2016-17 Annual Report of Gifts

Earlier this month, we celebrated Mountain Day, a Colby-Sawyer custom that dates back to the 1850s. Here in New London, the leaves are beginning to show hints of their beautiful fall colors and although it was foggy on campus, there was an amazing view atop Mount Kearsarge. Just after noon, nearly 800 community members gathered for a group photo at the summit. What a tremendous ritual that captures so well the pervasive sense of community, spirit, and energy that is Colby-Sawyer.

As I write this, Homecoming is less than a month away and we look forward to another college tradition that allows us to celebrate our community. During my first year as president of Colby-Sawyer, one of the greatest privileges was meeting so many alumni and friends who care deeply about the success of our students and this special institution. Thanks to your generous support, we accomplished much this past year, including the completion of the Center for Art + Design. This remarkable building will foster creativity and innovation, and I look forward with great anticipation to the kinds of artistic treasures that our faculty and students create within it. Capital gifts allowed us to repave the loop in front of Colgate Hall, presenting a much-improved first impression to prospective students, and to invest in new infrastructure for our information technology systems, an essential aspect of the college experience.

With $36.7 million raised to date, the $60 million Power of Infinity campaign continues to strengthen Colby-Sawyer’s ability to transform the lives of our students. My sincere thanks to every one of you who supported us this past year and helped us preserve a high quality residential, liberal arts education for our students. Your generosity funds critical areas from financial aid to improved facilities to internship and experiential opportunities to growing the endowment for long-term success.

With my first year as president completed, I find myself looking backward and forward simultaneously. Colby-Sawyer enjoys a rich history of traditions and experiences, yet our personalized approach to educating young people to succeed as individuals and professionals remains as relevant today as ever. I remain humbled to be part of this community, and I hope you will join us as we continue to move forward.

Best regards,

Susan D. Stuebner
President and Professor of Social Sciences & Education
sue.stuebner@colby-sawyer.edu