Colby College is pleased to announce that it has received a $1-million bequest gift from Carol Fisher ’57 to establish the Carol A. Fisher Scholarship Fund. The unrestricted gift to financial aid will expand access to Colby for more students.
“Our ability to attract and enroll talented students from all backgrounds is significantly bolstered through gifts toward financial aid. I am incredibly grateful to Carol who chose to generously pay it forward for the next generation, enabling more students the opportunity to benefit from the distinctive elements of a Colby education,” said Vice President and Chief Institutional Advancement Officer Matt Proto.
Friends and family of Fisher noted that she enjoyed her time at Colby and wanted to provide opportunities for today’s students, ensuring they benefit from the College’s premier academic experience just as she did. Fisher grew up in Massachusetts and studied sociology at Colby. After graduating she moved to the Washington, D.C., area and worked for several years at C&P Telephone Co. before retiring early. She turned her focus to volunteering on several community boards and groups. Described as a private person by her family and friends, she loved her relatively carefree time at Colby and the rural beauty of Maine. Fisher passed away in 2020 at the age of 85.
Expanding Access
Colby has become a national leader in access and affordability among colleges and universities. Through a leading admissions and outreach effort that has enrolled the most academically prepared and diverse students, along with new partnerships forged with community-based organizations and innovative financial aid programs, Colby is one of the most accessible colleges for the most-talented students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
The College has an ongoing initiative to recruit exceptional students regardless of family income or circumstance and to meet each admitted student’s demonstrated financial need. Colby is one of only a handful of highly selective schools to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need without loans—providing students the opportunity to graduate without student loan debt.
Dare Northward has played a major role in taking Colby’s financial aid to the next level in transformative ways. With more than $76 million in financial aid gifts since the start of the campaign, donors make this commitment possible. The College’s ability to expand its financial aid programs is a reflection of a community made up of passionate and generous donors like Fisher.
Power of Legacy Giving
Future gifts to Colby have a great collective impact, with most coming to the College via a simple gift in a will, trust, retirement plan, or life insurance policy, which are easy to set up. Colby also makes available a variety of tax-friendly options for complex gifts, such as gift annuities. These gifts bridge the gap between the past and future of the College, creating a legacy that will allow generations of students to benefit from the Colby experience.
“Carol, like many Colby Legacy Society members, not only included a gift to Colby in her plans but loyally supported the Colby Fund for many decades. She truly exemplifies how alumni can make a big impact on what’s important to them on campus,” said Director of Gift Planning Valerie Sherman.
The Colby Legacy Society, which currently has 772 members, recognizes individuals who have made special gifts through their estate commitments. Alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends who have honored Colby through their financial plans ensure that Colby continues to offer a world-class liberal arts education for generations to come.
Original source can be found here
Alerts Sign-up