The scholarship is thanks to ������Ƶ parents Mike and Karen Brocato P’16 who made a gift to the in memory of their son Joey, who died in 2019 following respiratory complications. Their gift also established the Brocato Family Teaching Fellows Scholarship, with preference given to female students in a STEM field.

Joey was known for his joyful spirit, refusing to let Down syndrome limit or define him. His sister Courtney Brocato ’16 also credits ������Ƶ with helping her become an outstanding special education teacher. The Brocato family wants the scholarship to help students like Courtney, and now Crowley, reach their full potential.

“We had the distinct pleasure of meeting Izzie when we visited ������Ƶ last fall. Her enthusiasm and drive were extremely special,” said Mike Brocato. “Izzie impressed us as having the right demeanor and temperament for a special education teacher and we felt that if Joey would have had her as a teacher when he was in school, that he would have loved her.”

As a Teaching Fellow, Crowley knew she was receiving a scholarship, but didn’t know she’d get the chance to meet the Brocato family. It made the beginning of her ������Ƶ journey even better.

“I’m just so blessed to even be given the privilege to meet this family and hear their story, and then, on top of that, them be so generous is really just inspiring,” said Crowley, who is from Norfolk, Massachusetts. “It’s something near and dear to my heart.”

The ������Ƶ Teaching Fellows Program is a model for the preparation of teaching leaders and scholars who contribute significantly to the quality of birth-12 education and who are influential in decision-making on the local, state, national and international levels. Through an increasingly complex four-year experience, this program prepares future teachers to think critically and embrace diversity, lead within and beyond the classroom, and participate meaningfully in a global society.

“Izzie Crowley embodies the spirit of the Joey Brocato Memorial Teaching Fellows Scholarship through her dedication to special education,” said Erin Hone, instructor in education and director of the Teaching Fellows Program. “Her stellar academic achievements in high school set a strong foundation for success.”

The Fellows receive $7500 in scholarship funding, renewed annually based on academic performance. Included in the award is airfare during the semester abroad and program-funded enrichment experiences including two Winter Term courses, seminars and speakers.

Crowley chose to study elementary education and special education because of a cousin who also has Down syndrome.

“My family is really close and we were closest in age,” said Crowley. “We’d hang out all the time and I never really thought anything of it until middle school when it started to become a taboo thing and they were in a special needs classroom. I also had a good connection with her.”

She’s already had the chance to dive into education, tutoring students with the It Takes A Village Project and getting a chance to explore her passion for dance with .

“As an ������Ƶ student, Izzie has continued to excel, demonstrating unwavering commitment to her studies and future students,” said Hone. “Known for her conscientious nature, kindness and enthusiasm for life, Izzie approaches every challenge with determination and heart. Whether in the classroom or serving in the community, she exemplifies the values of hard work, joy, and compassion that this scholarship honors.”

The Inn at ������Ƶ opened in January 2020 as part of the ������Ƶ LEADS Campaign, thanks to more than 50 families that supported the project through their generous funding. Their generosity, the hard work of the Inn at ������Ƶ staff and university constituents, and guests that have stayed at the inn, made the scholarships a reality. The first scholarships from inn’s proceeds went to 92 currently enrolled students, with more to be awarded to members of the Class of 2027, that will matriculate this fall.

In attendance at the events were senior staff members, including President Connie Ledoux Book, as well as Inn at ������Ƶ staff members, and the students supported by the grant.

The hope was that staff would see firsthand what “a stay with purpose” truly means to these students, and that following these engagements they would be able to tell these students’ stories to guests of the inn. These events provided a space to celebrate with the students that have already, or will in the future, benefit from the proceeds that result from the staff members’ own work.

After opening remarks by President Book, the guests shared a meal together and sat at designated tables, where there were various prompts to get to know more about each students’ story and their ������Ƶ experiences. Conversations filled the room, with discussions of internship opportunities and research projects, study abroad trips, and post-graduation plans. It was clear that every student had a story to tell and achievements that were made possible because of the funding they received through their scholarships.

Some of those students included Jayla Martin-Beasley ’25, a native Greensboro, North Carolina, majoring in strategic communications and anthropology who is planning to study abroad in Argentina next year and is refining her Spanish language skills this summer in preparation for her travels. Or Korryn OShea ’25, who is interested in software development and is participating in two internships this summer in hopes that it will lead to more hands-on experience. Or even Jose Torres-Reyes ’25, a finance major and native of Alamance County who will be going abroad to Spain next spring thanks to his Inn at ������Ƶ scholarship.

