Posted by Maxx Salat & Rebecca Orbach
More than 2,000 guests attended the college's Celebration Weekend Oct. 15-17.
The weekend was a tribute to the success of the "Creative Thought Bold Promise" campaign, which exceeded the College's original $200 million goal, raising $216.5 million. The funds were provided by some 18,000 donors including families, friends, parents and members of the board of trustees.
"It was a very ambitious goal, and we were all very pleased to meet that target and to surpass it. It really shows tremendous support for the Skidmore vision," President Philip Glotzbach said.
The $46 million donation from Arthur Zankel is the largest single donation in the college's history. "Additionally, we had two gifts of $15 million, we had another one of $12 million, a number of gifts in the million-dollar range and thousands of gifts at smaller donations," Glotzbach said.
The celebration of the campaign's success came to fruition in the form of a gala dinner, attended by approximately 500 people, each recognized - individually or by group - for their contributions to "Creative Thought Bold Promise."
Following the dinner was a performance by renowned pianist Emanuel Ax who was a personal friend of Arthur Zankel, trustee and benefactor of the Arthur Zankel Music Center.
"The main performance on Saturday night was Emanuel Ax and the small ensemble and then the Skidmore orchestra, which was amazing. All of us felt bad — I don't know if any of the students got in there. We had to do something with major donors and there are only so many seats, but it was a great event," Glotzbach said
In addition to Ax's performance was the formal dedication of the building to its namesake. The dedication featured detailed reflections of the life and devotion of Zankel.
The co-chairwomen of the committee, Sara Lee Schupf '62, Wilma "Billie" Stein Tisch '48 and Susan Kettering Williamson '59 were each honored and continued to make known the dedication of the current alumni committee. Also honored was the Campaign Executive Committee in its entirety.
Kettering Williamson was also honored by the college during a ceremony on Saturday that dedicated the Sports Center to her.
The 10th anniversary of the Tang Teaching Museum was celebrated with a luncheon featuring speeches by primary benefactor Oscar Tang and Professor Emeritus David Porter.
Included in the anniversary celebration was the dedication of the Tang's Illumination Gallery, named in honor of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. The Illumination Fund recently supplied the College with a $1.2 million grant supporting the learning program available in the Museum.