Lammot duPont Copeland Professorship, Goldstein Hall Push College Campaign Beyond $66 Million

Chestertown, MD, May 16, 2001 — Washington College has received a bequest from Pamela Cunningham Copeland, coupled with a gift from her daughter, Louisa Copeland Duemling, to provide $500,000 for the establishment of the Lammot duPont Copeland Professorship at theCenter for the Environment and Society, pushing the Campaign for Washington's Collegebeyond $66 million. The gift was matched by The Hodson Trust Challenge that doubles all endowments of $100,000 or more. Dr. Wayne Bell, director of the new Center, will be named the first Lammot duPont Copeland Professor at the College.

Private support for Louis L. Goldstein Hall topped $2 million in April 2001, completing a public/private partnership that included $2 million in matching funds from the State of Maryland. Maryland Governor Parris Glendening delivered the keynote address before a dinner of donors of $1,000 or more to the project on April 20, 2001 at the College. Recent major gifts pushing fundraising for Goldstein Hall past the $2 million mark included $125,000 from Washington College parents, $150,000 from the Booth Ferris Foundation, and $500,000, allocated from an earlier $1 million grant from the Grayce B. Kerr Fund.

"We owe a special thanks for these tremendous gifts to the College," said Jack Griswold, chair of the Campaign for Washington's College. "In addition, the Campaign acknowledges the annual gifts from alumni, parents, and friends which have increased by $500,000. To date this fiscal year, more than $1.4 million has come from these sources in support of the Washington College Fund, and we are grateful to all who are participating."

University Names Building in Honor of Dr. John Toll

Chestertown, MD, May 10, 2001 — In a practice hearkening to grand, old university traditions, the University of Maryland, College Park renamed its physics building in honor of Washington College President John Toll during a ceremony held Thursday, May 3, 2001. The renaming acknowledges Dr. Toll's important contributions as the former physics department chair at Maryland and former president and chancellor of the University of Maryland System (now the University System of Maryland).

"In baseball, Yankee Stadium is rightly known as 'The house that Ruth built'. In the same way, our department should be known as the 'The department that Toll built'," said physics department chair Jordan A. Goodman during the naming ceremony. "Professor Toll is, in large part, responsible for building this department, which is now one of the largest and best-known physics departments in the world."

After earning a B.S. degree with highest honors in physics from Yale in 1944, Toll served in the Navy during WWII. In 1952 he completed his Ph.D. in physics at Princeton, where he helped establish what is now the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. In 1953 he became chair of Maryland's physics department, which was broadened to create the astronomy program. Thirteen years later he left to take over the presidency of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. In 1978 he returned, first as President and later as Chancellor of the expanded University of Maryland system.

Toll was a Guggenheim Fellow, has held leadership roles in dozens of organizations, and has received national and international honors and honorary degrees. He pioneered the establishment of relations between the State of Maryland and China as one of the first university presidents to visit China in the 1970's.

In physics he is recognized as a leader in developing the modern approach to dispersion theory and its application to problems on elementary particle physics. Upon Toll's leaving the Chancellor's Office in 1989 and returning to the Department of Physics, the Board of Regents conferred upon him the status of Chancellor Emeritus. He currently serves as President of Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, and as a part-time physics faculty member in the University of Maryland's College of Computer, Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

Toll was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his "distinguished achievements in advancing quantum field theory and for unparalleled leadership in strengthening academia and science education in the U.S." Since 1874, the Council has elected members whose "efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished." Members will be recognized during the Association's Annual Meeting in February.

Last year Toll also was chosen as the distinguished Marylander for the Year 2000 by the University of Maryland chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. The award is given each year to a "distinguished Marylander who has made significant contributions to the University of Maryland."

"This honor is unexpected and humbling," said Toll. "I am proud to be part of the history and great traditions of the University of Maryland."

Sophomore Catharine Clarke Wins Prestigious St. Andrew's Scholarship

Chestertown, MD, May 10, 2001 — Washington College sophomore Catharine Clarke '03 has been awarded a prestigious St. Andrew's Society Scholarship to study in Scotland next year. The St. Andrew's Society Scholarships support the study of Scottish culture, arts, history and heritage. Clarke will study at the University of St. Andrew's in St. Andrews, Scotland.

A Chestertown native, Clarke is a music major with an art minor. The St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia invites students from only eighteen colleges in the region to apply for the scholarships, with schools such as Swarthmore College, Haverford College, and Pennsylvania State University participating. The selection committee selected Clarke first out of 17 scholarships, giving her the opportunity to attend the Scottish university of her choice. Applicants for the scholarship were judged on academic performance, extracurricular activities, defined course of study and strength of character. The final candidates were determined through written applications and personal interviews.

Clarke will begin her studies abroad in late September. "I am very honored to have received this scholarship and am very excited about the upcoming year in Scotland," she said.

Donald McColl, assistant professor of art history, served as Washington College's liaison and coordinator of the St. Andrew's Scholarship program, and guided Clarke through the application and interview process.

"Washington College is very proud of Catharine, as both a music major and art minor," said Dr. McColl. "She competed against some of the very best students from the Mid-Atlantic region and proved that our students and academic departments truly compete with the best."

Washington College Establishes Equestrian Club

Chestertown, MD, May 3, 2001 — As of Spring 2001, Washington College has established an Equestrian Club open to all students. Students Christine Solle '03, Morgan Baker '04, and Lauren Marini '02 will serve as co-presidents for 2001, assisted by Barbara Heck, associate vice president for development, who will act as administrative advisor, and Dr. Kathryn Moncrief, assistant professor of English, who will act as faculty advisor to the club.

"The Equestrian Club allows Washington College students of any level of riding ability, even beginners, to participate in educational field trips, monthly trail rides, riding lessons, and competitions sponsored by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association," said Heck. "Many students have wanted to establish this club for years. We are proud of how quickly the club has taken root this semester and attracted a large number of interested students."

The Washington College Equestrian Club will function as both a club and as a team. Interested students will be able to compete and represent Washington College in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competitions. The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association has competitive opportunities for all levels, from beginning to advanced, and students do not have to own a horse to participate, explained Moncrief.

Along with Moncrief and the student leaders, Heck will help the club to gain funding as well. "The program is driven by member fees," Heck said. "Students must pay for their lessons, but the club will also be working to raise money for students who cannot afford to pay for lessons and to fund other club activities."