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Psychology major creates scholarship to acknowledge role of theatre in her life and career

By the time she graduated from high school, Heritage Society member Diana Hamilton Cowell ’66 had attended 12 different schools and lived in several states and countries.

“As an Army brat and the oldest of seven children, it was serendipitous that I landed at Mary Washington and finally discovered a sense of stability and belonging,” she says. “There, I was able to pursue an interest while being completely immersed in a subject. I learned skills for logical thinking, and I learned more about being honorable.”

Diana majored in psychology and, during her last year, lived in Framar to participate in special seminars. To optimize her finances, she took heavy course loads and attended summer sessions so she could complete her education in three years. Having performed in a play when she was a child, Diana also took college-level theatre classes.

“My mother had performed in a theatrical touring group in France when she was in college,” says Diana. “So, I became a committed theatre-goer at a young age.”

Diana says she enjoyed all aspects of theatre at Mary Washington. She has fond memories of producing, staging, creating costumes, and directing the German fairy tale Till Eulenspiegel for a foreign language festival. Because of these experiences outside of her major, today Diana is in the process of creating a scholarship for students participating in theatre, but majoring in other subjects.

This new Diana Hamilton Cowell ’66 Scholarship will be the second scholarship Diana has established at Mary Washington. In 2015, she created the Grace Cutler Hamilton Scholarship for French Study to honor her late mother’s career as a French teacher.

After graduating from Mary Washington, Diana held several professional positions, all of which utilized her psychology degree and the skills and confidence she gained from her theatre experience.

She was an intern psychodrama therapist in the Psychodrama Department at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C., for two years. As part of a small employee group at the hospital, she helped create and actively participated in an employee theatre group that coordinated plays for the patient population and surrounding community. “A wonderful result of The SAINTS’ productions was the development of networks among the different disciplines and facilities throughout the hospital,” says Diana.

While at St. Elizabeths, Diana learned sign language to work with a group of Deaf patients. That also is where she met her husband, Daniel, while he was finishing his psychiatric residency.

Diana continued her education and received a master of arts degree in teaching from Gallaudet University and then taught a small class of multiply handicapped Deaf at Gallaudet’s Kendall Demonstration Elementary School. A decade later, she received a master of social work degree from Catholic University and was able to fulfill her ultimate career goal as a medical social worker at Community Hospice in Ashland, Kentucky, and later at Hospice of Huntington in Huntington, West Virginia.

Wherever she went, Diana discovered the stage presence and poise she mastered from her Mary Washington theatre days helped her professionally – from competently leading therapy groups and one-on-one counseling sessions, to making formal board presentations and developing and presenting in-service educational programs.

“I can honestly say that much of what I have done in my life and career resulted from many of the experiences I had at Mary Washington,” says Diana. “Learning to communicate with people to support facts, lead programs, and provide comfort to those who are dying or losing a family member – you just never know where your life is going to go.”

As Heritage Society members, Diana and Dan have a trust in place to contribute to four charitable organizations close to their hearts, including Mary Washington. “Dan has come to love and respect Mary Washington as much as I do,” says Diana. “I’ve taken so much and learned so much, it’s truly a great honor to be able to give back.”

Now retired, the Cowells live in Delaware. They have four children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They remain active volunteers in their community and currently are sponsoring two Deaf Ukrainian ladies in their home. Diana is teaching both American Sign Language.

Even with all these commitments, they continue to enjoy theatre, whether it be professional performances or local productions. “I firmly believe that theatre can be a part of your life in many ways,” says Diana. “You don’t have to perform or be on Broadway. You just have to enjoy it.”

For more information about establishing scholarships now or through your estate plans, contact Jan Clarke at jclarke@umw.edu or 540-654-2064.

Article by Donna Harter, UMW Advancement

Chemistry major values opportunities to be creative while exploring career options

Adelaide “Ada” Gill ’26 has been playing the harp since she was a small child, but she had to leave the large stringed instrument at home in Richmond when she moved into Randolph Hall. Between her classes, labs, homework, and other campus activities, the recipient of the A. Ray Merchent Washington Scholarship can be found plucking the strings on the University’s harp in Pollard Hall.

“Music has been a constant in my life and is a source of joy,” says Ada. While her musical talents have enabled her to perform with the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra and others, she still is fine-tuning her life goals and ultimate career path.

Ada’s major is chemistry, and she has declared a minor in practical ethics. She also is a resident assistant, serves on the UMW Honor Council, plays club tennis, has volunteered with a local EMT unit, and does service work with the College Diabetes Network and the Gwen Hale Resource Center.

“I came to UMW thinking I would go into the medical field,” says Ada. “But after taking some of my humanities courses and becoming actively involved in the campus community, I realize there may be other ways to fulfill my goals and serve people at the same time.”

Ada says her family and her academic advisor are supportive as she continues to research career paths that will utilize her varied skills and talents.

“The great thing about Mary Washington and my scholarship is that I can keep my options open and enjoy learning and being a student,” she says. “I know careers can change and evolve, and I’m looking forward to exploring all the possibilities.”

Ada vividly remembers the day she learned about the scholarship award. “I was in anatomy class in high school, when the guidance counselor called me into her office,” says Ada. “I thought I was in trouble, but the counselor pulled up a Zoom call, and staff from UMW congratulated me. It was so exciting, and I’ll never forget how I felt at that pivotal moment.”

Ada’s scholarship is named for Ray Merchent, a long-time and well-respected administrator and educator at Mary Washington. Ray passed away in 2003. His wife, Mary Alice, a member of the Heritage Society, passed in 2015.

Today, Ray and Mary Alice’s daughter, Alice Dearing, and their son and daughter-in-law, Al and Cindy Jones Merchent ’77, remain connected to the University through communication with scholarship recipients.

“UMW has done a wonderful job of introducing us and keeping us apprised of the progress that the recipients are making in their academic lives,” says Al Merchent. “Cindy and I always look forward to the opportunity to interact with the students, and we hope this scholarship serves as a vital turning point in their lives. My dad believed that education is the key to the universe, and we concur.”

For information about establishing scholarships now or in your estate plans, contact Jan Clarke at jclarke@umw.edu or 540-654-2064.

 

 

Article by Donna Harter, UMW Advancement