Giving Across the Generations

When talking to alumni about their time at Bridgewater College, a few themes surface again and again. Whether they attended Bridgewater last year or decades ago, alumni speak of the closeness of the community and the relationships they built with their professors and classmates. They talk about the opportunities they had to try new things, make lifelong friends and be inspired by dynamic and engaging instructors.

Year after year, alumni share that they give back to their alma mater so that other young people can have the same experiences they had at BC.

Gerri Garber Rigney ’74 began her college career at a large school in Atlanta in 1969 and said she immediately felt lost. She transferred to Bridgewater College and thrived with the small classes and faculty mentorships here.

“I was a little fish in a big sea in Atlanta,” Garber Rigney said. “Professors were accessible at Bridgewater.”

Garber Rigney was a home economics major and was interested in interior design, but two BC Interterm study abroad trips to Mexico City and Spain changed her career trajectory.

“Those two school trips put the travel bug in me,” she said. “They made me realize how much there is out in the world to see.”

After graduation, Garber Rigney went to work at a travel agency in Reston, Va., and later purchased her own travel agency. She eventually expanded the travel business to four locations in Northern Virginia.

Katelin Carter ’24 who came to Bridgewater after attending a large public high school, echoed the same sentiment when asked to talk about her BC experience: “I loved the small classes and the opportunity to talk to my professors. Their doors were always open, and they would reach out to check on me.”

Carter, who majored in political science and professional writing, said her transformative experience came when her first-year English instructor recommended her for a job as a tutor in the BC Writing Center. She worked her way up to lead tutor, gaining confidence in her academic ability and building connections along the way. During her junior year she attended a writing conference where she met other writing tutors and staff at the University of Baltimore, where she eventually applied and was accepted to attend law school.

Carter credits the Director of the Writing Center, Prof. Ashley Lauro, with encouraging her to step outside of her comfort zone and try something new.

“[Professor Lauro] saw that I had potential and took a chance on me. She supported me until I was able to do it on my own,” Carter said.

A Culture of Philanthropy

When asked why they continue to stay involved with their alma mater over the years, alumni say they want to make sure future generations can have the same high impact educational experiences they did.

Garber Rigney, who spent the early years of her career in Northern Virginia, said she reconnected with Bridgewater when she moved back to the Shenandoah Valley in the mid-1980s. She would bring her family to Eagles basketball games and occasionally run into classmates. Both her daughters, Christina Rigney Myers ’01 and Heather Rigney Wilharm ’03, attended BC, and their experiences cemented her desire to give back as a donor.

“Bridgewater College gave me the foundation to branch out and do whatever I wanted to do,” she said. “I saw what it did for my daughters. I give [to BC] to make sure the College continues to thrive and provide the experiences for others who might need it.”

Shane Brubaker ’19, a teacher in nearby Staunton, Va., said that he and his wife, Crystal Stone Brubaker ’15, began giving to Bridgewater as soon as they were able. As a first-generation college student, Brubaker said he understands that even a small amount of financial aid can make a difference in whether an eligible student can come to BC or not.

“Now that I am on the other side, I want to continue to invest and give back,” he said. “I want to make the experience I had [at BC] possible for other students.”

These words are music to the ears of Meg Flory Riner, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, whose role includes helping cultivate a culture of philanthropy on campus and among alumni. This has been particularly important this year, as BC launched the public phase of Connections: The Campaign for Bridgewater College, with the goal of raising $35 million to support three strategic areas: current-use scholarships, teaching & learning initiatives and campus spaces.

While many people often associate philanthropy with making larger gifts when they are older, there exists a wide variety of giving options available to donors at any level and stage of life. Riner’s staff has been working hard to cultivate donors across the generations, including those early in their careers and even as students.

“We have made a concerted effort to introduce a culture of philanthropy while students are at BC so that they will remember to stay connected in the future and support their alma mater,” Riner said. “Every gift, no matter the size, is important. It is a pleasure for me to witness the joy alumni have when they give back to their alma mater that gave them so much.”

A version of this story was originally published in the Bridgewater College Annual Report of Donors, 2023-2024.

– Heather S. Cole
12/2/24