Posted on Nov 1, 1995

Union alumni and friends turned the Bicentennial into an extraordinary year for the Performing Arts at the College. Starting on a Saturday evening in May and ending seven weeks later, during Reunion Weekend, the College:

Dedicated and opened the Morton '36 and Helen Yulman Theater, capping off a $5.2 million funding drive and 18 month construction project. The Yulman Theater provides the first home specifically designed by the College to house drama faculty and the Mountebanks, and to stage theater performances.

Launched a new era in dance at Union through an “Evening with Edward Villella before a sold-out crowd in Memorial Chapel. The evening was sponsored by Charles Lothridge '44. Lothridge has provided over $100,000 to fund
a juried competition and provide direct support for dance instruction at the College.

Established the High Allen Wilson endowment for choral music. The endowment, a gift of Peter Brayton '72, Donald Foley '73, Glenn Wolfson '77 and others was a surprise, presented to Prof. Wilson in front of another Memorial Chapel full house at the Bicentennial Glee Club/Choir Reunion concert.

Posted on Nov 1, 1995

Bicentennial Cup-1941

Paul Mara '41, Head Agent, for highest combined annual, capital and planned gift dollar total: $1,440,767

Class of 1930 Bowl-1985

Suzanne Rice '85 & Tim Hesler '85, Co-Head Agents, for highest percentage participation, ten most recent classes: 44.05%

Class of 1944 Award-1944

Rexford Moon '44, Head Agent, for the most Terrace Council members: 26

Clowe-Stevenson-Wyatt Prize-1995

Thor Benander '95, David Levine '95 and Dawn Schwartz '95, Senior Class Gift CoChairs, for highest percent participation, seniors and four most recent classes: 44.0%

Dixon Ryan Fox Cup-1953

John Moses '53, Head Agent, for highest percentage participation (for a class which has not yet celebrated its 50th Reunion): 83.13%

William Jaffe Cup-1949

Pat McGivern '49 & Sy Gluck '49, Co-Head Agents, for largest Annual Fund dollar total: $102,155

Posted on Nov 1, 1995

At the beginning of the Bicentennial Campaign, the late Charles M. Tidmarch, Prof. of Political Science, talked about the scholarship tradition at Union.

“One of the things I appreciate about the founding of Union is the democratic impulses that made this college different from most other early American colleges. True to the spirit that had brought forth a new nation, the founders of Union were determined to avoid narrow sectarian interest. The children of farmers were welcome as the children of ministers and patroons.

“Thankfully the College is as committed today as it was in 1795 to bringing together a blend of competent, highly motivated, young persons from varying backgrounds. Looking toward the next century, I am convinced that generous scholarship support for students who need it is the key to our future. When we help a student in this fashion, we also help our community, our nation, and our world.

“The prime consideration in accepting a student at Union is-and must remain-the ability to benefit from a Union education. We are fortunate that so many alumni and friends share this belief.”

In the spirit of Prof. Tidmarch, the College extends a heartfelt thanks to those who established 16 new endowed scholarships during the Bicentennial year:

• Max and Helen B. Barandes Scholarship (Gerald '54, Martin '59 and Robert'69
  Barandes). 

• Randi S. Bell '85 Memorial Scholarship (Delta Delta Delta and friends of Randi Bell). 
• Roland D. Ciaranello '65, M.D., Memorial Scholarship (Mr. & Mrs. Roland V. Ciaranello). 
• William J. Curtin '82 Scholarship (William J. Curtin '82). 
• Anna Draves Self-Discovery Scholarship (Anonymous). 
• Joseph F. Furlong '42 Scholarship (Dixie and Joseph F. Furlong, III. '70) 
• Hallenback Family Scholarship (Lewis W. Hallenback '40, Mary C. Hallenback) 
• Evelyn Killian Scholarship (Robert K. Killian '42 and Robert K. Killian, Jr. '69) 
• Rear Adm. Lee E. Landes '45 Scholarship (Rear Adm. Lee E. Landes '45) 
• Frank L. Messa '73 Scholarship (Colleen and Frank l.. Messa '73) 
• John W. and Kevin M. Meyer Scholarship (Randolph W. Mever '57) 
• Donald E. Nitchman '33 Memorial Scholarship (Anonymous) 
• The Starr Scholarship (The Starr Founbdation) 
• Mildred and E. Glen Wells '27 Scholarship (Mildred and E. Glen Wells '27) 
• Royton F. Wheadon '08 Scholarship (Estate of Royton F. Wheadon '08) 
• Shui Kong Yuen '42 Memorial Scholarship (Family of Shin Kong Yuen '42)

