UMW Honors Program

Scholarship Recipient Discovers Confidence, Connection, and Calling at UMW

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Mariana Lira wasn’t quite sure where she’d go to college, until her grandparents made a simple suggestion—check out the University of Mary Washington.

Photo of student smiling at the camera.
Senior environmental science major Mariana Lira said earning the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship has opened doors to multiple academic pursuits and leadership roles at the University of Mary Washington. Photo courtesy of Mariana Lira.

“UMW was warm, welcoming, and totally matched my vibe,” said Mariana, who was born in Arizona and attended high school in nearby Spotsylvania. A tour of campus confirmed she was in the right place. “I just felt like I belonged here.”

Mariana, now an environmental science major and a UMW Honors Program scholar, has made her mark at Mary Washington. Serving as vice president of the Latino Student Association and the Tri Alpha First Generation honor society, she has helped students with similar journeys feel connected on campus.

As she takes her next steps—including becoming a Marine Corps officer after graduation—she credits the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship with opening doors to her academic pursuits and leadership roles.

Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans, born on Feb. 21, 1872, in Thaxton, Virginia, made history when she stepped up to lead the company of her late first husband, Joseph B. Whitehead, who had the innovative idea to bottle Coca-Cola at the turn of the 20th century. Three decades later, the company appointed her to its board of directors—making her the first woman ever to sit on the board at a major corporation.

A revered philanthropist, Mrs. Whitehead also gave generously to educational institutions, arts and culture, and religious organizations throughout her lifetime. The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation, established after her death in 1953, supports tens of thousands of students in need each year as well as senior care facilities across the southeast.

More than 2,000 scholars at the University of Mary Washington have benefited from Whitehead scholarships over the last four decades. In 2024-25, the University awarded financial assistance totaling $292,110 to more than 100 Whitehead recipients, which is a part of the over $2.3 million in donor-driven scholarships from the UMW Foundation.

“Our recipients embody Mrs. Whitehead’s enduring spirit of generosity, resilience, and commitment to higher education,” said Katie Turcotte, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement and executive director of the UMW Foundation. “We’re so grateful to the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation for their ongoing support that helps ensure that a Mary Washington education remains accessible and affordable for those with financial need.”

Interested in science since childhood, Mariana discovered that UMW’s Department of Earth and Environmental Science gave her the chance to take courses in lots of different areas, including biology, chemistry, ecology, and geology. “It’s such a multifaceted field,” she said. “I love learning how everything fits together and hearing different perspectives.”

Mariana has particularly enjoyed coursework with Associate Professor of Environmental Science Tyler Frankel and Sarah Morealli, an environmental geology senior lecturer. “Everyone at UMW is so passionate about their subject area, so it’s easy to get excited about research when you’re a student,” she said.

Mariana is currently working alongside her faculty mentor, Associate Professor of Environmental Science Melanie Szulczewski, and her classmates to conduct data analysis that investigates metal contaminants in the soil and how they might affect produce that ends up in grocery stores. They recently presented their findings at CANVAS, a conference focusing on environmental and soil science, in Salt Lake City.

Mariana Lira ’26 (right) and Madeline Binkley ’28 presenting their environmental science and soil research at the CANVAS conference in Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy of Mariana Lira.
Mariana Lira ’26 has conducted soil research with Associate Professor of Environmental Science Melanie Szulczewski, which they’ve presented at professional conferences in their field. Mariana said: “Here, I am filtering soil samples that have been incubated after being treated with an acid phosphatase substrate. The absorbance (or in simpler terms, the color) of the liquid that will filter out will tell us how biologically productive the soil is.” Photo courtesy of Mariana Lira.

“This opportunity has truly enhanced my experiences in my major,” said Mariana, who plans to present her Honors College capstone project at UMW’s Research and Creativity Symposium on April 24. “I’m applying the knowledge I learned in class to address concerns and develop questions that I can then answer through my research.”

But she’s taking a different path for her career. She was recently accepted into Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, which she’ll begin this fall. As the daughter of service members, she admires the military branch’s focus on tradition and discipline.