Students in attendance included:

• Noah Biggers
• Rafi Dahdal
• Yuzu Do
• Ryan Elad
• India Goode
• Moriah Griffin
• Kiara Hunter
• Kendall Lytle
• Jayla Martin-Beasley
• Daisy Martinez-Jimenez
• Korryn OShea
• Eva Real Roman
• Samuel Remes
• Isaias Reyes-Martinez
• Daija Rion
• Mari’ Robinson
• David Sawyer
• Kadin Simmons
• Ariston Tomes
• Jose Torres-Reyes
• Jennifer Tran
• Briston Whitt

The Inn at ������Ƶ staff enjoyed meeting with the students and hearing more about their plans. Kelly Uhl, one member of the housekeeping staff, commented that it was nice to be able to meet the students personally and hear more about how her own work is a part of helping them achieve their goals.

To learn more about the Inn at ������Ƶ or how to book your stay with purpose, click .

With 956 total faculty/staff donors, 61% of all ������Ƶ employees, totaling $338,376, President Connie Ledoux Book said the giving of ������Ƶ’s employees displays the power of philanthropy at the university.

“What I’m proud of and what I’m committed to is being a good steward of your resources,” Book said during the celebration. “Thank you for supporting education because I truly believe that an education is how we change the world for the best, it’s how we lead, it’s how to provide an opportunity for learning and growth and to see solutions for the real challenges we face.”

Associate Professor Tiffany Morris, the inaugural chair of the Department of Nursing, is on the Faculty/Staff Giving Executive Committee and spoke about the direct significance of ������Ƶ’s giving efforts to her personally. Her goddaughter, Kiara Hunter ’23, passed on a full scholarship at another university to attend ������Ƶ with support from the Odyssey Scholarship.

During her time as an undergraduate, Hunter has experienced all five of the ������Ƶ experiences, an opportunity that starts with the generosity of the ������Ƶ community.

“I know that without the scholarship and funding from ������Ƶ, she would not be graduating this May,” Morris said. “This year, we had 54 colleagues step up as captains for the giving efforts in their respective departments across the entire campus. Without the help of our captains, we will not be able to spread the importance and impact of philanthropy effectively.”

Book spoke of the difference made by the historic ������Ƶ LEADS campaign, which raised $260 million, and how it has paved the way for an incoming cohort of 57 Odyssey Scholars, the largest cohort since she has been president. Book also noted that Hunter’s story is what inspires the community and is the secret to what drives ������Ƶ’s generosity.

“The piece that I love about it is that it’s reciprocal. We have impacted Kiara’s life, no question about it. But Kiara has impacted ������Ƶ,” she said.

As the current vice chair and incoming chair of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Book has a broader perspective on how dedicated ������Ƶ’s faculty and staff are to supporting philanthropy. “It’s a really powerful testament and I’m proud to be president of a community that believes so deeply in the work that we do,” Book said.

During the academic year, 22 faculty-staff departments reached 100% participation:

• Administrative Services
• Business, Finance and Technology
• Campus Center
• Center for Equity and Inclusive Excellence
• Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning
• Center for the Study of Religion, Culture and Society
• ������Ƶ Core Curriculum
• Financial Aid
• Institutional Research and Assessment
• Internal Audit
• Kernodle Center for Civic Life
• Key Shop
• Moving and Set-up
• National and International Fellowships
• North Carolina Campus Compact
• Nursing
• Planning, Design & Construction Management
• President’s Office
• Sponsored Programs
• Student Involvement
• Sustainability
• University Advancement

With the conclusion of the ������Ƶ LEADS campaign, ������Ƶ saw a record number of donors come together to contribute a historic $260 million to support the university’s mission. And on Friday night, supporters of the university gathered in Schar Center to look at what has been accomplished already thanks to the ������Ƶ LEADS campaign, and to look ahead to how the historic effort will help ������Ƶ fulfill its vision for the future.

“I see the record number of donors to this campaign as 34,000 votes of confidence in our shared mission and where we are headed as a university,” President Connie Ledoux Book told the crowd of more than 500 gathered in Schar Center. “Successful campaigns like ������Ƶ LEADS propel great institutions forward to embrace new opportunities, to continue to innovate and to make that next major leap in quality and reputation.”

The public phase of ������Ƶ LEADS was announced in April 2019, and across the next four years, donors supported an effort that would surpass its initial goal by more than $10 million. The record $260 million supports four main funding priorities: scholarships and student aid, increased access to the ������Ƶ experiences engaged learning programs, support for faculty and staff mentors and the continued development of ������Ƶ’s iconic learning environment.

������Ƶ LEADS benefited throughout the campaign from strong leadership throughout the effort. The leadership and tireless efforts of campaign chairs were integral to the campaign’s success, and many of those key leaders were on hand Friday night to help celebrate including ������Ƶ Board of Trustees Chair Dave Porter P’11 P’19, Trustee Allen Gant, Trustee Ed Doherty and Joan Doherty P’07, Trustee Chris Martin ‘78 P’13, Priscilla Awkard ‘95, Christian Wiggins ‘03 and Jack McMackin ‘08. Maity Interiano ‘07 was a co-chair for the last year of the campaign, but was unable to attend Friday night’s event.

