UMW Athletics

UMW Names Championship Soccer Field After Longtime Coach Roy Gordon

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As founding coach of the University of Mary Washington men’s soccer team, Roy Gordon led his players to win after win and multiple championships throughout his 34-year career.

Coach Roy Gordon (right) poses for a photo with Assistant Athletic Director of Communications Clint Often during a ceremony held Sunday to name the Roy Gordon Field. Photo by Kaitlyn Kimball.
Coach Roy Gordon (right) poses for a photo with Assistant Athletic Director of Communications Clint Often during a ceremony held Sunday to name the Roy Gordon Field. Photo by Kaitlyn Kimball.

Along the way, Gordon coached the Eagles to nine NCAA tournament appearances and eight Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) titles and amassed a record 432 wins – a feat that earned him a spot among NCAA Division III coaching elite. He also oversaw the relocation in the 1980s of Mary Washington’s home field to the Battlefield Athletic Complex, which hosted the NCAA Division III national championship in 1997.

Joined by his family, friends, former colleagues, current coaching staff, university administrators, and players from the past and present, Gordon scored yet another accolade on Sunday, as the University named the championship soccer field in his honor. The initiative, spearheaded by decades of alumni student-athletes dedicated to the game, culminated in a ceremony held between the women’s and men’s soccer matches, when UMW unveiled a scoreboard overlooking the Roy Gordon Field.

“Mary Washington has been an incredible place for me to have worked,” said Gordon, who was inducted into the UMW Athletics Hall of Fame after his retirement in 2011.

Assistant Athletic Director of Communications Clint Often, who read the resolution approved by the UMW Board of Visitors in the spring, called him “one of the most important figures in Mary Washington athletic history.”

Gordon thanked wife Terrie and their family, President Troy Paino, Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo ’95, and Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte, who also serves as the UMW Foundation executive director, as well as Mary Washington donors. He also recognized Director of Athletics Emeritus Ed Hegmann, a graduate-school classmate who recruited him to work at Mary Washington in 1977. They trusted one another, Coach Gordon said, and that turned their friendship into a thriving working relationship.

“Having success on the field and getting wins was always a motivating factor, but for 34 years, my goal was to provide a quality experience for my student-athletes,” he said.

Visibly moved during the ceremony, Coach Gordon thanked his family and friends, former colleagues, Mary Washington alumni, administrators, UMW Athletics staff, and Mary Washington donors who contributed gifts and pledges toward the field renovations and facilities upgrades. Photo by Kaitlynn Kimball.
In addition to President Troy Paino, Coach Gordon (center) thanked current UMW Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo ’95 (left) and Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte (right), who is also executive director of the UMW Foundation. Both worked with dedicated alumni to reach out to men’s and women’s soccer supporters. Photo courtesy of Katie Turcotte.
Coach Gordon poses with wife Terrie and their family in front of the scoreboard that overlooks the Roy Gordon Field. Photo by Kaitlynn Kimball.

Over the past two years, a committed group of former players has worked toward the same goal, in collaboration with UMW Athletics and the Office of University Advancement and Alumni Engagement. Together, they’ve helped men’s and women’s soccer supporters, including alumni, parents, and friends, contribute nearly $386,000 in gifts and pledges, combined with an earlier fundraising initiative that established a $95,000 endowment for men’s soccer in Gordon’s honor.

“Coach Gordon knew how to provide leadership and helped us forge relationships with each other,” said Scott Karr, who led the charge with former teammates and fellow 1990 grads Dave Lausten and Ranjit Sidhu. “He was disciplined and worked us hard but taught us how to be a team.”

Gordon was named Coach of the Year by the Capital Athletic Conference, National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), and the Virginia State College Division on multiple occasions. In 2007, he became one of only eight head coaches in Division III history to surpass 400 career wins. He received NSCAA’s prestigious Honor Award in 2009 and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2023.

UMW’s current athletic coaches have carried the torch, building nationally competitive teams, making ongoing enhancements to the University’s athletic facilities, and helping recruit talented student-athletes while bringing larger crowds to games.

Coach Roy Gordon poses in front of the scoreboard that bears his name, along with his family, friends, former colleagues, UMW Athletics staff, and soccer alumni who contributed funding toward field renovations and facilities upgrades on the championship soccer field. Photo by Kaitlynn Kimball.

“How many hours did we spend on these fields?” said Sidhu, who helped encourage UMW soccer supporters to contribute toward the renovations and facilities upgrades. “It was such a formative time in our lives.”

A Fredericksburg resident, Lausten said he feels pride when he watches UMW’s soccer teams compete. “It’s a reflection on us and those who came before us who helped build this program.”