“Honor, courage, and commitment are all important to me,” Mariana said. “I want to work with other people who uphold those same values.”

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

Paths Made Possible

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Scholarships Power Student’s Journey, From Cancer Research to Celtic Culture

Biomedical sciences major Mallory Thompson '26 received the Rae Elizabeth Smith ’59 Washington Scholarship, providing her full tuition, fees, and housing and dining to attend UMW, as well as the Grellet C. Simpson International Scholarship, giving her the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland.
Biomedical sciences major Mallory Thompson ’26 received the Rae Elizabeth Smith ’59 Washington Scholarship, providing her full tuition, fees, and housing and dining to attend UMW, as well as the Grellet C. Simpson International Scholarship, giving her the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland.

When Mallory Thompson ’26 was interviewed for the Rae Elizabeth Smith ’59 Washington Scholarship, she asked the committee what experiences she shouldn’t miss out on as a University of Mary Washington student.

“They told me, unanimously, that I should study abroad,” said Mallory, a senior biomedical sciences major from Spotsylvania who went on to earn the prestigious award that provides full tuition, fees, and housing and dining for in-state students. “Receiving that scholarship totally changed my college experience.”

Mallory also recently earned the Grellet C. Simpson International Scholarship, which is supporting her studies this semester at the University College Cork in Ireland. At this world-class research institution, she’s taking courses in anatomy and philosophy for her practical ethics minor, along with Celtic cultural classes like Irish mythology and step-dancing, as well as a lesser known form of traditional folk dancing known as “Irish sets.”

“I’m so grateful to my donors for providing me with these experiences,” Mallory said. An aspiring physician, she joined UMW’s Pre-Health Society, volunteers with Red Cross blood drives and Mary Washington Healthcare’s emergency department, and traveled with Global Medical Brigades to treat patients in rural Panama – and dances with the Performing Arts Company for fun.

Mallory (back row, third from left) with her fellow Washington and Alvey Scholars at a reception at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center’s Kalnen Inn in fall 2023. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Mallory Thompson and her faculty mentor, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Laura Sipe, in front of their research poster at the Virginia State Capitol during a student showcase presented by the Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia last spring.

She has also conducted trailblazing research with Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Laura Sipe. “We’re trying to engage and alert the immune system to search for leftover breast cancer cells after a patient has undergone chemotherapy,” said Mallory, who presented her findings at a student showcase hosted by the Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia, held in Richmond last spring.

“Mallory uses her strong foundation from biomedical sciences courses to ask insightful questions and make new connections,” said Dr. Sipe. “Because of her intellectual curiosity and diligence, she will move our understanding of cancer recurrence forward.”

With a cancer research center near her apartment in Cork, she hopes to shadow doctors and learn more about the Irish healthcare system while exploring the country. She especially enjoyed visiting the Titanic Experience museum in Cobh, where the last passengers departed in 1912, she said. “It’s one of my favorite films!”

Mallory near the city center of Cork, Ireland, right outside of the English market.
Mallory in front of St. Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh, Ireland.
Mallory takes in views of Kinsale from Charles Fort, a late 17th century military fortress in Ireland.
Mallory standing in front of colorful houses known as the “Deck of Cards,” a popular tourist attraction in Cobh, Ireland.
Mallory outside of the Titanic Experience museum. “It was an interactive experience where they treat you like a passenger and give you a card with someone who had boarded the ship,” she said. “My passenger survived! It was such a neat thing to do in Cobh!”

A UMW Honors Program scholar, Mallory will continue her studies at The George Washington University School of Medicine, where she was accepted through Mary Washington’s Early Selection Program, along with several of her peers.

“Being a part of the UMW community will make acclimating to medical school easier,” said Mallory, who plans to practice oncology or dermatology. “I’m so grateful for all Mary Washington has given me.”

For information about supporting student success through scholarships now and through your estate plans, contact Jeremy Vaughn at jvaughn@umw.edu or 540-654-2063.

This story originally ran in the fall 2025 Gift Planning Connections Newsletter.

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

Scholarships Provide a Palette of Study Abroad Opportunities for UMW Art History Major

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Growing up on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., Hayley Madden often took the metro to visit her favorite museums, especially the National Gallery of Art.