Awkard, Wiggins and McMackin, who along with Interiano co-chaired the final year of the campaign, shared with the crowd about how their time at ������Ƶ changed them and about what motivated them to take an active role in supporting the ������Ƶ LEADS effort. “All of us share a deep love for each other and our beloved university,” Awkard told the crowd in Schar Center. “We believe in the good that is happening here, and that just creates an unbreakable bond that we share.”
Senior Vice President for University Advancement and External Affairs Jim Piatt took the stage to detailed how the resources generated by ������Ƶ LEADS will impact students, faculty, staff and the campus for years to come. Among those resources are:

• $155 million to establish 287 new endowed scholarships
• $11 million and 60 new endowed funds to support study abroad, internships, undergraduate research, service and leadership
• $8 million to support the work of faculty and staff, including three new endowed professorships
• $86 million for the campus environment, including eight new facilities completed already

“At their core, university campaigns live at the intersection of history, hope and promise,” Piatt said. “At ������Ƶ, that intersection is inspired by leadership. In fact, the name of our campaign was strategically chosen because our university is the embodiment of leadership. It’s simply who we are. We educate leaders who share their talents and hearts with the world.”

Dave Porter, the parent of two ������Ƶ alumni and now the chair of the university’s board of trustees, touted the accomplishments of ������Ƶ students, a number of whom he has hired over the years. He introduced three current students — Lauren Copenhaver ‘24, Madison George ‘23 and Britt Mobley ‘24 — and said that when he sees these students, “I see the best of what ������Ƶ has to offer — talented, hardworking leaders who will make our society better.”

Copenhaver, George and Mobley described the multitude of ways that their experiences at ������Ƶ have impacted their lives, and the life-changing difference that scholarships have made in their ability to achieve their goals. “������Ƶ is more than just the classes you take,” Copenhaver told the crowd. “It’s about the people you meet and the relationships you build, and the impact each one has on your journey. I know I wouldn’t have had the same experience without the supportive relationships I’ve built with my professors and peers if I were somewhere else.”

Mobley recounted receiving a call in spring 2020 from Marcus Elliott with ������Ƶ’s Odyssey Program letting him know that he had been awarded the Inman Family Scholarship, and how in that moment, he saw the puzzle pieces start to come together. During his time at ������Ƶ, he’s visited 11 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Southwest Asia through the Semester-at-Sea program, sleeping under the stars in the Sahara Desert and having long talks over tea with people in Jordan and Morocco.

“This experience has changed my life forever,” said Mobley, who was elected student body president in March. “I am more confident, well-rounded and grateful for what I have. And I realized there are a lot of misconceptions about this beautiful world that can cause a lot of harm. Being able to appreciate different cultures and share that with my peers has been extremely powerful.”

Following her graduation later this month, George will be pursuing her doctorate in bioengineering at Stanford University and build upon her work as an engineering major at ������Ƶ. A member of ������Ƶ’s track and field team, George has done that work side-by-side with a variety of mentors during the past four years, including Associate Professor of Physics Kyle Altmann, who mentored her as she sought to design the first women’s pole vault shoes. That project is now her Honors Program thesis which she is completing with faculty mentors Scott Wolter from the Department of Engineering and Shefali Christopher from the Department of Physical Therapy Education.

“The biggest lesson I have learned is that I am capable of being the writer of my story and of being an agent for change,” George said. “I am supported by a university that is committed to my individual journey and has been since the very beginning.”

Mentoring is a hallmark of an ������Ƶ education, and students are given the opportunity to build a “constellation of mentors” during their time at the university, whether it be in the classroom, the lab, at on-campus jobs or in service to the community. During her 16 years at ������Ƶ, Professor of Exercise Science Caroline Ketcham has mentored close to 100 students in undergraduate research, including Katie Lowe ‘23, who joined her on stage in Schar Center. Often, the mentors benefit from the relationship just as much as the mentees, Ketcham explained.

“The skills, energy and ideas students like Katie bring to those mentoring relationships have expanded my research and pushed me to use new methodologies, making a meaningful impact on student learning in the community at ������Ƶ and beyond,” Ketcham said. “Student scholars turned colleagues like Katie are why my research continues to evolve and be recognized and why our students are prepared to make a meaningful impact not only in their careers, but in their communities.”

Friday night was also a night to showcase the talented students who wowed audiences during their times at ������Ƶ, with Broadway star and ������Ƶ music theatre alumnus Adam Kaplan ‘12 bookending the evening with performances of Beautiful from “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and of “Go the Distance” from Disney’s “Hercules.”

