The entire University of Mary Washington community came #TogetherUMW for the sixth annual Mary Wash Giving Day April 4, raising $621,528 to support UMW students, faculty and programs.

Cullen ’90 and Rosemary Seltzer ’91 made a perfect match when they met in college.

Recently, the alumni couple, who will celebrate 30 years of marriage this summer, made another perfect match – this time for the University of Mary Washington’s sixth annual Mary Wash Giving Day. The Seltzers sponsored a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $6,000, to inspire their fellow 1990s alums to give to the Fund for Mary Washington, which addresses the University’s areas of greatest need.

“Mary Washington will always have a special place in our hearts,” said Rosemary, whose sister, Anne Golden Danforth ’94, and daughter, Kate Seltzer ’21, are also alums. “We are delighted our match was met and can’t wait to see what the future holds for our beloved alma mater.”

They were among the 2,224 supporters – a number that includes 455 donors who made their first-ever gift – who came #TogetherUMW to raise a grand total of $621,528 on April 4 to support Mary Washington and its students.

For the first time, donors in all 50 states (plus Washington, D.C.) and seven countries participated in the 24-hour fundraising extravaganza, unlocking a $5,000 gift from Marty ’80 and Vicky Wilder ’80. A total of 2,985 gifts were made to 124 different areas across the University, benefiting academics, arts, athletics, service, career and cultural programs. Read more.

The University of Mary Washington dedicated the Leigh Frackelton Classroom on April 20 in honor of Professor Emeritus Leigh Frackelton (center) and the Gibbons Team Room, thanks to a generous gift from Bill, Susie and Michelle Gibbons ’16. Both spaces are in Woodard Hall, home of UMW’s College of Business. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

When Professor Emeritus Leigh Frackelton retired from the University of Mary Washington’s College of Business (COB) in 2021, the pandemic left little room for fanfare.

Rob Strassheim ’96 wanted something more for his former professor, who taught business law and accounting at the University for 35 years.

“Leigh is an institution here at Mary Washington,” said Strassheim, who now serves as vice rector of UMW’s Board of Visitors. He helped raise tens of thousands of dollars to name a classroom for Frackelton. “I felt this would be a fantastic endeavor to thank someone who has been so impactful in the classroom and in the community.”

Former students and colleagues, family and friends finally had the chance to fête the longtime faculty member, dedicating the Leigh Frackelton Classroom, as well as the Gibbons Team Room, in Woodard Hall on Thursday, April 20. Read more.

UMW soccer player Diego Guzman shows the crowd some love during the NCAA semifinals late last year. Mary Wash Giving Day gifts support the success of UMW athletes, artists, scholars and so much more. #MaryWashDay #TogetherUMW

What matters to you at the University of Mary Washington? Perhaps it’s giving students the chance to conduct real-world research alongside faculty mentors. Or supporting their desire to study abroad and immerse themselves in other cultures. Maybe you wish to help them make a difference through service and leadership.

The entire UMW community will have the opportunity to give to the areas where their passions lie when the University holds its sixth annual Mary Wash Giving Day on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. This 24-hour fundraising celebration – which has a theme of #TogetherUMW – shows what we can accomplish when we unite to support current and future students, and academic, arts, athletics, leadership, service, career and cultural programs at Mary Washington.

Last year’s event exceeded previous years’ records for most dollars raised, said Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14. She also encourages gifts of any amount, noting how they can add up and urging everyone who loves Mary Washington – alumni, students, faculty, staff, families and friends – to pitch in with a gift to help UMW reach its goal of 2,600 gifts and 400 first-time donors in 2023.

“The University has benefited from strong private support for more than a century,” Orlando said. “Together, we’re ensuring that students for generations to come can continue to have access to an outstanding public liberal arts and sciences education, filled with impactful learning experiences.” Read more.

Senior Madeline Killian, seen here on a previous study-abroad trip to Spain, received funds from UMW’s Beyond the Classroom Endowment to travel to Madrid this winter to conduct research on Spain’s first civic organization for women.

Senior Madeline Killian isn’t just hitting the books to study female scientists in 18th century Spain. In December she will travel to Madrid to delve into discoveries made by Junta de Damas de Honor y Mérito, the country’s first civic organization for women.

“They conducted groundbreaking medical experiments to improve infant health, and the group still exists today,” Madeline says. A physics and Spanish major at the University of Mary Washington, she plans to write her thesis on the topic.

This unique opportunity to explore Spain’s national archives and historical sites – and many other high-impact learning experiences for students – were made possible by UMW’s Beyond the Classroom Endowment (BTC). Established two years ago, the initiative supports student experiential learning, including independent research, internships, travel to academic conferences, and study abroad. Read more.