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With the fifth generation of their family now attending Mary Washington, Heritage Society members Marceline “Marcy” Weatherly Morris ’50 and Elmer “Juney” Morris ’50 are among UMW’s most loyal and dedicated alumni.

Through the years they have made numerous contributions, established an endowed scholarship, and named the Morris Stage at UMW’s historic amphitheatre.

Recently, the couple made a gift to name the Weatherly Wing inside Seacobeck Hall. The naming of the auditorium pays tribute to Marcy and her late parents, William Rupert and Lavon Gardner Weatherly.

For information about naming opportunities, contact advance@umw.edu or call 540-654-2059.

Dear Alumni and Friends:

As we approach the end of the year, I’d like to reflect on how Mary Washington continues to fulfill its mission as a public liberal arts and sciences institution, educating citizens for the 21st century.

I’m proud to say that we brought in a strong first-year class, while improving our retention rate and raising our academic profile. As we move forward with recruiting high-performing students – many who are first-in-family to attend college – we’re focused on providing a safe and diverse environment for them to learn and grow. Our faculty members play a pivotal role in this effort, forming relationships with students and teaching them to think critically, work collaboratively, and engage with civility. When UMW students graduate, they are ready to understand and transcend the differences that often divide our society.

We appreciate your continued investments in UMW, supporting students through scholarships and initiatives like our Beyond the Classroom Endowment, which offers them access to high-impact learning experiences. Your gifts help provide a transformative education that prepares students for their careers while fostering a lifetime of learning.

Thank you for supporting public higher education and for remaining forever true to Mary Washington.

Take action now to save on taxes

The holiday season is the perfect time to think about charitable giving. You’ll feel great for helping others, and you’ll appreciate owing less taxes in 2023.

GIFTS OF CASH
Donate cash to Mary Washington and other charitable organizations before the end of the calendar year.
• Check for corporate matching gift programs available through your employer or your spouse’s
employer. Many are available even for retirees. If applicable, request a matching gift form from the
organization and send it to UMW with your gift.
• Satisfy your annual IRA required minimum distribution (RMD) by donating up to $100,000 this year. While you cannot take a deduction for the distribution, you’ll save by not paying taxes at your current rate. Be sure your administrator makes the distribution directly to Mary Washington.

CAPITAL GIFTS
The IRS defines a capital asset as almost anything you own. Examples include stocks, your home, land or other property, furniture, collections (stamps or coins), jewelry, and other precious metals. If the capital asset you wish to donate is something other than publicly traded stock, you may need to hire a qualified appraiser to provide an estimated value. There are several advantages to giving a capital asset to a qualified charity:
• You do not pay capital gains tax.
• The asset is no longer part of your estate; therefore it lowers taxes for your beneficiaries.
• You save the expenses of maintaining, insuring, or repairing the asset.
• You may receive an income tax deduction up to 30% of your adjusted gross income this year. If your deduction exceeds 30% of your adjusted gross income, you have up to five additional years to use the deduction.

ESTATE PLANNING
Now is the time to check your will and various account records to confirm beneficiary information. If you have included Mary Washington in your estate plans, please contact the Office of Gift Planning so we can honor your intentions.

NEXT STEPS
Visit giving.umw.edu/make-a-gift for information about cash gifts, IRA distributions, matching gifts, and direct stock transfers. For additional information and giving options, contact Jan Clarke at jclarke@umw.edu or 540-654-2064. As always, consult with your legal and tax professionals.

Scholarship recipient preserves and interprets the past

With a major in historic preservation, James Marshall ’23 applies his knowledge and skills to bring history alive for others. In between architecture classes and building forensics labs, you can find him volunteering at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park or set up on the lawn at Chatham.

He is the president of UMW’s Living History Club and often wears a blue uniform to explain the life of a Civil War soldier. “I usually bring federal currency, a tobacco pipe, and a toothbrush,” he explains. “Everything we do and wear is as authentic as possible.”

James says he has loved history as long as he can remember. “I grew up in Marlowe, West Virginia, so my parents regularly took me to parks and battlefields, including Antietam.”

