“That Sense of Possibility”: Celebrating 40 Years of the Ada Comstock Scholars Program

When asked what the Ada Comstock Scholars Program has meant to her, Susan Williams—who is in her final semester at Smith—says the college’s program for nontraditional-aged students has been an “amazing journey,” providing her with experiences she never thought possible—including two trips abroad.

“I entered the mortgage finance field without a college degree, and I always felt inadequate because of that,” says Williams, who has two grown children and lives in Westfield, Mass.

While she was enrolled at Holyoke Community College, an adviser recommended that Williams apply to Smith—a suggestion she is grateful to have accepted.

“In January I will get my bachelor’s degree from Smith in English,” Williams says. “I’m now certified to teach English as a second language, and I’m starting a business venture for professional women that involves culture, travel and mentoring.”

Similar reflections and success stories were shared at a recent 40^th anniversary tea in the Campus Center, where current Adas and alumnae gathered over a buffet of sweet treats to celebrate the positive impact of the program on their lives—and on the larger Smith community.

The tea is one of a series of events planned to mark the anniversary of the Ada Comstock Scholars Program, founded in 1975 in honor of Ada Comstock, a member of the Smith class of 1897 and the first dean of the college. Since then, 2,200 women—whose education had been interrupted for family, work or other reasons—have graduated from Smith as Ada Comstock Scholars.

Anniversary-related events include:

* An opening reception for an exhibit of works by Ada Comstock Scholars Friday, Dec. 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Campus Center’s Nolen Art Lounge. The exhibit, which will feature paintings, photographs, sculpture and written works, as well as items that display the history of the program, will be on view through Dec. 15.

* Cupcakes served in honor of Ada Comstock’s birthday on Friday, Dec. 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Campus Center.

* Commemorative anniversary items for sale, including t-shirts and silkscreen copies of a poster designed by Athena Stylos AC ’91. Stylos’ design won an anniversary poster contest launched by Ada Comstock Scholar Erika Lively.

In addition, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, two program alumnae will be performing “Dust,” a new play by Susanna Apgar AC ’13, in the Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre. The cast includes Jeannine Haas AC ’88 as well as the playwright.

At the celebratory tea, Ada Class President Dianne Jester-Wieland said her studies of the program’s history revealed qualities shared by Ada Comstock Scholars over the years.

“We’ve all been willing to uproot and change our lives,” said Jester-Wieland, who is an archives concentrator at Smith. “That drive for education—we all have that.”

Jester-Wieland emphasized the importance of Adas sharing their stories with the campus community, noting that oral histories of alumnae and current Ada Comstock Scholars are now being collected for the Smith College Archives.

“Individual stories make up the history of this program,” Jester-Wieland said. “I know the person I was when I first walked onto campus is not the person I am now. I’ve grown and changed.”

Sid Dalby, associate director of admission and adviser to the Ada Comstock Scholars Program, said she is continually moved by reading application essays from women who want to attend Smith as nontraditional-aged students.

“You all have so much experience and wisdom to share,” Dalby told participants at the tea. “You really are here for the right reasons.”

Margaret Bruzelius, associate dean of the college and interim Ada class dean, added that Ada Comstock Scholars bring to the Smith community “that sense of possibility and endless renewal. You can come back and get the training you need.”

At the tea, current Ada Comstock Scholars and program alumnae shared stories about what drew them to Smith and what they’ve gained from being students at the college.

Ratna Lusiaga, who was born in Indonesia, applied to be an Ada Comstock Scholar after coming to the United States to attend Bunker Hill Community College in Boston.

“I never dreamed I could be a student here. I don’t know how I did it, I’m just here!” said Lusiaga, who is studying anthropology at Smith. “I am learning from the traditional-aged students and becoming more open-minded.”

Since graduating from Smith, Carla Cooke AC ’01 has remained connected to the college by working in a number of offices on campus, including the Center for Community Collaboration.

Being an Ada Comstock Scholar has been a “life-changing and life-enriching experience,” said Cooke, who is now a member of the guard staff at the Smith College Museum of Art and is married to Beth Gillespie AC ’14.

“There is nothing finer than being able to connect with Ada Comstock Scholars,” Cooke said at the anniversary tea. “It never wears off. It’s part of who I am.”

Cora Lee Drew 'AC16J displays special merchandise created for the 40th anniversary of Smith's Ada Comstock Scholars Program. Photos by Carmen Pullella '16.