President Book closed the event by offering her gratitude to the campaign leaders who set an ambitious course for ������Ƶ LEADS as well as for the work of previous ������Ƶ presidents Fred Young and Leo M. Lambert and their “legacy of excellence” that the university is now building upon. She honored the late Jo Watts Williams ‘55, who served her alma mater for more than 75 years and whose family made the largest single endowment gift in ������Ƶ’s history, with the university’s school of education now bearing her name.

“We have arrived at a new era and as we move forward, let us not lose sight of what is most important about our work here — that the heart of this university lies in its people,” Book said. “And every time we invest in a student, we are changing their lives forever and their future communities for the better. Friends, together we are writing a new chapter in our never-ending story and creating a future that I know is full of hope and promise.”

This is the second promotion at the network in the past year for Interiano. In February 2022, the ������Ƶ School of Communications graduate was named co-anchor of the weekend evening edition of the network’s newscast, “Noticiero Univision Fin De Semana.”

“We are excited to see Maity Interiano’s continued growth by joining the weekly late evening edition of our national newscast, ‘Noticiero Univision Edición Nocturna,’” said Leopoldo Gomez, president of Univision News. “She is an incredibly accomplished, award-winning journalist whose talent, skill and passion can be seen through her work for the Spanish-speaking audience. Noticias Univision serves in order to advance our mission of informing and empowering the Hispanic community.”

“Anchoring Noticiero Univision is a dream come true and big responsibility to continue to serve the Hispanic community,” Interiano said. “I am honored and grateful to be the first Honduran, and Central American, journalist to anchor Noticiero Univisión.”

Univision News is the award-winning news division of TelevisaUnivision, the leading Spanish-language media and content company in the U.S. and the most trusted source of news for Hispanics in the U.S.

Previously, Interiano served as a reporter, correspondent and host of Univision’s flagship daytime Emmy Award-winning show “Despierta América,” “UNews,” and “Noticiero Univision Edición Digital.” In addition, Interiano has frequently been a Univision correspondent for a variety of events, including “Premios Juventud,” “Premio lo Nuestro,” the “Latin GRAMMY” awards, “Nuestra Belleza Latina,” the Golden Globes, the Oscars and Rose Parade among many others.

As one of Univision’s lead correspondents, Interiano has covered some of the world’s biggest news stories, including the migrant caravans reaching the U.S.-Mexico border and the resulting humanitarian crisis. Her versatility has allowed her to cover a wide range of events, from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil to the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from London and the canonization of Saint Mother Teresa in Rome. In 2022, Interiano flew to London to cover the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Interiano studied broadcast communications at ������Ƶ and credits her faculty mentors and engaged learning experiences in the School of Communications with helping to prepare her for success. After graduating in 2007, she returned to her alma mater to deliver ������Ƶ’s commencement address in 2017. She also received ������Ƶ’s Top 10 Under 10 Award in 2012, and the Distinguished Alumni Award and School of Communications’ Outstanding Alumni Award in 2021.

Interiano serves on ������Ƶ’s School of Communications advisory board and during 2022 served as one of four alumni co-chairs of the successful , which concluded on December 31, 2022, raising a record $260 million.

One of ������Ƶ’s most engaged graduates, Interiano has been a loyal donor to her alma mater, making generous gifts to support ������Ƶ’s Greatest Needs, the Latinx/Hispanic Alumni Network, Phoenix Club and School of Communications.

Last year, she established The Maity Interiano Annual Scholarship, with first preference given to Hispanic/Latinx students studying in the School of Communications. She is also a member of the President’s Young Leaders Council and returns to campus to mentor students in the School of Communications.

Beyond her work in journalism, Interiano also serves the Hispanic community by working with the Amor y Vida Foundation, which offers comprehensive care to young children and teenagers affected by HIV/AIDS in her native Honduras. She also participates in the annual Teletón México and Teletón U.S.A. fundraising events.

President Connie Ledoux Book has announced the successful conclusion of the , which raised a record $260 million to support four main funding priorities: scholarships and student aid, increased access to the ������Ƶ Experiences engaged learning programs, support for faculty and staff mentors and to continue developing ������Ƶ’s iconic learning environment.

“This is an exciting day in the history of ������Ƶ,” Book said. “We are grateful to the more than 34,000 donors to ������Ƶ LEADS who believe deeply in investing in ������Ƶ students and our bright future. These historic investments in an ������Ƶ education will continue to fuel excellence and our national rise in the decades ahead.”

The public phase of ������Ƶ LEADS was announced in April 2019. The campaign concluded on Dec. 31, 2022, exceeding the $250 million goal. The university’s previous campaign, Ever ������Ƶ, ended in 2011 raising $107.3 million.