In high school, James took dual-credit courses to complete training as an electrician, yet he wanted to find a way to honor his love of history. One day, he happened on to a YouTube video featuring UMW Associate Professor of Historic Preservation Michael Spencer ’03. That video explaining building materials and historical architecture led to a 125-mile drive to Fredericksburg with his mom and Aunt Patty to meet the professor and to tour campus.

“Mary Washington was the only college I applied to, and I was accepted through early decision,” says James. “The only remaining obstacle was the out-of-state tuition.”

As a first-generation student, James took out student loans and received scholarships, including the Rita Morgan Stone ’52 and Jathan N. Stone Scholarship, established in 1994 by long-time Heritage Society members. This fall, he also received the Charles S. and Camilla Moody Payne 1929 Scholarship.

Between his first and second years at UMW, James enlisted in the Virginia National Guard and trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He now receives a paycheck and state tuition assistance for his service as a combat engineer out of Fredericksburg. “So far, my most important mission was at the U.S. Capitol building,” he says. “We went up on January 7, 2021, and stayed for 18 days.”

James says he is fortunate to blend his knowledge of electricity and buildings with his love for history into a career in historic preservation. As he looks ahead to graduation in May, he is applying for internships and exploring job opportunities. He also expresses appreciation for his professors and scholarship donors.

“No one in my family has attended college before, so this is all new,” says James. “I am truly grateful for the guidance and support I have received at Mary Washington.”

For information about creating scholarships for students, contact Jan Clarke in the Office of Gift Planning at jclarke@umw.edu or 540-654-2064.

Article written by Donna Harter, Office of Advancement.

Alumnus honors parents through naming of new library endowment

What began as an unplanned pit stop on a round trip from Danville, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., ultimately led to a life-changing decision.

Sean Lynch ’95 says the moment he stepped onto Campus Walk, he knew that Mary Washington was the right place for him.

As education professionals, his parents inquired about library resources and academic expectations. Sean was impressed with the sights and the sense of campus spirit and community. He applied only to Mary Washington and was admitted through early acceptance.

At first, Sean planned to pursue degrees in international affairs and French. But, while taking some of his core general education requirements, he discovered psychology and “it just clicked.”

With a major in psychology and a concentration in English, Sean did spend quite a bit of time in the library, as predicted by his parents. He also kept busy working alongside administrators in admissions and residence life. He was a tour guide, resident assistant for two years, and head resident his senior year.

“During that time, the whole Mary Washington community was very supportive and provided a safe environment as I learned who I was,” says Sean. “I found my genuine self at Mary Washington and came out during the second semester of my junior year.”

Today, Sean works in human resources at Visa in Austin, Texas, where he recently was promoted to vice president. “My psychology degree, my intensive writing skills, and my college experience in residential life all remain relevant,” says Sean. “In my professional role, I have to understand how our employees became who they are, how to motivate them, and what roles will best use their strengths and talents to support their real passions.”

As a member of the UMW Alumni Board of Directors, Sean visits campus often for meetings and to help with Reunion Weekend activities. He says his husband, Justyn LeFebvre, has “adopted” Mary Washington, so they decided to fund an endowment for the library now and to also include a significant gift in their estate plans.

“In preparing our plans, we wanted to support organizations we are really passionate about in ways that can have maximum impact,” says Sean.

After discussing options, the couple decided to name the Donald F. Lynch Jr. and Mary Carole Lynch Library Endowment in honor of Sean’s parents.

“My dad oversaw the residency program at Eastern Virginia Medical School, and my mom was a librarian at Danville Community College and Virginia Wesleyan,” says Sean. “Reading and libraries have always been important to them, so this new endowment will honor both for their incredible support throughout my life and education.”

Sean and Justyn will complete initial funding of the endowment this year, making full use of Visa’s corporate matching gift program. Additional support will come through their bequest.

For more information about estate planning, contact Jan Clarke at jclarke@umw.edu or 540-654-2064.

Article written by Donna Harter, Office of Advancement.