#MaryWashDay has ended, but you can still support our Eagles!

Cedric B. Rucker '81 S.O.S. Fund

After 32 years of service to Mary Washington, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Student Life Emeritus Cedric Rucker retired in May 2022. Cedric graduated in 1977 from John Marshall High School in Richmond. He is recognized as the first African-American residential male to graduate from Mary Washington. He received a B.A. in sociology from Mary Washington in 1981 and a master's degree from UVA in 1983. He returned to Mary Washington in 1989 to begin a decades-long career in student life. He is known around campus for his bowties, sweaters, annual Winnie the Pooh costume, his scooter, and his unique laugh. He has been a mentor to many and has become a central figure during commencement ceremonies. Funds from this endowment in “Support of our Students” will be used to support students with unexpected and life-altering emergencies.

Class of 1973 50th Reunion Scholarship

Members of the Class of 1973 created an endowed scholarship to celebrate the lifelong friendships they made while students at Mary Washington College and the fond memories of the nurturing environment for inquiry, questioning, and learning their college years provided. The scholarship helps students with demonstrated financial need, with preference given to residents of Virginia.

First Generation Scholarship

First-generation students are more likely to be low-income, represent communities of color, and arrive at college with fewer resources than their peers. About one third of UMW's undergraduates are first-generation students. This new scholarship aims to help first-gen. students succeed on their educational journey.

General Scholarship Fund

Nearly half of all undergraduates qualify for need-based aid. Many of these students would not be able to afford a college education without the support of the University's generous donors. Your gift to the General Scholarship Fund will help at-risk students stay in school, take on less debt, and graduate on time. If you would prefer to designate your gift to a specific scholarship, please choose "Other" on the donation form and note the name of the scholarship in the text box provided. 

The General Scholarship Fund is used to augment other sources of financial aid. It gives us the flexibility to help students who are most vulnerable, those facing a financial crisis, or who need extra support. 

Technology Assistance Fund 

Last year, the University received CARES ACT funding to help support student's technology needs to ensure they were able to fulfill their course schedule and succeed. While the CARES ACT funding was greatly utilized, we know that this source of funding will not be here in future years, but the need will remain. Your gift to the Technology Assistance Fund helps eliminate the gap in access for students, equalizing their opportunity to perform at their highest potential.  The fund may assist students through a number of solutions, including the following:

  • Internet access for remote students
  • Access to specialized software
  • Personal wifi or hotspots to ensure consistent internet access for coursework
  • The student laptop loan program

Gifts supporting our Technology Assistance Fund will make it possible for these students to successfully finish their course material.


