Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement

Mary Washington Alumni Come Home for 2025 Reunion Weekend

Leave a Comment

Living across the Atlantic couldn’t keep Rachel Selle ’05 from celebrating her 20th Reunion Weekend at the University of Mary Washington.

Now a teacher and young-adult author in Germany, she looked forward to staying overnight in Randolph Hall, where she served as a resident assistant two decades ago. “I’m really excited to reconnect with classmates and see what life – and Mary Washington – has brought us all since we graduated,” she said.

Rachel was among the hundreds of alumni to return for UMW’s Reunion Weekend, held May 30 to June 1. The forecast called for rain, but showers soon gave way to clear skies, sunshine, and even a rainbow as classes ending in 0 and 5 participated in parties and picnics, faculty lectures, campus tours, beverage tastings, family festivities, a fun run, and cool treats at Carl’s.

Rachel Selle ’05 (second from left) and fellow 2005 alumni join 1980 alumni for a photo on Campus Walk during Reunion Weekend. This year’s event celebrated classes ending in 0 and 5, but all graduates are welcome to participate in the annual celebration held at the end of May. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Alumni participate in the time-honored tradition of visiting Carl’s for its famous frozen custard. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Alumni families take a photo by the fountain on Palmieri Plaza on Saturday after the Ball Circle picnic. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Alumni enjoy the Ball Circle picnic in front of the Cedric Rucker University Center. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
The forecast called for rain, but showers soon gave way to clear skies, sunshine, and even a rainbow over the University of Mary Washington campus. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Alumni pose for a picture after the Virginia wine, beer, and cider tasting, held in Monroe Hall this year. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Syd Collson Chichester ’60, a member of the 1908 Society (for alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago), said she became more involved after co-chairing her 50th reunion. “It brought me back to this place,” said Syd, who still gets emotional when she sings UMW’s Alma Mater.

“Hosting Reunion Weekend is a highlight for our team each year,” Executive Director of Alumni Engagement Mark Thaden ’02 said. “Seeing alumni return to visit their favorite places on campus, connect with friends and faculty, and spend a few days reliving their college days brings us so much joy.”

Renee Allen Kuntz ‘85 said being back on campus with Lisa Taylor, Alison Metzger LaMura, Kim Slayton White, and Cuff Gibbons Kunkel “was just like coming home again.” The five friends, all who graduated in 1985, spent Friday morning picking the perfect matching Mary Washington sweatshirts in the UMW Bookstore while reminiscing about watching the soap opera General Hospital together and calling their parents from the residence hall phone booths.

“At what other point in your life do you get to spend all your time with your best friends?” said Shelby Hill Brooks ’95, who toured campus on a golf cart with her husband and Michelle Arcari Rose ’95. As recent grad Shadwick Yoder ’25 drove the cart past Virginia Hall, Shelby said, “It wasn’t that long ago that was my window.”

Members of the 1908 Society, for those who graduated 50 or more years ago from Mary Washington, pose for a photo on the Lee Hall steps. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Recent grad Shadwick Yoder ’25 gave golf-cart tours of campus throughout Reunion Weekend. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
From left: 1985 graduates Kim Slayton White, Alison Metzger LaMura, and Cuff Gibbons Kunkel pose for a photo during the welcome reception. Typically held at Brompton, the event was moved to the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom due to passing thunderstorms. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Courtney Quinn Hampton ’00 silkscreens a Mary Washington College bag with Assistant Professor of Studio Art Coorain Devin as part of an Alumni College lecture. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Executive Director of Alumni Engagement Mark Thaden ’02 (front row, right) and members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors pose for a photo during the 2025 University of Mary Washington Reunion Weekend. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Members of the Class of 1975, who celebrated their 50th reunion and entrance into the 1908 Society, pose for a photo on the Lee Hall steps. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Mary Helen Dellinger ’90 recalled looking out of those same windows to check how long the line was to get into the Underground, a popular campus hang-out, and engaging in an epic snowball battle on Ball Circle.

Mary Washington students have a lot of fun, Mary Helen said, but the perk of attending a smaller school is always having faculty, staff, and administrators looking out for you. “When people care about you, it makes you want to work harder and treat others with kindness and respect,” she said.

Maggie Lovitt ’15 and Melissa Schmidt Estevez ’00 praised UMW’s supportive professors. “They have a vested interest in your outcome,” Melissa said. “You don’t always realize it when you’re here, but the University truly cares for your whole being.”

