A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E - Colby-Sawyer College

College Celebrates the Contributions of New Legends
Members of the Colby-Sawyer College community recently
gathered to recognize several new members of its Legends
Society, which celebrates the extraordinary philanthropy of
individuals and families whose lifetime gifts to the college
exceed $1 million.
The college recently learned of a $2 million bequest from
the estate of an alumna who wished to remain anonymous.
During her lifetime, this alumna, who graduated in the 1950s,
was committed to supporting the college’s highest priorities.
Prior to her death, her most recent commitment was a
$500,000 pledge, also anonymous, in support of a new fine
and performing arts center.
“When this very loyal graduate passed away this year, the
college learned that she had left her entire estate to her alma
mater,” said Trustee Chairman Anne Winton Black ’73, ’75.
“Half of the bequest is undesignated and the other half is unrestricted
endowment. Even in her last gift to Colby-Sawyer this
friend has thoughtfully provided flexibility to the college.”
Another alumna, Eleanor Seybert Kujawski ’45, who passed
away earlier this year, left the majority of her estate of more
than $1 million to the college. The first $250,000 will establish
the Carl J. and Eleanor S. Kujawski Scholarship Fund, and the
balance will be added to the college’s unrestricted endowment.
Chairman Black described Eleanor as an active volunteer in
her New York community and a loyal supporter of the Colby-
Sawyer Annual Fund. An only child, she married and never had
children of her own. For decades Eleanor received visitors from
Colby-Sawyer, including former Trustee Kathy Nixon ’68, who
kept her well-informed about the college’s progress and encouraged
her to provide for the college in her estate plans.
President Galligan also acknowledged another anonymous gift
from the family and “great friends of the college” who in May
2008 offered a $1 million challenge gift to build a new Windy
Hill School. With just $150,000 left to raise in order to meet
the $2 million goal, this extraordinary family and the generous
donors who’ve responded to their challenge have made it
possible for the college to begin construction of the school.
“This special family understands and deeply values the
tionally recognized artist and scholar
in ceramics, East Asian art history, and
Japanese art, language and culture.
His current work involves anagama
wood-fired functional and sculptural
ceramics, through which he strives to
meet the aesthetic needs of everyday
life. He holds a bachelor’s degree in
East Asian Studies and Studio Art from
the University of New Hampshire and
a Japanese master of fine arts in art
history and ceramics from the Kyoto
University of Fine Arts Graduate School.
Professor Keenan was awarded a
Fulbright Scholarship in art and anthropology
at Kyoto Seika University in
Kyoto, Japan, where he served in summer
2009 as a visiting artist, scholar and
teacher. He has exhibited widely and
guest-lectured at institutions around
the nation and world, and he was recognized
with the Nancy Beyer Opler
Award for Excellence in Advising at
Colby-Sawyer College.
importance of early childhood education,
and they have great appreciation for our
laboratory school,” President Galligan said.
“We talk about the building, which is very
important, but never forget the impact of
the building on the program and the impact
of the program on our students and their
educational experience.”
Colby-Sawyer’s Legends Society
includes individuals and families who
since 1990 have collectively contributed
more than $49 million
to the college. These leaders have
supported students with gifts to
enhance teaching, provide scholarships,
enhance the campus, and
grow the endowment. Their vision
ensures that students will continue
to thrive at Colby-Sawyer for
generations to come.
President Galligan went on
to thank all of these benefactors,
now officially known as
Legends. “I cannot adequately
express the magnitude of appreciation
we have for those individuals
and families who have
made transformational gifts like
this,” he said.
“They choose to
do great things,
to change lives,
to improve lives.
They have
shaped our
future.”
The distinguished professorships
honor the recipients as well as the collective
excellence of the entire faculty,
according to Academic Vice President
Taylor. In naming a distinguished professorship,
she noted that the benefactors
provide “significant and tangible
acknowledgment of the vision of teaching
and learning described by Albert
Einstein, who once said, ‘The supreme
art of the teacher is to awaken joy in
creative expression and knowledge.’”
WINTER 2010 11