simpson ’97 and Phil Stoneman ’94. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Sarah Gildersleeve Strassheim ’01 (left), a member of the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees, and Angela Mills ’01. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Xavier Richardson (left), a member of the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees, and John Loughran. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

UMW President Troy Paino acknowledged the University’s strong showing in prominent college guides, including U.S. News & World Report and the Fiske Guide to Colleges. Yet, the most meaningful recognition to him, he said, was The Princeton Review ranking Mary Washington as #11 in the nation for “schools that make an impact.”

“Your gifts allow us to impact not only these individual students’ lives, but the communities in which they’ll live and serve,” President Paino said. “The rippling effect of the investments you make in Mary Washington is profound. And tonight is about helping you see that.”

From left to right: Mary Turner Boyd ’67, Meganne Lemon ’11, and Gloria Shelton Gibson ’69. Meganne serves on UMW’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Marcy Weatherly Morris ’50 and UMW Director of Gift Processing and Records Management Lee Ann Reaser ’98. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Linda Coker (left) and Kelly Paino, wife of UMW President Troy Paino. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
UMW Chief of Staff Emeritus Marty Wilder ’80 (left) and Associate Vice President and Dean of Student Life Emeritus Cedric Rucker ’81. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Matthew Baker ’11, a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and Brooke Kelly. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Donors also heard from Kate Stoneman, a senior environmental science major who conducted fieldwork with their faculty mentor on a small island in the Potomac River that is disappearing due to rising sea levels. The research helped Kate secure a summer internship with Chesapeake Water Watch, a NASA-funded project that uses satellite remote sensing to monitor water quality and assess ecosystem health.

“I’m so grateful to my donors who helped fund my Shark Tooth Island research adventure,” said Kate, recipient of the Carrol Adair Gury ’68 Environmental Sciences Scholarship and the Mary Siegrist Hinz ’81 Leadership Award. “I would not be where I am today, with multiple conferences and internships under my belt, without your help.”

Blake Bauer, a senior historic preservation major who received the UMW Alumni and Friends Scholarship and Veronica S. Johnson ’89 Scholarship for Historic Preservation, reflected on the unexpected opportunities that donor support made possible. One memorable experience, he said, was engaging in archaeology research to locate Mary Washington’s gravesite.

“When I declared my major, I never could have imagined I’d be using ground-penetrating radar to search for the final resting place of our University’s namesake,” said Blake, who also interned with the National Park Service and the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library as a Bowley Scholar.

Blake thanks his donors for his scholarships at the Celebration of Giving in fall 2025. K Pearlman Photography.
From left: Jennifer Orr ’95, Colette Strawn Johnson ’97, Sean Lynch ’95, Justyn LeFebvre, Brendan Kelly ’95, and Courtneay Henson Kelly ’96. Colette and Brendan serve on UMW’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Assistant Director of Annual Giving Cadi Treviño Pinto ’22 (center) with Student Alumni Ambassadors (from left) Maggie Alt ’28, Sophia Heinbach ’27, Sydney Hawes ’28, Ryan D’Angelo ’26, Jay Hooker ’26, and Elaina Dongieux ’27, who helped staff the event. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Brittany McBride Doughty ’18 and Theo Doughty ’17. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Olivia-Lena was among the student speakers who shared their stories at the 2025 Celebration of Giving. K Pearlman Photography.
Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History William Crawley and Trenda Powell Jacocks ’82. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Kate Stoneman ’26, a senior environmental science major, speaks about the internship they completed at UMW, which was funded by scholarships established by donors. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Video production courses at UMW led Blake to a summer position with a PBS affiliate, where he helped produce a documentary about the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in Southwest Virginia, which premiered last weekend. He currently serves as a Lively intern, another donor-supported project through University Communications, developing a video series on the history of campus buildings. He also earned the Barbara Alden International Scholarship to travel to Peru as part of a digital storytelling course next spring.

“Your support hasn’t just eased the financial burden of college; it has opened doors I didn’t know existed,” Blake said. “You’ve allowed me to explore, take risks, grow, and discover passions I never knew I had. You’ve invested not just in my education, but in my future and in the person I’m becoming.”

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 2025 Celebration of Giving.

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