Catullo hopes to maintain the momentum, both on the field and through donor support, aiming to reach a $500,000 goal. “These improvements will elevate the program, provide top-tier facilities, and attract the best future talent,” he said in a media release last spring. “Additionally, the success of this project will help drive future fundraising efforts across other UMW Athletic facilities.”

LEARN MORE about the project and make your gift electronically. The Office of University Advancement can explain customized giving options. Call 540-654-1024 or email advance@umw.edu for more information.

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

Chemistry on the Court

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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

Scholarships Strike the Right Note for UMW Music Major

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University of Mary Washington senior Mima Manton decided at a young age that she was going to study music. Many members of her family were choral singers, her uncle played trombone, her sister learned flute and cello, and like her mother, Mima took up piano, flute, and bassoon.

Senior Mima Manton, who hails from England, is thankful for the scholarships she received at the University of Mary Washington, where she is a music major and performs in numerous ensembles, including the UMW Philharmonic and the University's new pep band. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Senior Mima Manton, who hails from England, is thankful for the scholarships she received at the University of Mary Washington, where she is a music major and performs in numerous ensembles, including the UMW Philharmonic and the University’s new pep band. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

When it came time to go to college, Mima wasn’t sure where she wanted to go, but she did feel ready to spread her wings and fly far from home.

“I always knew I wanted to study internationally,” said Mima, who hails from the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield in England. A family friend helped her research American schools that offered music scholarships, which led her to UMW. “I loved the size of Mary Washington, and after a Zoom meeting with all the music professors, I knew it was the right place for me.”

Mima has since hit all the high notes, majoring in music and joining a slew of ensembles, including the UMW Philharmonic and woodwind chamber trio Aquila Venti. She can often be found at UMW Eagles basketball and volleyball games, serving as assistant director and lead singer with the University’s new pep band. She’s also a member of Mortar Board and the Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA), welcoming alumni, donors, and friends to events put on by UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement.

“I’m so grateful for the chance to connect with the supporters who invest in our education,” she said at UMW’s Celebration of Giving in November. The recipient of the Henry and Grace Spicer and James E. Baker University Community Orchestra scholarships, she said, “I cannot stress enough that without these awards, I wouldn’t be standing in front of you today.”

Growing up outside of Birmingham, a city halfway between London and Liverpool, Mima took lessons through a music program for schoolchildren.

“I wanted to play clarinet, but I was still missing my two adult front teeth, so I chose flute instead,” said Mima, who later picked up the bassoon. “It’s a less common instrument, which gives me more opportunities to play.”

These opportunities include performing with the UMW Philharmonic, where she serves as principal bassoonist. She earned second place at this year’s UMW Concerto Competition, performing Franz Berwald’s Konzertstück for Bassoon and Orchestra, which she played at the Celebration of Giving with Department of Music Chair and Professor Brooks Kuykendall on piano accompaniment.

“The range of Mima’s abilities is staggering,” Dr. Kuykendall said. “She does it all and at a very high level. She will leave us with a void when she graduates — but that will give a number of students the opportunity to step in to her various shoes.”

Mima, who received the Henry and Grace Spicer and James E. Baker University Community Orchestra scholarships, expressed gratitude to her donors at the Celebration of Giving in November 2024. “I cannot stress enough that without these awards, I wouldn’t be standing in front of you today.” Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Mima performing on the bassoon at the Celebration of Giving in November 2024. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Mima has explored both the performance and production side of music at Mary Washington, taking courses in music history, theory, and sound and audio recording. In addition to enhancing her gifts as a musician and singer, they’ve helped her make and produce her own music for Spotify, showcasing a range of influences like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Jessie J, and Dua Lipa.

“My musical experiences have developed in ways I could have never imagined,” said Mima, who is thankful for the friendships she’s made through the pep band and other campus activities.

After she graduates, she aspires to work in a recording studio or performance venue. She also recently took the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, an exam that can provide licensure for her to privately teach bassoon and flute. “It took years of preparation, but I wanted to do it for my own personal accomplishment.”

Mima performing with the UMW Pep Band in front of Lee Hall on Election Day. Her performances and recordings on Spotify showcase a wide range of influences like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Jessie J, and Dua Lipa. Photo courtesy of Mima Manton.
Mima (back row, right) and other members of the Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA) pose for a photo outside the Jepson Alumni Executive Center. Mima serves as vice president of social media and marketing for the SAA program. Photo courtesy of Karen Pearlman.

Whatever trajectory her talent takes, one thing’s for sure – serving as an SAA has shown her that she can come home to Mary Washington whenever she wants.

“Seeing alumni who’ve been in my shoes, gone out into the world, and still come back to support their alma mater has been truly inspiring,” Mima said. “Even though I’ll miss it, I hope to do the same. UMW will always hold a special place in my heart.”

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.

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