Class of 1974 Honors Milestone Reunion with Unique Gift to Financial Aid

The Colby College Class of 1974 was the first class to celebrate its 50th Reunion by establishing a scholarship fund as their gift to the College. Class members raised more than $200,000 for the milestone celebration, held June 7–9, 2024.

Students in the Class of 1974 experienced national and campus changes while on Mayflower Hill, shaping their education and worldview. For many students arriving on campus during the fall of 1970, access to financial aid was critical, and it remains so for many students attending Colby today.

After attending a meeting in fall 2023 where President Greene reported on the state of the College, Deb Wathen Finn ’74, former chair of the Alumni Council and chair of the Class of 1974 Reunion, was surprised at the low percentage of endowed gifts dedicated to scholarships. She saw that as an opportunity to galvanize her class to support the development of a fund that would model for others contributing to close that gap. As she shared the information with the 1974 reunion executive committee, they actively embraced the creation of the fund.

“Our class came together to establish the Class of 1974 Scholarship Fund because we saw it as an opportunity to inspire a broader movement among alumni,” she said. “We hope that if other classes follow our lead, we can collectively ensure the scholarship endowment is fully funded. This would safeguard the College’s commitment to providing loan-free support for future students and maintaining a diverse student body.”

This endowed fund will increase student financial aid resources as part of the Colby Commitment, which pledges to meet 100 percent of incoming students’ financial needs without loans.

To initiate the gift, the Class of 1974 had to raise $100,000 to establish a named scholarship fund. With an initial outreach, 13 members of the class generously committed to donating $10,000 or more each, starting the fund at $155,000. From that point on, 1974 class members contributed varying funding levels to the same cause. Donations ranged from larger levels to classmates contributing smaller amounts each month, without designated names.

By Reunion 2024, the 1974 classmates showed their support by growing the fund above $200,000 as classmates made additional gifts. Their 50th Reunion marked significant achievements in multiple aspects. The class set a new attendance record with 126 participants, created new traditions, and welcomed a dozen first-time attendees at their milestone celebration.