$1,982
Anna Hogan ’82 540-Gift Challenge
CHALLENGE UNLOCKED! Thank you, Anna Hogan '82 and our first 540 donors! When we reach 540 gifts (Fredericksburg’s area code), Anna Hogan '82 will unlock a $1,982 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington in honor of the Class of 1982!
540 / 540 Gifts
Completed
$2,000
100 First-Time Donor Challenge
When we receive 100 gifts from first-time donors, an anonymous donor will unlock a gift of $2,000 to support student scholarships! Make your first-ever gift to Mary Washington today to help unlock this challenge!
100 / 100 Gifts
Completed
$5,000
Strassheim 400 New Donor Challenge
CHALLENGE UNLOCKED! Thank you Robert Strassheim '96 and Sarah Gildersleeve Strassheim '01 and our 400 first-time donors! When 400 individuals make their first-ever gift to UMW, a gift of $5,000 will be unlocked from Robert Strassheim '96 and Sarah Gildersleeve Strassheim '01 to support the student experience.
400 / 400 Donors
Completed
$2,000
Young Alumni Council Young Alumni Challenge
CHALLENGE UNLOCKED! When we receive 250 gifts from young alumni donors (graduates of 2013-2022) to any area, the Young Alumni Council (YAC) will unlock a gift of $2,000 to the Fund for Mary Washington.
250 / 250 Gifts
Completed
Leaderboard
Mike '95 and Katie Charnoff '04 Devil-Goat Challenge
Mike '95 and Katie Charnoff ’04 are taking their Devil-Goat rivalry to a new level. If more Goats (alumni of even class years) make Giving Day gifts than Devils (alumni of odd years), Mike will make a $5,000 gift to the area Katie chooses. If more Devils participate than Goats, Katie will give $5,000 to the area Mike chooses. Watch the Devil-Goat Leaderboard throughout the day to track the competition live!
Are you a Devil or a Goat?
Rank Answer Gifts
1 Goat 692
2 Devil 655
Ended
2
Match
Class of 1973 50th Reunion Scholarship Match
FULL MATCH MET! Thank you to our sponsors and Class of 1973 donors! Anonymous members of the class of 1973 will match every gift made to the Class of 1973 50th Reunion Scholarship by their fellow ’73 classmates, dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 total.
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
$1,000
2008 15th Reunion ‘Pie in the Face’ Challenge
CHALLENGE UNLOCKED! Thank you, Jeremy Bloom, Kate LeBoeuf, Alyssa Lee, Jeremy Vaughn, and donors of the Class of 2008! Who doesn’t enjoy watching someone get a pie in the face? ’08 graduates Jeremy Bloom, Kate LeBoeuf, Alyssa Lee, and Jeremy Vaughn are challenging their classmates to make 30 gifts to any area on Mary Wash Giving Day. If that goal is reached, it will unlock a $1,000 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington AND these challengers will each get a pie in the face while recording a thank-you video sent directly to you. Class of ’08, donate to the program that meant the most to your Mary Wash experience and help us bring an added element of pie-filling fun to your 15th year since graduation!
30 / 30 Gifts
Completed
2
Match
First Generation Scholarship Match
FULL MATCH MET! Thank you Trenda Powell Jacocks '82 and First Generation Scholarship award donors! Trenda Powell Jacocks '82 will match all gifts to the First Generation Scholarship award, up to $5,000.
$3,433 MATCHED
Ended
Leaderboard
Giving Day Donor Leaderboard
See which area will bring in the most donors!
Rank Fund Designation Donors
1 Fund for Mary Washington 294
2 UMW Theatre 282
3 Friends of Women's Basketball 95
4 Friends of Men's Tennis 68
5 Geography Alumni Scholarship 68
Ended
Leaderboard
Class Year Gift Total Leaderboard
Which class year will have the most gifts?
UMW Class Year
Rank Answer Gifts
1 2022 50
2 1994 42
3 1973 40
4 1995 37
5 2004 36
6 2008 36
7 2014 34
8 1969 32
9 2013 32
10 1977 31
11 2020 31
12 1983 30
13 2007 30
14 1982 30
15 2015 30
Ended
Leaderboard
#TogetherUMW Participation Leaderboard
When all groups of the Mary Wash community band together, we can do amazing things.
Affiliation with UMW
Rank Answer Gifts
1 Alumni 1,348
2 Other/Friend of UMW 428
3 Parent of a current student 350
4 Current faculty/staff 287
5 Parent of an alum 132
6 Current student (non-senior) 57
7 Retired faculty/staff 51
8 Current student (Senior) 35
Ended
$5,000
Devon Cushman '93 and Deborah Santiago '90 Challenge for 1908 Gifts
CHALLENGE UNLOCKED! Thank you Devon Cushman '93 and Deborah Santiago '90 and our donors! Board of Visitors rector Devon Cushman '93 and member Deborah Santiago '90 are challenging the Mary Washington community. When we reach 1,908 gifts on Giving Day, Devon and Deborah will each make a President's Council-level gift of $2,500, unlocking a total of $5,000 to the Fund for Mary Washington.
1,908 / 1,908 Gifts
Completed
$3,000
200 First-Time Donor Challenge
When we reach 50% of our goal of 400 first-time donors, an anonymous donor will unlock a gift of $3,000 to support student scholarships! Be one of the first 200 first-time donors to help unlock $3,000 in extra dollars for our students!
200 / 200 Gifts
Completed
Success!
Wilder Fifty-State Challenge
CHALLENGE UNLOCKED! Thank you Marty '80, Vicki Wilder '80, and all our donors across the U.S.! If UMW receives at least one gift from every state in the U.S. on Giving Day, we will unlock a $5,000 gift from Marty '80 and Vicki Wilder '80.
Completed
Success!
Clark Billups '17 Young Alumni New Donor Challenge
CHALLENGE UNLOCKED! When 50 young alumni (classes of 2013-2022) make their first-ever gift to Mary Washington, Clark Billups '17 will make a gift of $1,000 to the Fund for Mary Washington.
Completed
$5,000
Justin '97 and Allison Gerbereux '96 Married Alumni Challenge
CHALLENGE UNLOCKED! When 50 gifts are received from alumni who are married to other alumni, Justin and Allison will give $5,000 to the Fund for Mary Washington!
50 / 50 Gifts
Completed
$5,000
Class of 1993 30th Reunion Challenge
CHALLENGE UNLOCKED! Thank you John Anstey '93 and Class of 1993 donors! When 15 gifts are received from members of the Class of 1993, John Anstey ’93 will unlock a $5,000 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington.
15 / 15 Gifts
Completed
$15,000
Patti Boise Kemp '69 Scholarship Challenge
CHALLENGE UNLOCKED! Thank you, Patti Boise Kemp '69, and all scholarship donors! When we receive a total of $15,000 in support of scholarships on April 4, Patti Boise Kemp '69 will make a gift of $15,000 supporting a scholarship of her choice.
$15,000 / $15,000 Raised
Completed
Leaderboard
Giving Day Gift Leaderboard
Which fund will achieve the most gifts?
Rank Fund Designation Gifts
1 Fund for Mary Washington 331
2 UMW Theatre 320
3 Friends of Women's Basketball 106
4 College of Education 74
5 CAS Beyond the Classroom Endowment 73
Ended
Leaderboard
Giving Day Dollars Raised Leaderboard
Which fund will raise the most dollars?
Rank Fund Designation Raised
1 Fund for Mary Washington $67,310.06
2 UMW Theatre $28,956.00
3 Friends of Great Lives $16,658.39
4 CAS Beyond the Classroom Endowment $15,845.00
5 College of Business $15,160.00
Ended
Leaderboard
Class Year Total Leaderboard
Which class year will raise the most funds?
UMW Class Year
Rank Answer Amount
1 1969 $13,250.00
2 1973 $13,033.00
3 1964 $12,395.00
4 1971 $10,200.00
5 1996 $9,250.00
6 1972 $7,900.00
7 1968 $7,725.00
8 1994 $7,435.00
9 1974 $7,375.00
10 1976 $7,300.00
11 2013 $5,960.39
12 2003 $5,845.00
13 1995 $5,790.00
14 1977 $5,625.00
15 1955 $5,025.00
Ended
Leaderboard
#TogetherUMW Dollars Raised Leaderboard
When all groups of the Mary Wash community band together, we can do amazing things.
Affiliation with UMW
Rank Answer Amount
1 Alumni $240,185.26
2 Parent of a current student $60,231.50
3 Other/Friend of UMW $51,012.05
4 Current faculty/staff $21,303.00
5 Parent of an alum $20,789.00
6 Retired faculty/staff $9,665.00
7 Current student (Senior) $1,153.86
8 Current student (non-senior) $888.00
Ended
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