Jason Ford ’20 and Karen Lebo ’75, who both served as Student Government Association president – 45 years apart – spoke about how their alma mater inspired them to pursue leadership roles. “This place makes you aspire to your best self,” Karen said.

Her classmate, AJ Jenkins ’75, reminisced about being one of the first male students after Mary Washington went co-ed. “We had a true feeling of brotherhood,” he said of the 11 young men who lived together on Trench Hill, now the location of the Jepson Alumni Executive Center.

After attending the Class of 1975’s 50th reunion dinner in the building and reconnecting with his female classmates, AJ said, “I found myself thinking what strong women graduated from Mary Washington and how I benefited from going to school with them.”

From left to right: Artist Nicole Horn poses with Professor Emerita of Art Carole Garmon, Dean of Student Life Emeritus Cedric Rucker ’81, and UMW President Troy Paino after the unveiling of Cedric’s portrait inside the Cedric Rucker University Center. The building was named for the longtime – and beloved – Mary Washington administrator. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Members of the staff, including Director of First Year Admissions Sarah Lindberg ’08 (front), and the Alumni Association Board of Directors clap for Rucker following the unveiling of his portrait. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Live entertainment by the 10 Spot was part of the all-class party festivities during the 2025 Mary Washington Reunion Weekend. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Alumni take part in a Virginia wine, beer, and cider tasting outside of Monroe Hall. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
A group of Mary Washington alumni pose for a photo on Campus Walk during the recent Reunion Weekend. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
From left to right: Mary Washington alumni Karmel James ’13, Sean Lynch ’95, Vicki Sprague Ravenel ’77, and Alumni Association Board of Directors President James Llewellyn ’87 join Kelly Paino, wife of UMW President Troy Paino, and Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement and UMW Foundation Executive Director Katie Turcotte during the 2025 Reunion Weekend. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

On Friday, the University honored Associate Vice President and Dean of Student Life Emeritus Cedric Rucker ’81, who provided visionary leadership in student affairs during his 33-year career at Mary Washington. A crowd gathered for the unveiling of his portrait, completed by Fredericksburg artist Nicole Horn and featuring a wood frame made by artist and adjunct instructor Larry Hinkle ’00. The painting will hang on the first floor of the Cedric Rucker University Center.

“I love the University of Mary Washington … because it has been and continues to be a place that invigorates and works with the community and the region,” said Cedric, who also was the first Black male student to live on campus. “I’ve had the opportunity to grow in so many ways – in so many heartfelt ways – and I’m delighted that I’ll continue to be a part of this place forever.”

More photos from Reunion Weekend 2025 will be uploaded to the UMW Alumni SmugMug in the coming weeks. Learn about upcoming Alumni Engagement events.

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

UMW Community Donates a Record-Breaking $1.33 Million on Mary Wash Day

Leave a Comment

When Eagles come together, truly amazing things happen. The entire University of Mary Washington community recently demonstrated that, rallying to raise over $1.33 million on Mary Wash Day to support students, faculty, and programs.

A total of 2,565 donors helped crush participation goals, making 3,654 gifts during the 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, held April 2-3 from noon to noon. Alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students collectively unlocked hundreds of thousands of dollars in challenges and matches sponsored by generous donors, doubling and tripling the impact of each gift.

2025’s Mary Wash Day was the most successful in the event’s eight-year history, with donors giving $1.33 million to support UMW students, faculty, and programs.
Student giving more than doubled from last year’s event, and many participated in activities at the Mary Wash Day headquarters on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio on April 2. Here, two students take photos at the selfie station with a puppy brought to campus by Old Dominion Humane Society.
A student poses for a photo with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle at the Mary Wash Day headquarters on April 2.
Students made gifts to many areas across campus, such as UMW Votes, and thanked supporters for their donations on Mary Wash Day.
At the Mary Wash Day headquarters, students had the opportunity to play games and win prizes, such as an illustrated Mary Wash tote bag, UMW bento boxes, and socks decorated with iconic Mary Washington-themed images of the Bell Tower and Adirondack chairs.
Students participated in a scavenger hunt to find stuffed eagles hidden across campus and win donations to the areas of their choice, thanks to a gift by Beth Craig ’77.
The UMW Pep Band (seen here) and UMW Symfonics a cappella group performed at the Mary Wash Day headquarters on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio.

“This achievement isn’t just about surpassing a financial goal – it’s a powerful testament to the extraordinary commitment of the UMW community to invest in the University’s mission,” said Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14.

