I have just celebrated my first anniversary here at Westfield State University and continue to marvel at the profound impact our students and graduates are having, both here and around the world. From the transformations taking place on campus through the generosity of donors to their ripple effects elsewhere.
A case in point was prominent at this spring’s Celebration of Life for Catherine Dower, Ph.D., professor emerita of music. There is no way to overstate her impact on thousands of Westfield State students and their appreciation of music, the arts, and the world around them. At this special event, the University announced that a $1.1 million gift, our largest ever, had been received by an anonymous donor who was inspired by this incredible woman. This gift of Steinway pianos transformed the University into an All-Steinway institution, the only public university in New England with this distinction. One individual inspired another and now that impact will transform the lives of students for decades to come.
In addition to this historic gift, we experienced many milestones in fundraising. The end of March saw our annual day of giving, #Giveahoot, fly past its original goal to bring in over $40,000 in support of our students.
In one incredible 24-hour period in May, we opened our Dr. Nettie M. Stevens Science and Innovation Center with a showcase of some of the finest undergraduate research anywhere. Later that same day, we celebrated our fourth annual Pathways to Excellence gala. The combined total of monies raised through the four Pathways events surpassed the $1 million mark!
Through the generosity of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends, the University doubled the number of dollars raised this year. An incredible feat, allowing for more scholarships, internships, research opportunities, and classroom resources as we seek to fulfill President Torrecilha’s vision of The Westfield State Experience.
No matter where you look, we have so much to be proud of as we seek to build the best possible educational environment for today’s students. Take, for example, one of our newest alums, Samantha Lee ’17, who is already a force for change (see Page 8). Her story, as with so many other Westfield State students, is one of involvement, commitment, and focus—to her studies, and, equally as important, to the lives of others around her. And did I mention, she was the salutatorian of her class?
In addition, our athletic teams are going full-tilt, and we expect more upgrades to the fields surrounding the Woodward Center. And I would be remiss if I didn’t also point out how deeply proud we are as a campus to celebrate alongside Christina Swaidan, Ph.D., for her recognition by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, as well as Cheryl Stanley, Ph.D., and Azanda Seymour for their appointments to statewide commissions.
Positive energy abounds on campus. We invite you to “Come Back to the Nest” at the end of this month for a jam-packed weekend of activities planned for the Celebrate Westfield reunion weekend. If we don’t see you then, I hope you will return at your convenience, as we have much to celebrate.
