Friends of �ֲ��ý Athletics – News

Video: Two squash teammates become winners after hard rookie season

Aaron Morse — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 15:57:46 +0000

Roommates and best friends, squash players Katie Bull ’19 of Sudbury, Mass., and Molly Brooks ’19 of Charlottesville, Va., shared some growing pains last year.

Playing high up the ladder, Bull posted a record of 3-16. Brooks went 6-12.

Still, Bull says, “I learned a lot.” Facing top-of-the-ladder players last year “raised my game,” she says. Now, “I just feel really confident going out there….I’m ready to go out there and win.”

And she has won, and so has Brooks. Heading into winter break, Bull is 6-1 and Brooks 7-0, a big reason that 16th-ranked �ֲ��ý has a 6-1 record, the program’s best start since 2012.

Giving to �ֲ��ý soars to record $28.2 million, more than doubling since 2013

�ֲ��ý News — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 16:00:37 +0000

Gifts by �ֲ��ý donors totaling a record $28.2 million in fiscal 2016 have "given us great confidence in setting ambitious goals for �ֲ��ý’ future," said President Spencer. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/�ֲ��ý College)

The 2016 Reunion classes contributed more than $900,000 to the �ֲ��ý Fund. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/�ֲ��ý College)

The Class of 2016 joined the �ֲ��ý Fund with 76 percent participation in the traditional Senior Gift. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/�ֲ��ý College)

The �ֲ��ý Fund total includes Parents Fund contributions of $1.1 million with 38 percent participation. (Josh Kuckens/�ֲ��ý College)

Annual giving to the �ֲ��ý Fund topped $6.5 million to support academic, athletic, co-curricular, and financial aid programs. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/�ֲ��ý College)

�ֲ��ý alumni, parents, and friends contributed a college-record $28.2 million during the fiscal year ending June 30, an increase of 134 percent since 2013.

“It’s thrilling to share news of a record-breaking year of philanthropy by alumni, parents, and friends. Their generosity is extraordinary and exemplifies pride in community and commitment to the college,” said Sarah R. Pearson ’75, vice president for college advancement.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone who made �ֲ��ý a priority this year. I’m especially grateful to the more than 450 alumni and parents who supported this effort as tireless volunteers.”

“Great confidence in setting ambitious goals for �ֲ��ý’ future.”

Giving to �ֲ��ý has increased 30 percent or more in each of the last three fiscal years — more than doubling since fiscal 2013, the initial year of Clayton Spencer’s presidency.

“Those who know and love �ֲ��ý have invested in the college to a remarkable degree, and we are profoundly grateful,” Spencer said. “The generosity and support of our alumni, parents, and friends have enabled extraordinary progress over the past four years, and given us great confidence in setting ambitious goals for �ֲ��ý’ future.”

Total giving to �ֲ��ý from all sources in 2016 was $28,155,471, with $13 million designated to the endowment. The $28.2 million breaks the previous annual dollar record of $24.8 million, reached in 2006.

With 47 percent alumni participation, annual giving to the �ֲ��ý Fund totaled $6.53 million, passing the goal for the year to support academic, athletic, co-curricular, and financial aid programs. The �ֲ��ý Fund total includes Parents Fund contributions of $1.13 million with 38 percent participation. In addition, gifts to the �ֲ��ý Fund through the Friends of �ֲ��ý Athletics exceeded $609,000.

The 15 classes that celebrated �ֲ��ý Reunions in 2016 contributed more than $900,000 to the �ֲ��ý Fund during the year, while the college’s youngest alumni, the members of the Class of 2016, celebrated their graduation from �ֲ��ý with 76 percent participation in the Senior Gift campaign.

“Giving to �ֲ��ý has an impact on every aspect of the college experience,” Pearson said. “On behalf of the entire campus community, I offer my gratitude. It’s been a remarkable year, and we are truly thankful.”

Connections: Calling All Bobcats

�ֲ��ý Magazine — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:00:57 +0000

• Click the thumbnails below to view the slide show

Mike Bonney ’80, P’09, P’12 enjoys the video presentation. Bonney is the chair-elect of the Board of Trustees.

The event was held at the Seaport World Trade Center.

Jeff Price ’87 (left), who served as emcee, is the new president and publisher of "Sporting News."

Ted Beal ’64 (center) was a member of the Host Committee that worked to bring people together at the event to celebrate �ֲ��ý athletics.

Jim Callahan '65 (center) speaks with Ruth Leahey P'86, P'88. Callahan, a Trustee emeritus, received the Papaioanou Award for Service at this year's Reunion.

