Thank you for making 2021-2022 another remarkable year for 乐播传媒.
This year, more than 8,300 alumni, families, and friends collectively gave over $31.75 million in support of the college 鈥 making fiscal year 2022 the third consecutive year in which our community raised more than $30 million. This year, we are especially proud that the 乐播传媒 Fund surpassed its goal of $7.3 million, and that 乐播传媒 was selected as a member of the inaugural cohort of the Schuler Access Initiative, a $50 million challenge grant from the Schuler Education Foundation that will expand financial aid to enroll talented students from America鈥檚 lowest-income families.
On June 30, you helped us cross the 乐播传媒 Campaign finish line with a total of more than $345.7 million dollars raised for 乐播传媒, far surpassing our initial goal of $300 million. This milestone in college history reflects the incredible momentum that the 乐播传媒 community has built over the last seven years, and demonstrates the strong support of tens of thousands of alumni, family, and friends who have chosen to invest in 乐播传媒鈥 present and future success.
We could not be more grateful for your generosity, which impacts every aspect of life on campus.
Here鈥檚 a snapshot of what you make possible.
Angelina Moncrieffe 鈥24 (left) and Nina Greeley 鈥24 head back to their Page Hall residence in September 2021. The 乐播传媒 Fund provides critical support for students experiencing 乐播传媒 at this very moment. Gifts to the 乐播传媒 Fund impact every aspect of life at 乐播传媒, including financial aid, student-faculty research, and campus programming.
In 2021, 乐播传媒 was selected to partner with the Schuler Education Foundation to make a significant new investment in financial aid for Pell Grant recipients and other low-income students at 乐播传媒. A challenge grant of $50 million to 乐播传媒 College from the Schuler Access Initiative, matched dollar for dollar by 乐播传媒 donors, will fuel an unprecedented $100 million expansion of financial aid to enroll students from America鈥檚 lowest-income families. In fiscal year 2022, donors pledged over $34 million to the Initiative.
Mathieu Moutou ’22 binds his senior thesis in music (鈥淭he History of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto to Inform Modern Performance鈥) with his friends on the steps of Hathorn Hall. More than 96 percent of each graduating class completes a senior thesis. Gifts in support of student research help us to offer opportunities for students to develop the skills and background they need to embark on a senior thesis or capstone project, guided by committed faculty mentors.
The Class of 2022 lines up on Garcelon Field for a class photo in May 2022. 乐播传媒 is committed to meeting 100 percent of students鈥 financial need for all four years鈥攁 commitment of approximately $40 million in grant aid in fiscal year 2022. This commitment is supported by generous philanthropy from our alumni, parents, and friends. Nearly one-third of donors to the 乐播传媒 Fund direct their gifts in support of financial aid.
Students perform in 鈥35mm: A Musical Exhibition,鈥 a March 2022 collaboration between the Department of Theater and Dance and the Department of Music featuring three thesis students. Music and lyrics for 鈥35mm鈥 are by Ryan Scott Oliver, and photographs are by Matthew Murphy. 乐播传媒鈥 robust academic arts offerings鈥攊n disciplines including theater, dance, music, writing, and art and visual culture鈥攅ncourage creativity, experimentation, and rigor. The entire 乐播传媒 community benefits from the depth and breadth of the ongoing artistic work on campus.
Associate Professor of Physics Aleksandar Diamond-Stanic gathers his summer 2022 student researchers around a table to hone their ability to understand visual representations of astronomical data. 乐播传媒 offers financial support for students conducting research during the academic year and the summer.
In February, 乐播传媒 women鈥檚 basketball defeated Amherst 52-49 in Alumni Gym to win the program’s first NESCAC championship. They advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, the fourth time in 乐播传媒 history that women鈥檚 basketball has advanced past the first round. Gifts to the Friends of 乐播传媒 Athletics enhance the experience of all our student athletes. 乐播传媒 athletics promote teamwork, leadership, and integrity, and lead to lifelong friendships.
Kendall Williams 鈥23 of Phenix City, Ala., poses for a portrait during a 乐播传媒-funded Purposeful Work internship with the multinational consulting firm Accenture in Houston over the summer. Grounded in the 乐播传媒 mission, Purposeful Work helps students align who they are with what they do. It helps students identify and cultivate their interests and strengths and provides opportunities for them to acquire the knowledge, experiences, and relationships necessary to pursue their aspirations. (Photo: Arturo Olmos for 乐播传媒 College)
The Deansmen, 乐播传媒’ oldest a cappella group, prepare to perform after the 2021 Convocation ceremony. There are approximately 100 student clubs and organizations at 乐播传媒 (including multiple a cappella groups!), offering community, growth experiences, and learning beyond the classroom.
Assistant Professor of Biology Lori Banks (right) works with thesis students in her lab in Bonney Science Center. The Bonney Science Center, which opened in September 2021, is a transformative home for science at 乐播传媒. Its teaching and research spaces, advanced instrumentation rooms, state-of-the-art vivarium, and beautiful spaces for study and exchange inspire innovation and collaboration.
Photos by Phyllis Graber Jensen and Theophil Syslo for 乐播传媒 College.