Focus on Philanthropy
Honors program endowed by $1 million gift
Launches this fall for first- and second-year students
Talented and motivated first- and second-year students at Hollins who want to work extensively on interdisciplinary and collaborative projects of their own design now have that opportunity through a new honors program.
Thanks to an anonymous donor, the honors program is fully endowed with a $1 million gift.
“We are thrilled to offer this program to our current and prospective students,” said President Gray. “It gives them the chance to explore special topics of interest through original work and encourages them to apply critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills beyond other curricular opportunities at Hollins.”
The honors program begins this fall and consists of a four-semester sequence of two-credit interdisciplinary seminars in which students join a small group of fellow scholars. First-year students work closely with two faculty members to identify engaging group projects and then plan, execute, communicate, and present results from those initiatives. During their second year, students focus on individual projects while continuing to actively partner with faculty.
“I’m really looking forward to participating in the start of this program,” said Professor of Art Robert Sulkin, who codirects the program with Associate Professor of Classical Studies Tina Salowey. “The opportunity to work with talented students and a valued colleague is the primary attraction and I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to design seminars that extend beyond traditional academic boundaries.”
“The timing is perfect for the introduction of this innovative honors program at Hollins,” added Salowey. “Experiential learning, student-driven research, and academic collaboration have long been a part of Hollins’ Short Term and first-year seminar programs. It will be a pleasure working with my art colleague to offer these experiences to a group of motivated students early in their Hollins careers with a focus on developing big ideas that will make a difference.”
Alumnae Memorial Library Fund
Honors alumnae, develops collection
Every time a student or staff or faculty member searches for journal articles in a database or checks out a book from the library, each click or turn of the page is supported by the Alumnae Memorial Library Fund. The fund supports the library’s wide-ranging collection development efforts, in fields as diverse as dance, environmental studies, history, and more. Begun by Kay Massey Weatherspoon ’54 and Nancy Bernhardt Collett ’55, the fund honors deceased classmates while providing current students with the resources they need. In addition to Weatherspoon and Collett, other donors have included 1954 classmates Temple St. Clair, Jan Stedman, and Harriet Traynham Garrett. The late Jane Nisbet Goode ’55 also supported the fund. Alumnae of all class years are encouraged to honor the memory of a Hollins friend through a gift to the Alumnae Memorial Library Fund. Contact Hannah Alley for more information: (540) 362-6380, alleyhl@hollins.edu.
Planned Giving Spotlight: Sandra Kirkham Gallant ’54
From earning her pilot’s license in the early 1960s to hot air ballooning across every continent (except Antarctica, though she tried), Sandra “Sandy” Kirkham Gallant ’54 was a vivacious, generous woman, who credited her Hollins education in psychology with changing her life.
It was thanks to a scholarship she received that Gallant was able to complete her degree at Hollins. After receiving an M.S. in clinical psychology from the College of William and Mary in 1956, she became a clinical child psychologist in Winston-Salem, where she practiced for 35 years.
To honor her 40th reunion in 1994, Gallant gave an outright gift to Hollins, along with a deferred gift to establish the Wade M. and Sandra Kirkham Gallant ’54 Scholarship. Upon her death in 2013, her estate provided for the full endowment of her scholarship, which supports psychology students.
In addition to loving to fly, Gallant was a gourmet cook and gracious host, who was known to exclaim, “Another coup from the kitchen of Sandy Lou!” The everlasting gift of her scholarship is indeed a coup for Hollins and for future generations of students.
Donors of planned gifts are recognized as members of the Heritage Society. If you have remembered Hollins with a planned gift, or would like more information about ways to do so, please contact Hannah Alley, associate director of development, (540) 362-6380, alleyhl@hollins.edu; or Suzy Mink ’74, senior philanthropic advisor, (540) 362-7439, minks@hollins.edu.
Save the Date
1842 Society in Dallas, Texas
November 7 – 9, 2014
Our annual weekend for 1842 Society and Miss Matty’s Circle donors will take place in Dallas this year. If you’re interested in joining the 1842 Society or have questions about the weekend, contact Hannah Alley at (540) 362-6380, alleyhl@hollins.edu.