April 2013
Dear Classmates,
A very happy spring to you all! It’s been a long, snowy winter for those of us on the East Coast. We’re finally enjoying some sunshine and a bit of green grass. A truly welcome sight! This time of year always reminds me of Skidmore and downtown Saratoga. Campus started to come alive again with activities on Case Green, athletics and block parties, as well as trips to Saratoga Lake and afternoons strolling downtown.
Our newest class, 2016, is comprised of 650 students from 33 states and 34 countries and is the most diverse in the college’s history. For this academic year, Skidmore has awarded more than $36 million in student aid, with the grant portion of each package averaging $31,900. Roughly 42% of the Class of 2016 received Skidmore aid. None of this would be possible without your help. Annual giving comes to an end on May 31. If you have not made a gift, please consider making a donation today. All of us have helped make Skidmore what it is today.
This past year Newsweek’s “College Rankings 2012: 25 Happiest Schools” rated Skidmore #9. Many of us can attest to that. I know my friends and I experienced some life changing moments at Skidmore, and created some wonderful memories. Some days I wish I could go back in time, if for only one day. The article also mentioned that 88% of Skidmore students would choose the same school again and we hold a 95% full-time retention rate.
As part of Skidmore’s ongoing effort to provide greater support to recent graduates and alumni in their career development and transitions, the Career Development Center has brought on Jenna Hartwell as the new Associate Director of Alumni Career Development. Jenna provides individual career counseling to Skidmore graduates and works with alumni to create networking connections for current students and alums. She seems like a great resource, alumni interested in working with Jenna may contact her by calling the Career Development Center at (518) 580-5790.
I encourage you all to send in news for the upcoming issues of Scope by emailing class secretary Debbie Monosson at debbie@bfec.com. This is a wonderful way for us to stay connected. Many classmates have transitioned into retirement, while some of us are just beginning new careers. We’ve lost a few classmates this year, as well as spouses of classmates. Scope and the Internet have certainly made it easier for us to share news, and offer our love and support. For those of you on Facebook, please feel free to join our Skidmore Class of 1979 group. The group is open to all and is there as another means to communicate.
Spring of 2014 and our 35th reunion are not far away. Start thinking of old friends you’d like to see again – and begin reaching out now.
I wish you all the best in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Jenny
Jenny Charlesworth Thomas
Class President
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