The first athletics-wide celebration in years summons the Bobcat faithful

By H. Jay Burns

Carolyn Campbell-McGovern ’83 figured that the recent was a success when she heard familiar laughter from a table nearby.

Campbell-McGovern was sitting up front with her mother, other honorees and their families, and President Hansen. The elegant setting “was very special,” she says.

Nearby, friends from her field hockey and lacrosse days were enjoying a Bobcat mashup with other generations of alumnae and “really having a great time,” Campbell-McGovern says with a laugh.

“That’s the kind of night it was — a tribute to great �ֲ��ý spirit, where everyone supports each other.”

The evening featured a number of awards (Dan Doyle ’72, for example, was inducted into the Scholar-Athlete Society that he helped found five years ago) plus a tribute to the late Robert Hatch, �ֲ��ý’ longtime athletics director and professor emeritus of physical education.

It was delivered by Trustee Ed Wilson ’62, who neatly distilled the elements of �ֲ��ý spirit when he described Hatch and the late Dean of Admissions Emeritus Milt Lindholm ’35 as true “patriots” of �ֲ��ý athletics.

“UCLA had John Wooden; �ֲ��ý College had Bob Hatch,” said Wilson.

The event at Boston’s Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center reflected the spectrum of Bobcat sports, from coaches and senior staff to former All-Americans, �ֲ��ý award winners, and those most loyal partisans, parents and relatives.

“Isn’t this great!”

President Hansen welcomed the group by noting how �ֲ��ý understands that “passion for athletics only deepens over time.” Jeff Price ’87, the new publisher and president of The Sporting News, served as emcee and said the evening was about “pride and excellence.” Director of Athletics Kevin McHugh stood behind the lectern, looked out at the 200-plus crowd, paused, and said, “Isn’t this great!”

It’s been a while since �ֲ��ý hosted a major Bobcat celebration — but not hard to draw a straight line between then and now.

In 1973, for example, a “Friends of Bob Hatch” testimonial honored Hatch when he retired as football coach. Attending that event, among others, was Steve Brown ’69, just a few years removed from a football career under Hatch.

Flash forward 37 years to the June event, and there was Brown, now a Trustee, receiving one of several newly created �ֲ��ý Best awards (see sidebar) for his athletics contributions, including his role in establishing the Friends of �ֲ��ý Athletics program.

And back in 1979 at the Park Plaza in Boston, the last big all-sports dinner helped raise funds for Merrill Gym. William “Chick” Leahey ’52 was there in his role as baseball’s winningest baseball coach under AD Bob Hatch. And in June 2010, there was Leahey, retired since 1990 and soon to turn 85, receiving the first Robert Hatch Award for “demonstrating a passion for Bobcat athletics.”

Campbell-McGovern, who received a �ֲ��ý Best athletics award, liked the way the Leahey and Hatch tributes reminded her of her �ֲ��ý experience.

“Bob Hatch was a great administrator. From where I sit now, I appreciate that fact even more,” says Campbell-McGovern, deputy executive director for the Ivy League.

She says she was a �ֲ��ý athlete “at a really good time” for women, as Hatch and others were attentively moving �ֲ��ý sports toward true coeducation. “I never felt disparity between men’s and women’s programs,” she says. As a captain, “I would’ve noticed it.” She does recall asking in her freshman year why the football team was allowed to arrive on campus before classes, “but then the field hockey team was allowed to arrive early by my sophomore year.”

And while fundraising was a background theme at the June event, attendees did buzz about the ongoing to install a FieldTurf surface plus new grandstands, lights, and press box. The $2.6 million project, as a matter of fact, is entirely donor-funded.

Bestest Behavior

Newly created this year, �ֲ��ý Best awards recognize significant work by alumni and parents that engages �ֲ��ý people with the College and that displays passion and commitment for advancing the �ֲ��ý mission.

The �ֲ��ý Best awards presented at the Volunteer Recognition Dinner in May honored volunteer work during 2009–10, while at the Athletics Celebration, �ֲ��ý Best awards recognized lasting contributions to the �ֲ��ý athletics program.