Mary Wash Day saw a 58 percent increase in giving over last year’s event and passed the million-dollar mark for the first time in Mary Wash Day’s eight-year history, she said. “This milestone shows that when Eagles unite around a shared purpose, there’s no limit to how high we can soar or what we can accomplish together.”

Donors from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., as well as those from overseas, made gifts to 124 different areas across the University, benefiting academics, arts, athletics, service, career, and cultural programs.

The unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington, which underpins every aspect for which UMW is known and loved – a leading liberal arts and sciences education, small class sizes, personal relationships with professors, and low student debt upon graduation – received the most gifts. Other popular designations included UMW Theatre, the College of Education, Women’s Basketball, Simpson Library, and the Marshall E. Bowen Scholarship, honoring the late geography professor.

“Breaking the million-dollar mark for the first time on Mary Wash Day is a truly historic moment for the University of Mary Washington,” President Troy Paino said. “These gifts directly enhance the student experience, empower our faculty, and strengthen the programs that define a Mary Washington education. We are deeply grateful, and this milestone affirms the enduring impact of our collective commitment to UMW’s future.”

Young alumni pose for photos at the happy hour and trivia night on April 2, sponsored by the Fredericksburg Regional Alumni Network.
Students celebrate a successful Mary Wash Day on the steps of the Cedric Rucker University Center, which was illuminated in Mary Wash blue on April 2.
Alumni of all ages gathered in the Hurley Convergence Center on the evening of April 2 for a happy hour and trivia night, sponsored by the Fredericksburg Regional Alumni Network.
The Jepson Science Center was illuminated in Mary Wash blue on the evening of April 2.
For the first time ever, Mary Wash Day spanned from noon to noon. UMW faculty, staff, and students enjoyed a brisk Mary Wash Day walk sponsored by Campus Recreation to kick off the morning of April 3.

Festivities kicked off with a celebration on the patio of the Cedric Rucker University Center, which served as the Mary Wash Day headquarters. Students played games, won prizes, took photos with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle, made gifts, and wrote thank you messages to the donors who made their Mary Washington experience possible. They also were treated to performances by the UMW Pep Band and the Symfonics a cappella group, as well as a campus-wide scavenger hunt to find stuffed eagles and win donations for the areas of their choice across the University.

The Fredericksburg Regional Alumni Network held a happy hour and trivia night that evening at the Hurley Convergence Center, and the Cedric Rucker University Center and Jepson Science Center were illuminated in Mary Wash blue. Faculty, staff, and students gathered for a brisk walk the next morning from the Anderson Center to the Bell Tower, sponsored by Campus Recreation.

Other giving highlights of Mary Wash Day include:

  • 2025 marks the first year Mary Wash Day giving has surpassed seven figures.
  • Alumni and students from almost every class year between 1948 and 2028 made a gift.
  • Student giving more than doubled from last year, and the Class of 2025 was among the top 10 classes to make the most gifts.
  • Mary Wash Day saw a 59 percent increase in first-time donors, with 649 new supporters making gifts in 2025.
  • The classes that made the most gifts (starting with the greatest amount) were 2020, 2004, 2024, 2002, and 2010.
  • The classes that raised the most funds (starting with the greatest amount) were 1973, 1968, 1969, 1971, and 1974.
  • Goats (even-year graduates) bested the Devils (odd-year graduates), with Goats making 1,082 gifts versus the Devils’ 851. The Goats also won the 99th annual Devil-Goat Day in April.
  • Giving from Friends of the University nearly doubled, with 290 making gifts in 2025.

If you missed Mary Wash Day or want to support UMW students even more, there’s still time. The University’s giving year ends on June 30, and online gifts can be made at umw.edu/gift.

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

Chemistry on the Court

Leave a Comment

Alumna establishes endowments to support science faculty and women’s tennis

Christy Copper '91 earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Mary Washington and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. Now a chemistry professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, she established the Christine L. Copper '91 Endowment for Chemistry Research and the Christine L. Copper '91 Athletic Endowment for Women's Tennis at UMW.
Christy Copper ’91 earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Mary Washington and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. Now a chemistry professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, she established the Christine L. Copper ’91 Endowment for Chemistry Research and the Christine L. Copper ’91 Athletic Endowment for Women’s Tennis at UMW.

When Christy Copper ’91 reflects on her four years at Mary Washington, a few names come to mind.

Ed Hegmann, UMW’s longtime athletic director and women’s tennis coach, taught her about leadership and accountability. Former President William Anderson and wife Jane rooted on her tennis team through two national championship wins. Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Ray Scott helped her secure a research internship that paved the way for graduate school.