“������Ƶ’s culture of philanthropy has never been stronger thanks to the leadership of thousands of alumni, parents and friends whose inspired investments in this campaign are changing lives,” said James B. Piatt Jr., vice president for university advancement. “The success of ������Ƶ LEADS is providing transformational support for ������Ƶ students, faculty and staff, and our campus.”

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to congratulate the entire ������Ƶ community on making the ������Ƶ LEADS Campaign a big success,” said Dave Porter P’11 P’19, chair of the board of trustees who led the first year of the campaign’s public phase. “It is gratifying to see this collective commitment to preparing the courageous leaders our world needs.”

Strong leadership was a hallmark of excellence throughout ������Ƶ LEADS. President Book thanked all the campaign chairs whose leadership and generosity played an integral role in its success, including Dave Porter, ������Ƶ Trustee Allen Gant, Trustee Ed Doherty and Joan Doherty P’07, Trustee Chris Martin ’78 P’13, Priscilla Awkard ’95, Christian Wiggins ’03, Maity Interiano ’07 and Jack McMackin ’08.

The success of ������Ƶ LEADS is the result of the collective impact of gifts from throughout the ������Ƶ donor community, including endowed and annual gifts, estate commitments and capital gifts that added stunning new facilities to ������Ƶ’s campus.

������Ƶ LEADS was focused on four main funding priorities:

Scholarships to Prepare Graduates the World Needs

The top campaign priority was increasing support for students in the form of scholarships. Donors contributed $155 million to establish 287 new endowed scholarships, bringing historic growth to ������Ƶ’s endowment, and to support financial aid through annual gifts.

The majority of new endowed scholarships were in ������Ƶ’s renowned Odyssey Program, which serves students with high financial need, including many who are the first in their families to attend college. Donor gifts also created new Fellows scholarships and ������Ƶ Engagement scholarships for admitted students.

Access to Engaged Learning

Donors contributed $11 million to create 60 new endowed funds to broaden access to the university’s nationally recognized ������Ƶ Experiences engaged learning programs, including study abroad, internships, undergraduate research, service learning and leadership. These investments help bolster ������Ƶ’s consistent ranking as the top school in the nation in 8 high-impact teaching and learning practices that lead to student success.

Faculty and Staff Mentors Who Matter

Believing in the power of mentoring relationships, donors contributed $8 million to support the work of ������Ƶ’s outstanding faculty and staff mentors, including endowing three professorships. These mentoring relationships help drive ������Ƶ to the #1 national ranking for undergraduate teaching.

������Ƶ’s Iconic Learning Environment

The impact of ������Ƶ LEADS on the university’s campus footprint has been profound. Thanks to $86 million in gifts from hundreds of ������Ƶ families, the following new facilities and spaces have been strategically added:

• School of Communications expansion, including Steers Pavilion, Dwight C. Schar Hall, Citrone Plaza, Snow Family Grand Atrium, Turner Theatre and the Jane and Brian Williams Television Studio
• LaRose Student Commons
• Schar Center
• The Inn at ������Ƶ
• Richard W. Sankey Hall
• Koenigsberger Learning Center
• Founders Hall & Innovation Hall in the Innovation Quad

Among the highlights of the campaign was the largest single endowment gift ever received by ������Ƶ. The Williams family, including ������Ƶ Trustee William (Lee) Williams III and Dr. Randall Williams and his wife, Elizabeth, made a $10 million gift to endow the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education in honor of their mother, a beloved 1955 ������Ƶ graduate who was connected to her alma mater as an educator and administrator for more than 75 years.

The endowment supports multiple initiatives across the university involving students, faculty, administrators and the university’s community partnerships, as well as establishes 20 scholarships in the Odyssey Program.

In addition to building the university endowment, ������Ƶ LEADS brought substantial gains in annual giving, with alumni, parents and friends contributing $78 million as part of the total raised to support scholarships, programs and daily operations of the university.

Donors were also inspired to contribute to ������Ƶ’s long-term future by making $46 million in estate and other planned gifts, creating a vital pipeline of support to keep ������Ƶ moving forward.

This fall, ������Ƶ LEADS events were held in Atlanta, New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. and saw over 1,200 attendees in total, renewing ties with ������Ƶ constituents across the nation and bringing a piece of ������Ƶ to them.

“This campaign has taught us that we can never let our attention wander from the
importance of scholarships and financial aid for students,” President Connie Ledoux Book said.

Atlanta, Georgia

The fall 2022 ������Ƶ LEADS Campaign events kicked off with the first event in Atlanta, Georgia on Sept. 7 at the historic Fox Theatre. ������Ƶ LEADS co-chair Christian Wiggins ’03 gave the opening remarks, starting off with encouragement to his fellow alumni to make a difference and step up by joining other donors in giving to the campaign. The importance of scholarships and student aid was a common theme throughout the night.