Just a few years later, she found herself in another National Gallery – this time as part of a University of Mary Washington faculty-led trip to London – where she presented her original research on French painter Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun’s “Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat.”

Senior Hayley Madden, an art history major at the University of Mary Washington, has studied abroad in both England and France because of the private support she has received from UMW donors. Here, she poses with a painting by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, ‘Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat,’ which she presented her research on at London’s National Gallery of Art. Photo courtesy of Hayley Madden.
Hayley takes a moment to ponder paintings at the Louvre in Paris. Photo courtesy of Hayley Madden.

“That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’ll never forget,” said Hayley, a senior art history major from Alexandria, Virginia, who came to UMW because of its emphasis on international education. “I’ve always had a desire to see the world and view both travel and art history as an outlet to escape from reality into the realm of adventure.”

Hayley has had her share of adventures since coming to Mary Washington, studying abroad twice and globetrotting across Europe to see some of the world’s most famous works of art. Now, she serves as a peer advisor and an international student liaison in UMW’s Center for International Education, helping fellow students with their own study abroad experiences.

Hayley was among the UMW student speakers who shared their study abroad stories at the 2024 Celebration of Giving in November. Photo by Karen Pearlman.
Hayley was among the UMW student speakers who shared their study abroad stories at the 2024 Celebration of Giving in November. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

At UMW’s Celebration of Giving in November, she shared that private donor support was essential in helping her obtain these opportunities.

“My awards have helped me realize my dream of earning an art history degree while connecting me to these generous benefactors, some of whom have shared my passion for art,” said Hayley, who earned the Talon Award and the Nina G. Bushnell, Emil R. Schnellock, and J. Binford Walford scholarships.

A member of the UMW Honors program, Hayley has engaged in challenging liberal arts and sciences coursework across the University. But her favorite classes have been those within the Department of Art and Art History, she said, taught by Professors Julia DeLancey, Joseph Dreiss, and Suzie Kim. “They’ve played an essential role in my journey of self-discovery and pursuit of an education and a career in art history.”

Professor DeLancey praised Hayley’s commitment in the classroom and as president of UMW’s Art History Club. “Hayley is hard-working and engaged with both the material and others in class,” she said. “Her passion for travel – and how it can illuminate, expand, and strengthen her work as an art historian – has been really exciting to see.”

Hayley also cited as an influence Professor Emerita Marjorie Och, who took her and her classmates on a spring break trip to London in 2022, which inspired Madden to study abroad in Paris the following fall.

There, she attended I’Institute Catholique de Paris through the MICEFA program, living with an artist named Madame Sadi. “She was trained in opera and oil painting and displayed her work all around her tiny apartment above a café,” said Hayley, who spent her time outside of class exploring Montmartre, sharing baguettes with friends, and visiting museums.

She also traveled to eight other countries, seeing 17th-century Dutch and Flemish art in Amsterdam, the works of Marc Chagall in Venice, triptychs by Rubens in Antwerp, and Fauvist works at the Kunstmuseum in Basel, Switzerland.

Hayley visited Monet’s garden at Giverny during her study abroad in France. Photo courtesy of Hayley Madden.
Hayley poses for a photo while visiting the Eiffel Tower. Photo courtesy of Hayley Madden.
Hayley visited nine countries when she studied abroad in Paris, taking in sites such as the Palais du Luxembourg. Photo courtesy of Hayley Madden.
Hayley visited Piccadilly Circus during her faculty-trip to London with Professor Emerita of Art History Marjorie Och. Photo courtesy of Hayley Madden.

While in Paris, Hayley also began research on 18th-century English artist William Hogarth and his involvement in the creation of the British Royal Academy, which she has turned into an independent study project that she hopes to continue in graduate school. This spring, she plans to apply to the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.

“I’m so grateful to everyone who believed in my potential, especially those who provided scholarships so I could have these life-changing experiences,” Hayley said. “My donors have made my Mary Washington education possible while nurturing my dream from a simple sketch into a vibrant masterpiece.”

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