“Mary Washington changed my life,” said Christy, who earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry there before pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee. “So many people cared and wanted me to be successful.”

A chemistry professor at the United States Naval Academy, she believes it’s critical that faculty have access to resources, equipment, and professional development so they can teach today’s students. That’s why she established the Christine L. Copper ’91 Endowment for Chemistry Research and the Athletic Endowment for Women’s Tennis at the University of Mary Washington through her estate plan.

“If you can make faculty feel valued and supported, it ensures a better experience for students,” said Christy, citing other influential chemistry professors she had like Bernard Mahoney and John George. “They were always available to help in the lab.”

Hailing from Worcester, Pennsylvania, Christy and her mother found Mary Washington in a college tennis guide and dropped in on Coach Hegmann while touring schools in the southeast. His enthusiasm for the tennis program, along with the regional scholarship Christy earned, quickly won her over.

At Mary Washington, Christy worked hard on the tennis court, becoming the only student-athlete in the school’s history to play on two national championship teams, both as a first-year student and a senior, securing her a spot in UMW’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.

During college, she was recognized as a three-time All-America selection and the most decorated player in Mary Washington’s tennis history. In her four-year career, she held a singles record of 114-30, and was named the NCAA Division III National Senior Player of the Year and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1991.

Through tennis, she bonded with President Anderson and his wife, who invited Christy and her roommate to live in the guest house on the property of Brompton during her senior year.

“They essentially adopted the team,” said Christy, who recalled mingling with faculty members at parties at their home. “It was very cool to feel like part of their family and tutor and hang out with their children.”

Christy (center, in front of trophy) with the rest of the Mary Washington women’s tennis team and Coach Ed Hegmann at the NCAA Tennis Championships in 1991. Photo courtesy of Christy Copper.
Christy has been recognized as the most decorated tennis player in Mary Washington history and the only student-athlete at the school to ever play on two national championship teams. Photo by Barry Fitzgerald/University Archives Centennial Image Collection.

Christy also enjoyed the broad liberal arts and sciences education she found at Mary Washington, taking classes in psychology, geography, and history with professors such as Christopher Kilmartin and the late Marshall Bowen and James Farmer. “It was like story time every evening with Dr. Farmer, hearing about all he had done in his life,” she said.

And she made lifelong friends both on the tennis team and with fellow chemistry majors, while earning top grades and scoring graduate admission to the University of Tennessee. There, she focused on analytical chemistry, a subject she had studied with Professor Scott at Mary Washington.

“It’s about finding a better way to look for a particular chemical in a sample,” Christy said. “In the post-9/11 era, we were looking at poisons in drinks, explosive residue in the environment, and better ways to analyze ink on paper.”

Now in her third decade at the U.S. Naval Academy, where she also serves as the faculty athletics representative, Christy explores human physiology and biochemistry, helping athletes and officers train and perform better.

“I wanted to be at a small school like Mary Washington, engaging in hands-on research with my students,” Christy said. “I hope I can make as much of an impact on them as my professors did on me.”

Now an analytical chemistry professor at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Christy’s research focuses on human physiology and biochemistry to help athletes and officers train and perform better. Here, the student on the bike is being fitted with a mask so Christy and her students can test his maximal oxygen uptake, which is an indication of his aerobic fitness. Photo courtesy of Christy Copper.
“I wanted to be at a small school like Mary Washington, engaging in hands-on research with my students,” Christy said. “I hope I can make as much of an impact on them as my professors did on me.” Here, one of her students pricks an athlete’s finger so a blood lactate level can be obtained to indicate how hard the body is working during exercise. Photo courtesy of Christy Copper.

For more information about estate planning, visit https://umw.giftlegacy.com/ or contact Executive Director of Gift Planning and Major Gifts Jeremy Vaughn ’08 at jvaughn@umw.edu or 540-654-2063.

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04 for the Gift Planning Connections newsletter, Spring 2025

Formula for Success

Leave a Comment

Chemistry scholarship proves to be a defining element in UMW senior’s college career 

Alex Bindon '25 earned the Jacqueline C. Kane Scholarship in Chemistry and is planning a career in analytical chemistry. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Alex Bindon ’25 earned the Jacqueline C. Kane Scholarship in Chemistry and is planning a career in analytical chemistry. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Alex Bindon ’25 felt a rush when he received his Experimental Methods exam. His task? Identify a chemical compound by comparing charts, graphs, and spectra from lab instruments.