Cedric Pulliam ’12 also took the stage, detailing how scholarships and fellowships led to real-world experience for him, in the form of internships that shaped the course of his career and life.

“The Periclean Scholars program debuted me into the global public health space that I currently work in,” said Pulliam, who has worked in public health for over a decade. His career comprises many leadership roles, including stints at the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services as the senior advisor for the chief medical officer for the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy and at the CDC in Atlanta as a senior public health advisor in the Division of HIV Prevention. Pulliam shared how he is an example of how gifts from donors assist students and make an impact, because it was his scholarships that allowed him to gain the practical experience he needed for his future.

President Book followed and continued to hone in on the impact of supporting students by urging attendees in their philanthropy. “Make ������Ƶ and ������Ƶ LEADS one of your priorities. After all, we are funding dreams in this campaign,” Book said.

New York City

The next event followed just on the heels of Atlanta, on Sept. 15 at The Glasshouse in New York City. Ava Rosen ’23 spoke about student impact, and how important funding is for students in need. She discussed how the Inman Family Scholarship in the Odyssey Program and the Business Fellows scholarship gave her the opportunity to pursue her dreams and avoid significant debt following the emotional and financial hardships that her family saw after losing her father to cancer when she was only 13. The funding she received made college affordable for her and made her dreams attainable.

The highlight of the event was a special tribute to Ed and Joan Doherty P’07, who have been inspirational agents of change in their service to ������Ƶ. One of their visions was to create a vibrant alumni network in the New York area, which they have helped accomplish by sponsoring yearly Evenings for ������Ƶ gatherings at iconic venues across the city for more than a decade. The Dohertys were also instrumental to the ������Ƶ LEADS Campaign, serving as chairs of the Campaign Planning Committee from 2014-2016. In recognition of their generous support of ������Ƶ, President Book presented Ed and Joan Doherty with the ������Ƶ Medallion, the university’s highest honor recognizing exemplary service to the institution.

Closing out the night was a performance of the song “I’ll Be There” by Sidney Wilson ’21, who currently stars in the hit Broadway musical “The Lion King.” President Book emphasized that alumni like Wilson help make ������Ƶ one of the top 10 music theatre programs in the nation.

Boston, Massachusetts

The next fall event was held in Boston on Oct. 12 at Fairmont Copley Plaza. Campaign co-chair Priscilla Awkard ’95 opened the night with a focus on ������Ƶ’s recent national rankings and recognition.

“������Ƶ’s rise to the national stage is one of the most remarkable stories in higher education, and the generosity of our community has played a pivotal role in that continued rise,” Awkard said.

President Book also focused on these rankings, and said, “As we saw reinforced last month by the latest U.S. News rankings, ������Ƶ’s standing as a top-100 national university means that we increasingly compete in an admissions market with schools with much larger endowment resources. Together, by keeping our focus on student support, we can ensure that ������Ƶ has the resources it needs to recruit the finest community of students year in and year out.”

Another major focus of the night was internships and real-world experience students receive through the generous funding of donors. President Book explained that close to 90% of ������Ƶ students participate in an internship while in school and that around half of those lead to employment in prominent companies, including many in Boston such as Baystate Financial, Bank of America and more.

Speakers throughout the night focused on the importance of this practical experience. President Book noted that nearly half of internships are unpaid, which is a major barrier for students with limited funds. She then encouraged attendees that this was why funding was so important in providing those opportunities for students, one of the major goals of the campaign.

Los Angeles

The next stop of the campaign was Los Angeles, with an event on Nov. 1 at the Carondelet House. The night opened with remarks from campaign co-chair Maity Interiano ’07. Interiano grew up in Honduras and knew from a young age that she wanted to be an influential journalist. Now a Network News Anchor for Univision, she credits ������Ƶ for giving her the opportunities that she needed to succeed in this field.

She explained that she remains committed to helping support the university and students, especially Hispanic, Latinx and international students like herself. Interiano also established the Maity Interiano Annual Scholarship as a part of the ������Ƶ LEADS Campaign. She announced that Jose Alex Reyes ’25 is the first recipient of the scholarship. Reyes is the son of immigrants with hopes of becoming a creative director, and it is Interiano’s hope that this scholarship will assist him in making his dreams a reality.

“I was like Jose Alex Reyes at the time, and the most important thing is I know he is taking full advantage of his ������Ƶ experience and will achieve everything he sets out to do and more. And that is why tonight, I want to invite you to join the ������Ƶ LEADS Campaign too. Think about the legacy you want to leave and remember how there were people, experiences and opportunities that made a difference in your time at ������Ƶ,” Interiano said.

