President's Christmas Newsletter: December 2019

December 2019

Dear Alumnae, Alumni, Parent and Friends:

In this season of Thanksgiving and Christmas joy, we pause to count our blessings and share gifts with those who give so much meaning to our lives. At Trinity, our students provide daily reminders of the great purpose we share in ensuring the mission of Trinity across generations. For them, I am so grateful for the generous gifts that you have given to support student scholarships and their educational needs:

• Juniors and seniors who need tuition support to complete their undergraduate degrees may now receive micro-grants from the fund established by this year’s 50th Reunion Class – “’69 To the Finish Line” raised nearly $500,000 for completion grants; sometimes a grant of just $500 can make the difference in getting a student to graduation day.
• Generous benefactors support hundreds of Trinity students with named scholarships in a range of disciplines; Conway Scholars, Shannon Scholars, Luce Scholars, Dreamer Scholars and others work hard each day to affirm the wisdom of their benefactors by making these investments in so many talented students.
• Thanks to some generous gifts last year, twelve students received $5,000 grants to study abroad lastsummer with the Council for International Educational Exchange, and the experiences truly changed their lives; with your generosity, we hope to be able to renew this program for other students in Summer 2020.
• Some students need extra support for books and transportation, food and housing; the great generosity of alumnae and benefactors makes it possible for Trinity to provide significant services and support for our many low-income students. With the median family income of Trinity undergraduates at just about $25,000, the extra help to buy an expensive nursing textbook or purchase an access code for a math online bundle or just to buy food at the end of the month means so much.

In this season of giving, even as I thank you for your past support, I ask you to remember the needs of Trinity students when you consider your year-end gifts. Every dollar contributed to Trinity’s Annual Fund helps to support our very worthy students. We welcome general contributions and also special gifts for specific purposes.

Making a Trinity education possible for others is one of the greatest gifts you can make this year, and always. Your support strengthens Trinity’s mission in providing a great education to students of high ambition and exceptional long-term potential for their families and communities. Thank you for your support!

May the bright and hopeful spirit of Trinity be with you all through the Christmas season!

With gratitude,

Patricia McGuire ’74
President

Trinity’s 2019-20 Clare Boothe Luce Scholars

I am pleased to announce the newest class of Clare Boothe Luce Scholars. Trinity is one of thirteen universities named in the bequest of Mrs. Luce that created a fund to support professorships and scholarships for talented women in the sciences.

Clare Boothe Luce Scholars, left to right: Jada Hampton, Zakiyyah Jones, Jessica Bonilla, Kelly Lee, Ami-Ra Bevel.

Ami Bevel ’21, Biology, demonstrates a strong interest in pursuing a career in a scientific field and is determined to incorporate her interest in scientific research to correcting inequities stemming from the lack of diversity that exists in research focus, funding and applications.

Jessica Bonilla ’20, Biology, conducted undergraduate research in engineering at Catholic University; she was so successful that her mentor chose to grow a new research arm in developing technologies for the detection of biologically-relevant molecules.

Jada Hampton ’21, Biology, has demonstrated an interest in a broad range of scientific topics and is currently working to acquire an internship to prepare her for a career in a scientific field.

Zakiyyah Jones ’20, Biochemistry, completed two competitive summer undergraduate research experiences in the chemical sciences. She has presented her research at local and national meetings.

Kelly Lee ’20, Biology, conducted research at the University of Connecticut in summer 2018, investigating whether an increase in ApoC-III leads to brain inflammation. In summer 2019 she was chosen for the Summer Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Fellowship at the University of Vermont.

Read more about these exceptional scholars.

Beloved Notre Dame Chapel and Alumnae Hall to be Renovated

We are anticipating two big projects in the next several years, along with many smaller facilities projects. The two major projects are:

Notre Dame Chapel: The Goubeau Trust has issued a $500,000 challenge grant that Trinity seeks to match to support necessary upgrades in Notre Dame Chapel. These improvements will include air conditioning, a new sound system and a restroom. We are seeking individual donors interested in making capital gifts to match the challenge, and interested alumnae may contact me directly: president@trinitydc.edu

Alumnae Hall Renovation: Work on the concept design for Alumnae Hall continues, with the complete report anticipated in early 2020. This project will be the top priority of Trinity’s 125th Anniversary campaign, ensuring the full renovation of this venerable building with air conditioning, new plumbing and new kitchen spaces, and modern residential facilities.

In Memoriam: Dr. Jacqueline Padgett and Dr. Raul Tovares

This summer, we sadly lost two faculty colleagues who were respected scholars and devoted teachers who touched the lives of so many students and graduates.

Dr. Jacqueline Padgett, a long-time tenured member of our English faculty, passed away in June. Dr. Padgett first taught at Trinity during the 1980s, then returned to join the full-time faculty in 1992. She had a wide range of scholarly interests, including the Annunciation in literature and art; Toni Morrison; and the Brontë sisters. While she retired as Professor Emerita in 2014, she continued to be engaged with Trinity’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Most recently, she edited a book published in 2014, The Brontë Sisters in Other Wor(l)ds. In her quiet, thoughtful way, she encouraged students to discover a love of English literature from a range of perspectives.

Dr. Raul Tovares, Associate Professor of Communication, passed away in July. When he joined Trinity’s faculty in 2000, Dr. Tovares brought a rich background intersecting his academic interests in communication, journalism and film, with his deep personal and professional concern for issues affecting the Latino community, Mexican culture, and issues in the American southwest. He cared deeply about developing in Trinity students the ability not only to think critically but also to speak persuasively; his development of the speech contest became an annual tradition that students have valued tremendously. We have renamed the annual speech contest as the Dr. Raul D. Tovares Speech Contest to honor his memory and to ensure that his legacy continues for many generations.

Give the Gift of Education This Season

We are so grateful for your support for the Trinity Annual Fund! The Trinity Annual Fund enlarges our resources for student grants and scholarships and other student needs.

Ways of Giving to the Trinity Annual Fund:

• Make your gift online! You can make a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift – it’s easy, fast and secure! trinitydc.edu/give
• Mail your check, payable to Trinity, to: Development Office, Trinity Washington University, 125 Michigan Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20017
• Call the Development Office to make your credit card gift by phone: 202-884-9720.
• Donate stock or mutual funds – please contact the Development Office: 202-884-9720, development@trinitydc.edu

To qualify for a 2019 tax deduction, your gift must be postmarked and credit cards charged by December 31.

Thank you!