Bennett College for Women News May 5, 2014 Bennett's Commencement Weekend a Huge Success Alumnae give $800,000 and Speakers Bring Checks President Rosalind Fuse-Hall's first Alumnae/Commencement Weekend will not be one she will soon forget. Approaching her first-year anniversary, the President said, "I am humbled to have experienced a weekend with so many highs. We graduated 106 students, our alumnae gave $800,000 with a promise of more before the fiscal year ends on June 30, 2014, and our commencement speaker came bearing a check for $10,000. I am blessed and highly favored that so many people respect the work we do at Bennett College and are willing to support her and the students we produce." During the All-Bennett Luncheon on Saturday, the National Alumnae Association (NAA), representing over 6,000 alumnae, presented the President with $800,000 and a pledge to try and reach the one million dollar mark by the close of the fiscal year which is June 30, 2014. Iris Ramey, Vice President of Institutional Advancement was thrilled that the alumnae reached their set goal of $800,000. "In this economy, our alumnae have said, 'We love Bennett' and are willing to give sacrificially to the College so that the College can continue to produce women who are confident, capable and courageous. The Class of 1949 with only 8 members present gave $31,000 and Lisbeth Berry, celebrating her 75th class reunion gave $1,926.00. What a powerful testament to the value of a Bennett College." Carolyn Jones, wife of Baccalaureate Speaker Dr. Clifford Jones, was celebrating her 50th year class reunion and when she learned that the NAA was short $16,000, she called her husband and told him to bring a check. He came with $5,000; a promise to have the $11,000 check by June 1; and a pledge of $25,000 in honor of his wife within the next two years. Dr. Jones told the Class of 2014, "Get up and make your mark today. Overcome challenges by confronting them and leave the negative behind." Dr. Jones is Senior Pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC. Margot James Copeland, Executive Vice President and Director of Philanthropy and Civic Engagement at KeyBank, one of the nation's largest bank-based multiline financial services companies, was the College's commencement speaker. Not only did she come with words to inspire and encourage the graduates, she also came with a check for $10,000 from the Board of Directors of the KeyBank Foundation where she also serves as Chair & CEO. Copeland charged the graduates to go boldly into their futures and live a good life. She said, "Make no small plans. Today is the omega (the end) of your smaller life, and the alpha (the beginning) of your larger life. Keep the principles of excellence, humility, honesty, gratitude, service, selflessness and love, even if it means you will need to re-pot yourself. And finally, never let someone else put the key to your dreams in their pocket." SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!