The focus of the night remained on student impact, furthering dreams and making a way for the future of ������Ƶ. President Book followed with a focus again on internships and how they lead to career opportunities. With Los Angeles being a major draw for employment in the entertainment industry, she explained that almost half of internships for students at ������Ƶ lead to employment at companies in Los Angeles.

Washington, D.C.

The last event was held at The Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 15. Jim Piatt, vice president for University Advancement, took to the stage to explain just how transformative this campaign has been and will continue to be for ������Ƶ.

Piatt focused on the four key priorities of the campaign — increasing support for students through scholarships, increasing access to engaged learning programs, investing in faculty and staff “Mentors Who Matter,” and adding to the campus footprint through innovative facilities.

He noted that more than 270 new endowed scholarships have been created in the campaign, bringing historic growth to the university’s endowment; more than 50 new endowed funds have been established to broaden access to the ������Ƶ Experiences programs, including global study and internships; and that donors have invested nearly $8 million in faculty and staff mentors.

Piatt also shared the profound impact of ������Ƶ LEADS on ������Ƶ’s iconic learning environment, including eight new facilities strategically added to the campus footprint. One of those facilities is The Inn at ������Ƶ, where all revenue beyond operating costs goes to fund scholarships. “������Ƶ has awarded more than $1.3 million in need-based scholarships thanks to income from The Inn,” Piatt said.

Next to the stage was Ike Credle ’83. As an ������Ƶ alum and a veteran that has served for 20 years in the U.S. Army, Credle said, “One of my purposes in life is to be a bridge builder. The idea is to build a bridge so that those coming behind you may avoid some of the pitfalls you may have encountered.” Credle explained the challenge loans had on him following graduation and how he wanted to make an impact on students. He honored his mother by making an estate gift that will endow the Rebecca A. Credle Scholarship. It is gifts such as this one that opens doors for our future leaders.

President Book followed, noting the university’s endowment has grown to nearly $300 million, with 70% of that going to student scholarships, ������Ƶ’s top-100 national ranking in U.S. News & World Report, over 34,000 donors giving to the campaign and the announcement that collective contributions total more than $257 million surpassing the $250 million goal for the campaign.

President Book ended the final event by noting there is more to accomplish in the campaign. “Let’s keep this amazing momentum of the ������Ƶ LEADS Campaign going as we move toward its Dec. 31 close, and let’s also look beyond, in partnership and with confidence!”

As the final days of the campaign approach, all donors can find their place in this historic fundraising effort by making a gift at . Every gift, no matter the size, will make an impact for the future of ������Ƶ and the university’s students. The final tally for the ������Ƶ LEADS Campaign will be announced in January.

The ������Ƶ community is invited to celebrate the impact of this historic campaign at an event on Apr. 28, 2023, at the Schar Center, where alumni, parents, students, faculty/staff and friends will gather once more to show thanks for the generosity of donors who continue to support ������Ƶ’s mission and growth.

There’s still time to make an impact on students and the university’s future by to the area of campus you cherish most. All gifts made to the university count as part of , which concludes on December 31, 2022. In January, President Book will share final results of the campaign and how philanthropy is propelling ������Ƶ forward to meet future priorities.

������Ƶ parents Dave and Suzanne Lissy P’24 of Needham, Massachusetts, have made a generous gift via the Lissy Family Foundation to endow the Lissy Family ������Ƶ Engagement Scholarship, helping to make a life-changing ������Ƶ education possible for talented students. The couple’s gift is driving the success of the , which concludes on Dec. 31.

“We believe strongly in the power of education to transform lives, and we created the Lissy Family Foundation, in part, based on our desire to make higher education and other educational opportunities more accessible,” Dave Lissy said.

“Education is of the highest importance to us,” Suzanne Lissy said. “We have come to appreciate how special ������Ƶ is and are very pleased to help students from all backgrounds to fully experience it.”

Deepening scholarship funding is the top priority of ������Ƶ LEADS, the largest fundraising campaign in ������Ƶ’s history that concludes on Dec. 31. ������Ƶ Engagement Scholarships are designed to assist promising incoming students who embody the spirit and values of ������Ƶ and are eager to benefit from the university’s national leadership in engaged learning.

Engagement Scholarships include a one-time grant for students to participate in the renowned ������Ƶ Experiences programs, including global study, internships, undergraduate research, service learning and leadership development.

“The ������Ƶ community is indebted to Dave and Suzanne for helping to make an ������Ƶ education possible for talented students who make us a stronger university,” said John Gardner ’01, senior director of development at ������Ƶ.