Thanks also go to those who gave over $1.3 million to build existing scholarships during 1994-95:

• Walter R. G. Baker '16 Scholarship (The W. R. G. Baker Charitable Foundation) 

• Thomas A. Baltay '87 Memorial Scholarship (Jeffrey A. Leerink '87, friends and family of Thomas A. Baltay '87) 
• Louis Calder Foundation Scholarship (The Louis Calder Foundation) 
• Edward D. Cammarota '37 Scholarship (Edward D. Cammarota '37) 
• Michael R. Cappiello '39 Scholarship (Michael R. Cappiello '39) 
• Edward W. Carsky '50 Scholarship (Patricia and Edward W. Carsky '50 M.D.) 
• David B.'59 and Elaine Chapnick Scholarship (David B. Chapnick '59) 
• Joseph H. Dusenbury '45, Ph.D. Memorial Scholarship (Bernice K. Dusenberry) 
• Thomas E. Hanigan, Jr. '44 Memorial Scholarship (The Grace Foundation) 
• William Randolph Hearst Foundation Scholarship (William Randolph Hearst Foundation) 
• Lawrence J. Hollander Bicentennial Scholarship (Dean Emeritus Lawrence J. Hollander) 
• Joseph T. Maras Memorial Scholarship (Robert M. DeMichele '66) 
• Franklyn B.'32 and Irma Millham Scholarship (Franklyn B. Millham '32 Trust) 
• Gordon F. Newell '46 Scholarship (Gordon F. Newell '46) 
• Marshall W. Quandt '83, M.D. (Marshall W. Quandt '33, M.D., Trust) 
• Edwin W. Scantlebury '41 Scholarship (Edwin W. Scantlebury '41) 
• Muriel & Seymour Thickman Family Scholarship (Muriel and Seymour '41
  Thickman)
• Joseph Ushkow Scholarship (Joan and Jerome Serchuck) 
• Kenneth J. Whalen '49/Warner Lambert Scholarship (Warner-Lambert Foundation)

Posted on Nov 1, 1995

Schaffer Library stands not just at the geographical, but at the intellectual heart of the College. The $17 million renovation and expansion of Schaffer Library will transform a facility constructed 35 years ago, well before the advent of “smart buildings” wired and equipped for data transmission and worldwide communication links, from a building that simply can't change with the times to one that can.

Schaffer Library is now the priority capital construction project on the Bicentennial Campaign agenda. Helping out is the National Endowment for the Humanities, which awarded Union a $575,000 challenge grant for the library. All gifts received before July 31, 1998, will qualify for NEH matching funds on a 1:4 basis ($1 NEH funding for every $4 contributed).

During the past year the total raised for the library renovation project crossed the $6 million mark (and in the early months of the 1995-96 academic year the total is nearing $8 million). Union extends a heartfelt thanks to these lead donors:

• Anonymous 

• William J. Perlstein '71 
• Philip R. Beuth '54 
• Robert J. Pletman '50 
• Nicholas F Coward '76 
• Ruth Putman
  Robert F. Cummings, Jr. '71 
• James M. Ramich '67 
• Henry B. duPont IV '90 
• Michael S. Rapaport '59 
• Jonas Fleminberg '31 
• Norton & Sue Reamer '58 
• Raymond V. Gilmartin '63 
• Neil B. Reynolds 24 
• Esther M. Glen Katherine Rozendaal '72H
• John E. Mann '43 
• Elizabeth Rue
  Duncan S. McNab '35 
• Elmer G. St. John '29 
• Martin A. Meyer '55 
• The Henry Schaffer Foundation 
• John H. Minehan '68 
• Harrison Todd

Posted on Nov 1, 1995

Union's alumni participation rate climbed to 52.3% in the Bicentennial year and placed Union in the top 5% when compared to the nation's 140 highly selective liberal arts colleges (as determined by U.S. News & World Report).

The alumni participation rate is at its highest level since 1990-91. The Trustees' 55 in '95 Challenge helped by bringing in over two thousand new donors to the Bicentennial Annual Fund.