7 / 24
Already, Smith’s Promise to the Future gift-matching
program has inspired $1.25 million in new endowed
scholarship support.
Christine Conklin ’82 was the first donor to step
forward and establish an endowed scholarship fund,
which she named in honor of two faculty mentors,
Susan Van Dyne, professor emerita of the study of
women and gender, and Marilyn Schuster, Andrew W.
Mellon Professor Emerita in the Humanities. “I came
to Smith from a good public high school and a solid
working-class background. I would not have been
able to attend Smith without the generous package
of grants, scholarships and work-study that Smith
offered me all four years,” Conklin said. “I want Smith
students to continue to come from all kinds of places
and backgrounds in order to follow their passions—as
well as discover new ones—and then share them with
the world. I believe that scholarships are the way to
guarantee that.”
We honor these Promise to the Future donors for their
generosity and belief in the value of scholarship aid:
Christine Conklin ’82 (left), with Susan Van Dyne and
Marilyn Schuster.
ScholarshipEndowment
Keeps SmithStrong
“This extraordinary gift will shape the lives of
generations of Smith women to come,” said President
Kathleen McCartney. “It will help us fulfill our commit-
ment to ensuring that a Smith education is available to
our exceptional students, regardless of their financial
circumstances.”
Beth Raffeld, vice president for development, said
the gift to endow scholarships will have long-term
benefits, ensuring that Smith will be able to meet
the needs of its student body. “Scholarship funds
endowed in perpetuity are gifts that keep giving,”
she said. “There is nothing more powerful than
philanthropy by women, for women, and this donor’s
generosity is a vivid example.”
The alumna behind the gift—an anonymous
member of the class of 1986—“believes deeply in
the power of education to change lives,” Raffeld said.
“She is particularly excited about inspiring additional
philanthropy and has encouraged Smith to use her gift
to match new gifts from other lead donors.”
To that end, the college has launched the Promise
to the Future initiative, a gift-matching program that
offers donors an opportunity to grow their philan-
thropy in a powerful way. Through the program, any
new gift of $250,000 or more to either establish or add
to an existing endowed scholarship fund is matched
dollar for dollar, immediately increasing the value of
the fund and strengthening Smith’s ability to attract
the best-qualified students from around the world.
In May, scholarship donors enjoyed
lunch with students who benefit from
their support.
■
Lisa Black ’81
■
Christine Conklin ’82
and James Jay Kistler
■
Deborah DeCotis ’74
■
Barbara Stein Scott ’55
■
Sally Barnes Sonne ’62