The couple’s daughter, Julia Lissy ’24, is an ������Ƶ junior studying strategic communications. She is spending fall semester in London, including doing an internship, and hopes to build on that experience by pursuing the ������Ƶ in Los Angeles program. Julia works on the staff of The Edge, the online fashion and lifestyle magazine created by ������Ƶ students.

“Our daughter made the right decision to go to ������Ƶ and she is flourishing there,” Suzanne said. “She feels like ������Ƶ is a second home for her.”

The Lissys have also been impressed with how ������Ƶ encourages intellectual and personal growth in students.

“Since Julia started at ������Ƶ, she’s developed her own independence and has found an opportunity to connect in a lot of different ways,” Dave said. “That has given her opportunities to grow academically and socially and prepare her for what she’s going to do after ������Ƶ. We have a lot of confidence that ������Ƶ is on a good path and continues to grow, and we hope this gift helps to continue that progress.”

The ������Ƶ LEADS Campaign

������Ƶ LEADS is the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the university’s history and supports four main priorities: scholarships to support graduates the world needs, increased access to engaged learning opportunities such as study abroad, research and internships, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter, and development of ������Ƶ’s iconic campus.

Every gift to the university—including annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts—for any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen ������Ƶ for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact now, visit .

The couple’s gift is part of A Will to Lead, a special initiative of the ������Ƶ LEADS Campaign that encourages donors to place ������Ƶ in their estate plans. Since the launch of A Will to Lead in March 2021, alumni, parents and friends have contributed $14.8 million in estate gifts to sustain ������Ƶ’s nationally recognized brand of high-impact, engaged teaching and learning.

Grayson and Connie Whitt have been devoted donors to ������Ƶ for more than four decades, primarily supporting athletics, including gifts to the Phoenix Club, Rhodes Stadium, Latham Baseball Park, and ������Ƶ’s Greatest Needs. In 2016, the couple made a gift to name an assistant coach’s office in the Men’s Basketball suite in Schar Center.

The couple can be seen regularly at ������Ƶ football and basketball games among other athletics events. Grayson Whitt hasn’t missed a home football game since Rhodes Stadium opened in 2001.

“It is good to give to something that you believe in, and I believe in ������Ƶ athletics,” Whitt said. “I like the athletics family at ������Ƶ. It is a very progressive and positive environment.”

������Ƶ Director of Athletics Dave Blank thanked the Whitts for their loyalty to ������Ƶ athletics through the years.

“We are grateful to Grayson and Connie Whitt for their steadfast support of ������Ƶ student-athletes,” Blank said. “Their long history of investing in our athletics programs has helped fuel a winning tradition and allowed our students to compete at the highest level.”

As an alumnus, Whitt has had a front-row seat to the growth and rise of ������Ƶ’s athletics program, beginning with the move from NAIA to NCAA Division II and ultimately to Division I competition (FCS football) in the Colonial Athletic Association.

“I like that ������Ƶ’s administration has pushed athletics to the next level and that’s been a bright spot for me to watch that happen,” Whitt said. “It’s good to be playing schools like Richmond and College of Charleston and UNC-Wilmington. The name recognition of playing similar and higher-level teams is what I have really liked at ������Ƶ.”

Whitt credits Blank and his predecessor, Alan White, who led ������Ƶ athletics for nearly three decades, for establishing a tradition of excellence in athletics.

“Alan White was instrumental in getting that rolling,” Whitt said. “He was a great leader and planted a lot of seeds for the athletics department to progress, and Dave Blank has certainly continued that progression.”

Whitt called White a “tough but fair professor” and valuable mentor during his time as a student in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, where he earned a degree in physical education. Whitt served as sports editor of The Pendulum student newspaper and also worked in ������Ƶ’s sports information office.

Whitt said he’s proud to provide for ������Ƶ athletics in his estate plan as part of A Will to Lead and the .

“It is a legacy gift that is going to help the future of ������Ƶ athletics after I’m gone,” said Whitt, who retired this year following a 43-year career in banking in North Carolina. “It was important for me to leave a legacy that way. I want ������Ƶ athletics to continue to be successful going forward and excel in all sports.”

The Whitts are parents of ������Ƶ alumni Brad Whitt ’08 and Meredith Whitt ’09. The Whitts are members of the 1889 Society and Order of the Oak, which recognizes donors who make estate and other planned gifts to ������Ƶ.

A Will to Lead & The ������Ƶ LEADS Campaign

To learn more about A Will to Lead and the benefits of estate gifts, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president and director of principal gifts, at (336) 278-7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

������Ƶ LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history and supports four main priorities: scholarships for graduates the world needs, access to engaged learning opportunities such as study abroad, research and internships, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter and ������Ƶ’s iconic campus.

Every gift to the university—including annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts—for any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen ������Ƶ for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit . ������Ƶ LEADS concludes on December 31, 2022.