“It turned out to be glucose,” said Alex, who discovered a passion for analytical chemistry at the University of Mary Washington. “It feels like I’m a detective in an investigation.”

Alex found a fitting formula at UMW, where he earned the Jacqueline C. Kane Scholarship in Chemistry. It was an honor, he said, to receive the award established by the late Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 in memory of a chemist friend who passed away in 2014.

“It was tremendously helpful,” said Alex, who has worked hard at Mary Washington but has always appreciated guidance from faculty members. When he struggled with organic chemistry his first semester, he reached out to Professor Janet Asper.

“She said that when fighter pilots take off from aircraft carriers, they drop down before they fly up,” he said. “Then she encouraged me to read the textbook and apply myself so I can take off without flying into the ocean.”

The analogy resonated with Alex, who grew up near the world’s largest naval base in Norfolk, Virginia, and catapulted him to success in college.

His perseverance also helped him land an internship last summer with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, where he contributed to the purification and treatment of wastewater to keep the bay clean and prevented sewage from entering harbors. He hopes to find a job there after graduation or at a chemical plant in Richmond, Baltimore, or Pittsburgh.

Alex recently connected with Christy Copper ’91, a professor at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, who teaches analytical chemistry. He sought her advice after attending her talk to UMW chemistry majors last fall.

“It’s important to show alumni your true, hard-working self,” he said of Christy and Irene, who established the scholarship that was a catalyst in his college career. “I’m so grateful to those who have supported me so I can take off.”

For more information about estate planning, visit https://umw.giftlegacy.com/ or contact Executive Director of Gift Planning and Major Gifts Jeremy Vaughn ’08 at jvaughn@umw.edu or 540-654-2063.

– Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04 for the Gift Planning Connections newsletter, Spring 2025 

UMW Students Thank Supporters at Springtime Scholarship Luncheon and Showcase

Leave a Comment

As a cybersecurity major at the University of Mary Washington, Christopher Walker knows the importance of being cautious in his career.

Yet, the Mary Washington junior, who was initially concerned about in-person college after being homeschooled, has let down his guard when it comes to embracing educational and extracurricular experiences. He’s shown off his cyber skills at the Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren, helped plan uniquely UMW events like Devil-Goat Day and Rocktoberfest as Class Council vice president, and entertained classmates in epic Star Wars-style battles as part of the Light Saber Duels club.

UMW junior Christopher Walker with his parents, Angela and Charles Walker, at the 2025 Student Showcase and Scholarship Luncheon, where Christopher served as a speaker. A cybersecurity major, Christopher earned the Society for Worldwide Financial Telecommunications Inc. (SWIFT) Scholarship and funding through a Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership grant, which has enabled him to serve as an intern at a local cybersecurity company while earning his degree and engaging in activities across campus. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Edmund Garcia ’26, recipient of the Molly Bradshaw Clark ’59 Scholarship, chats with Emily Lewis ’62 and Anthony Andres during the Student Showcase. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
From left: Director of Jazz Studies Doug Gately, Maria Riegger from the Fredericksburg Woman’s Club, and Mima Manton ’25, recipient of the Henry and Grace Spicer and James E. Baker Community Orchestra scholarships. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Max Puckett ’26 (right), recipient of the Dovetail Cultural Resource Group Scholarship for Historic Preservation, chats with their donor, Mike Carmody, at the Student Showcase. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
From left: Denny Cora ’25, recipient of the June Davis McCormick ’49 Scholarship, and Blaise Wingold ’25, recipient of the UMW Theatre Scholarship, chat with donors at the Student Showcase. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Bonnie Butler ’25, recipient of the Rebecca Culbertson Stuart Memorial Scholarship, poses with her donor, David Burgess. Bonnie, who served as a speaker at the luncheon, also received the Helen G. and Justin J. Piscopo Alvey Scholarship. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

“Your support means so much and has truly changed my life,” Christopher said. The recipient of the Society for Worldwide Financial Telecommunications Inc. (SWIFT) Scholarship, he’s been able to engage in his studies while interning at a local cybersecurity firm, where he’ll work full time after he graduates. “Without your generosity, many of us would not have the opportunity to pursue our dreams and make a meaningful impact in our chosen fields.”

Christopher expressed his gratitude to a roomful of donors at the 2025 Student Showcase and Scholarship Luncheon on March 22. The annual event celebrates supporters who have established private scholarships and members of UMW’s Washington and Heritage Societies who have either given or pledged significant funds to the University.

