Leaving their mark
New bricks with the names of all seniors were
installed on the walkway near Case Center.
Parents and family members of the Class of 2014 set a new record for participation to the Senior Parent Project this year. At the annual brick ceremony Friday, May 16, Project chair Marlene Gilbert announced that 548 donors—a record 77 percent—contributed $542,416 to the project.
Said Gilbert, “This is the highest level of participation in the history of Skidmore’s Senior Parent Project, and the fourth highest amount collected in the 14 years that the project existed.” Due to the generosity of a project committee member, a brick with the name of every student in the class was installed on the walkway near Case Center. Gilbert said this was appropriate, as it recognizes “all that the parents, faculty and staff have done for our students and the future of Skidmore.” The bricks serve as a permanent expression of “love and recognition to our children and in appreciation of Skidmore and its impact on their lives,” she added.
Alan and Marlene Gilbert presented a check of
for $542,416 to President Philip A. Glotzbach
and wife Marie.
Funds raised through the Senior Parent Project supported two key priorities this year: financial aid and the geothermal heating and cooling project. Gilbert explained that scholarship support from the Parents Fund supports students in the Class of 2015. In addition, funds will be directed toward Skidmore’s environmental initiative, specifically the drive to bring more of the campus online to the geothermal heating and cooling system. She called this “Part of Skidmore’s deep commitment to sustainability.”
The College began using geo-thermal heating and cooling with the construction of the North Woods apartments in 2006 and has just completed converting the South Campus to geothermal, resulting in a full 40 percent of the campus now using geo-thermal. Two years ago, Skidmore received a Sustainability Leadership Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education for its expansion of geothermal heating and cooling.
Parents and students used their smartphone
cameras to make a record of their contributions to the walkway.
President Philip A. Glotzbach said it was “inspiring” to see the number of participants and amount of funds raised through the Senior Parent Project. He acknowledged the wonderful tradition of support from Skidmore parents and added, “Parents, it is always inspiring to talk with you about your students—you can see your son or daughter’s growth during their Skidmore years.”
An additional goal of the Senior Parent Project is to demonstrate to the senior class
the importance of philanthropy. The Class of 2014 heard the lesson and responded with
a participation record of its own. During the Commencement ceremony, Amanda Seres,
co-chair (with Xavier Hatten) of the Senior Gift Campaign, announced that 84 percent
of the class (597 students) donated more than $5,200 to this year’s Senior Gift Campaign.
The Senior Gift traditionally supports financial aid.
Alan and Marlene Gilbert chaired the Class of 2014 Senior Parent Project. Their committee included Tom and Jackie Harfmann, James Bailey and Anne Shattuck, Fran Belasco, Michael and Roberta Joseph, Susan Goldberg and Simon Liu, Bess and Greg Goldstein, Anne Rieselbach and Grant Marani, Helen Marston, Lawrie Mott, Jane and Mark O’Keefe, Gary and Liz Schonfeld, and Susan and Robert Smith.
