SF Impact Report Draft

2023-24 IMPACT REPORT Our students’ transformational journeys are possible because of you and the generous support you provide through the Skidmore Fund. Thank you!

Skidmore College remains passionately committed to providing our students with an exceptional liberal arts education that encourages creative thought, cultivates informed and responsible global citizenship, and prepares graduates for lives of purpose.

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“Our students are learning from outstanding faculty mentors and honing their critical and creative thinking skills. In the studio, on the field, and in the lab, they are developing the confidence to take risks, think creatively, and push boundaries to reach new heights.

Your gift to the Skidmore Fund enables students to lead the lives of consequence that are the true goal of Skidmore — lives rich with understanding, imagination, power, and joy.

Thank you!”

– President Marc C. Conner

August, 2024

Dear <<dLetterSal>>, Thank you for supporting our students and faculty throughout the 2023-2024 academic year with your President’s Society gift through the Skidmore Fund. Your leadership contribution uplifts the entire Skidmore community.

The Skidmore Fund provides immediate resources for the most essential programs and functions of the College. As a President’s Society member, you help to fund scholarships, equip labs, sponsor internships, enable study abroad, bring distinguished speakers to campus, support student clubs and athletics, and so much more. Your gift enables students to work with world-class faculty who mentor, inspire, and prepare them to use their talents to make a difference.

Your leadership contribution empowers what we value at the College: providing an unparalleled liberal arts education that is accessible, regardless of personal economic circumstances, to students who will enrich the Skidmore community.

It is my privilege to thank you for your generosity on behalf of our students, faculty, and staff.

The following report illustrates the impact that you have made through your commitment to Skidmore.

With gratitude, Jane Feinberg Karlin ’72, P ‘03 Chair, President’s Society

STUDENT STORIES:

Kayla Moody ’25 NEW YORK, NY English major

One of Kayla’s Skidmore highlights was going abroad to Cape Town, South Africa at the University of Cape Town where she lived off campus and was able to see Table Mountain, one of the seven wonders of the world. In addition to her rigorous academic schedule, she enjoyed the beautiful nature at every turn and surfing on the beaches.

Kayla’s favorite class was a creative writing class she took at the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery where the students wrote first person narratives after studying essays and paintings in the museum collection. She described this as the perfect interdisciplinary educational experience.

Employed as a student assistant in The Schupf Family IdeaLab, Kayla enjoyed the reciprocal relationship created there between teaching and learning. “Every time I’m in the IdeaLab, I see new things that I cannot wait to try out.”

Kayla was one of four panelists at a Skidmore alumni event in Brooklyn, New York, where she spoke passionately about the College’s dedication to creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She noted “the beauty about the IdeaLab is that everyone will find something for them,” that no matter their capacity, there is something there to fuel creativity, and tools to transition from creativity to innovation.

Kayla is excited to get closer to her life after Skidmore. She plans to do more networking and grow as a scholar between now and when she graduates.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to have experiences that others before me did not have. You allowed me to be an amazing scholar, all thanks to the people who help and fund Skidmore.”

— Kayla Moody

STUDENT STORIES:

Isabelle “Izzy” Sullivan ’24 SUMMERVILLE, SC

Broadcast Journalism major

A high achiever academically, Izzy benefited from participating in many extracurricular activities. As a member of the Skidmore Women’s Soccer team, she was honored as a Liberty League All-Academic athlete and a Thoroughbred Society member (an athlete who achieves a grade point average of over 3.67). Izzy described her team experience as being a part of a sisterhood of athletes — a community of 26 friends to go through college with.

Izzy created her own major with the help of her academic advisor, Jeff Segrave, the David H. Porter Professor in the department of Health and Human Physiological Sciences. She took three different sports classes at Skidmore – looking at sports and how being an athlete isn’t what it seems.

She learned there are different sociological aspects to sports that people don’t often think about – socioeconomic, race, and gender. Her thesis focused on Division 1 sports and the emphasis placed on sports and not academics.

While at Skidmore, Izzy was the founder of a podcast series, “Girl Talk”, to enhance media coverage of female athletes.

Through the Documentary Studies program at Skidmore she was able to utilize expensive equipment that included a tri-pod and camera for the whole semester to be the sideline reporter for the Women’s Basketball team. A highlight of this experience was traveling with the team to the championship game at Vassar.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do this Documentary Studies project without your donations. For my career journey I have something to show to future employers. Thank you so much for donating to help people like me and for helping to fund Skidmore athletics as well.”

— Isabelle “Izzy” Sullivan

STUDENT STORIES:

Christopher Arnold III ’24 TARRYTOWN, NY

Studio Art and French major

Christopher graduated in May and is the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship and will teach English in Saint Ouen L’Aumone, a suburb of Paris, France beginning in September. Christopher is grateful for this opportunity to explore what it’s like to live in France full-time as a professional.

One of the highlights of his Skidmore experience was studying abroad in Montpellier, a city in southern France, 10km inland from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Christopher is especially grateful that his financial aid package followed him and opened doors to the world for him there.

While at Skidmore, Christopher worked at the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery with designer Hilary Dupont. He helped her brainstorm and put together projects, he did graphic design work, and learned the inner workings of the creation of an exhibition at the Tang. Christopher feels his internship at the Tang opened the field of museum work to him and in the future, Christopher would love to have Hillary’s job at any museum. He is also interested in doing graphic design work for art books.

“I’m grateful to have received the financial aid package I had at Skidmore.

My brain has been developed at the College and I was privileged to study both studio art and French at such a high level.”

— Christopher Arnold III

Your gift in action —

support that provides boundless opportunities.

Your President’s Society gift through the Skidmore Fund supported every aspect of campus life in the 2023-24 giving year. You enhanced students’ educational experiences, funded world-class faculty, created success on the playing field, and provided the College with the resources to fund its most critical priorities while fueling future ambitions. Because of you, Skidmore was able to say “yes” more often. Thank you.

Here are just a few examples of how the Skidmore Fund advanced the College mission in 2023-24:

50%

of the first-year Class of 2027 received need-based grant aid, with an average award of $51,300.

300+

127

2,542

420

summer experiential opportunities were provided for internships, research, and community service.

visits to the Student Wellness Center were supported by 46 student Peer Health Educators (a 58% increase over last year).

different classes utilized the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery for class instruction.

student athletes received travel support and equipment.

12

events addressing complex border issues were presented as part of Social (in)Justice at the U.S-Mexico border.

1,628

students and alumni took advantage of the guidance and support offered through the Career Development Center.

skidmore.edu/give