Attendees interacted with scholarship recipients who showcased their academic and artistic pursuits and projects on the first floor of the Cedric Rucker University Center. Afterwards, guests gathered in Chandler Ballroom for a springtime lunch and listened as UMW President Troy Paino and students thanked them for their generous gifts to Mary Washington.

“I’m always moved that we have so many people here who invest in our students’ lives,” said President Paino, recognizing donors for contributing $14.5 million in gifts and pledges in the last fundraising year. “It’s our hope for the future. Your investment in these students will compound over time as they go out and make this world a better place.”

Merrilyn Sawyer Dodson ’68, poses with her recipient, Katelyn Gueci ’25, who received the Merrilyn S. Dodson/Class of 1968 Scholarship. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Judith Jackson Jones ’68 poses with her recipient, Allen Queen ’26, who received the A. Haskin & Edith N. Jackson Scholarship. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Meredith Walburn ’27, recipient of the Virginia H. Powell UMW Philharmonic Orchestra Scholarship, poses with her donor, Virginia Powell. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Marion Robinson ’25, recipient of the Katherine Edmondson Hopper ’30 Scholarship, poses with her donor, Rita Morgan Stone ’52. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Emily Chen ’28, recipient of the Wilder Family Scholarship III, poses with her donors, former UMW Chief of Staff Marty Wilder ’80 and UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80. Photo courtesy of Karen Pearlman.
Betty Fischer Gore ’49 and her daughter, Carolyn Gore Ashe, attend the 2025 Student Showcase and Scholarship Luncheon. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Barbara Willer and Ed Morawetz pose with their recipient, Marie Bob ’27, who earned the Christopher Edward Morawetz Scholarship. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

He also acknowledged the $36 million donation – adding that it was larger than previously announced – that Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 left the University in 2022. The estate gift has exponentially grown UMW’s undergraduate scientific research program while establishing full-ride Alvey Scholarships that support out-of-state STEM scholars like Bonnie Butler, a senior biomedical sciences major who also earned the Rebecca Culbertson Stuart Memorial Scholarship.

Bonnie said these awards have helped her engage in meaningful learning experiences at UMW, such as presenting her research on mytonic dystrophy at professional conferences and treating patients in rural Panama as president of UMW’s Global Medical Brigades chapter.

“While my story may be unique, the doors my scholarships have opened are experienced by every student who has the privilege of having a scholarship at Mary Washington,” Bonnie said. An aspiring physician, she’ll attend The George Washington University School of Medicine after she graduates, through the early selection agreement with the UMW Honors program.

Junior Amelia Bailey, a history and art history major, said earning the Alumni Legacy, Oscar H. Darter, Barbara Diane Hall, and Polly Updegraff Champ scholarships, among other awards, has helped her pursue her academic passions while playing on the UMW women’s rugby team.

“I work hard every day to do my part in ensuring that the generosity of those who truly care about UMW never goes unnoticed,” Amelia said. On track to graduate in December, she’s planning a career in art and museum law.

“The close-knit community here is unlike any other school I know,” she said. “I’m so beyond grateful for the opportunities it will continue to provide me as an alumna.”

President Troy Paino recognized donors for investing in UMW students’ lives and for contributing $14.5 million in gifts and pledges to the University of Mary Washington in the last fiscal year. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
President Paino recognized longtime Assistant Vice President of Gift Planning Jan Clarke, who is retiring in June. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Senior Bonnie Butler shared how earning the Helen G. and Justin J. Piscopo Alvey Scholarship and Rebecca Culbertson Stuart Memorial Scholarship gave her the opportunity to study mytonic research and serve as president of UMW’s chapter of Global Medical Brigades. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
President Paino recognized longtime Associate Vice President for Advancement Services and Operations Catherine Seller, who is retiring in June. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Junior Amelia Bailey explained how receiving the Alumni Legacy, Oscar H. Darter, Barbara Diane Hall, and Polly Updegraff Champ scholarships, among other awards, has helped her pursue her academic passions while playing on the UMW women’s rugby team. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Senior Mima Manton, who earned the Henry and Grace Spicer and James E. Baker Community Orchestra scholarships, sang the alma mater to conclude the luncheon. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Find scholarship opportunities that are available to UMW students. Learn more about establishing scholarships and how private support makes a difference in the lives of UMW students who receive awards, research fellowships, and internship grants. View photos from the 2025 Student Showcase and Scholarship Luncheon.

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