Volunteer Service

Reed Chisholm P’13

Renee Leduc Clarke ’98 and Liam Leduc Clarke ’98
Weston Bonney ’50
Michael Charland ’93
Alan Green ’75
Larry Handerhan ’05
Jennifer Glassman Jacobs ’00
Judy Marden ’66
Sarah Pearson ’75
Jennifer Guckel Porter ’88
Christian Rogers ’04
James Ross ’85
Ken Spalding ’73
Bill Sweat ’79
Kathy and Bob Whelan P’05
Jim Wylie ’60

Athletics Achievement

Steve Brown ’69
Carolyn Campbell-McGovern ’83
Ira Waldman ’73
Lynn Willsey ’54
Becky Flynn Woods ’89

Athletics' passionate friends

�ֲ��ý News — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:21:52 +0000

“It’s a great day…to give to a Bobcat!” That might well be the cheer of the , a new initiative aimed at allowing alumni, parents, and friends of the College to — in the words of Director of Athletics Kevin McHugh — “give to what they’re passionate about.” After only one year of existence, fundraising by the FBA has already had a measurable impact on athletics at �ֲ��ý, where about 53 percent of students participate in varsity or club sports:

The football program’s annual golf tournament, for example, raised money to purchase new scouting software and helped to defray the cost of weight- room renovations.
Gifts to the women’s basketball program sent the team to the South Padre Island Shootout in Texas.
Gifts to the �ֲ��ý rowing team helped purchase a new boat.

Traditionally, college advancement offices nationally have been reluctant to sanction institutionalized athletic fundraising for fear that it would siphon gifts away from annual fund drives. The new thinking, however, is that athletic fundraising can both supplement annual fund giving (such as through the �ֲ��ý Fund) and also get grads, parents, and friends of a college into the habit of philanthropy. These days, almost all schools in �ֲ��ý’ New England Small College Athletic Conference conduct sports-related fundraising. “There is a great deal of passion for �ֲ��ý athletics,” says Kelly Kerner, vice president for College advancement. “There are a lot of alums and parents whose connection to the College is rooted in an athletic experience. We’re providing an avenue for people to give to what they are passionate about.” The FBA’s initial fundraising year, which ended June 30, 2008, yielded $221,228, with all 31 varsity teams and 12 club sports benefiting from FBA gifts. Football, with its greater numbers and established golf tournament, led the way by raising $42,000, but club sports such as sailing ($17,000) and women’s hockey ($6,000) also did remarkably well. “And we’ve only scratched the surface,” McHugh says of the Friends of �ֲ��ý Athletics potential. Trustee Bruce Stangle ’70, chair of the Friends of �ֲ��ý Athletics Council, played varsity golf, club hockey, and a variety of intramural sports at �ֲ��ý, so he well understands the central role of sports in campus life. “At �ֲ��ý, the culture being what it is — no sororities, no fraternities — athletics are a big part of how friendships are formed and lifelong associations are created,” says Stangle. “We found a pent-up demand among alums asking, ‘How can I connect to an important part of my �ֲ��ý experience?'” In that sense, the FBA also focuses on “friendraising,” sponsoring receptions and other gatherings such as golf tournaments, a recent baseball reunion, and receptions during the College-hosted NCAA Skiing Championships in March. “The FBA is about engaging and re-engaging with �ֲ��ý people,” says McHugh. “We hope it leads to financial support, but it is equally important to bring people together around �ֲ��ý athletics.” Nate Kellogg ’09, a co-captain of both soccer and lacrosse, is one �ֲ��ý student-athlete keenly aware of what team alums can do for a team. “Last year, a lacrosse alum made an incredible gift that had an immediate impact,” Kellogg recalls. “He gave enough money so every reserve player could travel to our Connecticut College game.” So does Kellogg plan to become a Friend of �ֲ��ý Athletics? “Absolutely. No question,” he enthuses. “There’s been a lot of good leadership ahead of me and they’ve set the trend of giving back.” A distinguishing feature of FBA fundraising is that the money is not budget relief — it’s additional funding for key initiatives, such as spring trips or new equipment. Head men’s lacrosse coach Peter Lasagna explains how he got new helmets for his team. “Aaron Sells ’01, the captain of my first �ֲ��ý team, made the lead gift,” he says. “It was amazing: He called me and said, ‘I want to do this.’ A week later, 46 helmets arrived.” Total cost: $5,000-plus. But it’s not just �ֲ��ý alumni, parents, and friends who do the heavy lifting when it comes to athletics support. Across the board, varsity and club-sport athletes run their own fundraising programs, from clinics for local high school students to the rowing team’s innovative “rent-a-rower” odd-job service. Wayne Zimmerman, director of �ֲ��ý advancement services, hired the rowers to move a kit car he’s building into a garage. The service surprised him twice. “I didn’t know the athletes did things like this to raise money,” he says, “and I didn’t expect them to do it this well. But as you would expect from rowers: They were really in sync.” By Edgar Allen Beem Freelance writer Edgar Allen Beem wrote about biologist Will Ambrose’s clam- and climate-related research in the Spring 2008 issue.

Friends of �ֲ���ý Athletics – News