Washington College Alumni Magazine Fall 2011 : Page 3

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ÀÄ´ÂÃ¸¾½ that our nation is in economic difﬁculty. According to recent U.S. Census Bureau data, a record 46 million Americans are living in poverty. With national unemployment rates hovering above nine percent, real household income has fallen signiﬁcantly. Here on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where jobs are scarce, families are struggling. In response, Washington College’s close-knit community has gotten quite a bit bigger. This tiny school earned its reputation long ago as a place with big heart. Here, where the individual matters, where faculty take a personal interest in their students, and where friendships survive the passage of decades, we embrace all that is good about Chestertown. When times get tough, when we see real need in the community that we love, our arms open wider, our embrace grows stronger. Given the challenges facing our community, we recognize that we have a responsibility to look out for the people and the causes we care about. Good neighbors are compassionate, caring and sen-sitive to the needs of others. Good neighbors stick together to build a stronger community. As good neighbors, we have an obligation to take care of the citizens of Chestertown, Kent County, the Eastern Shore, all of Maryland and beyond. Yet there is nothing obligatory about Washington College’s response. Today’s students are volunteering in record numbers not because they have to, but because they want to. As Student Government Association President Andrew Antonio ’12 explained, “It would be socially and morally irrespon-sible for us to stand by and watch humanity unravel. By setting an example for a life of service, we can empower others to build a better world.” This is a generation answering the call to serve: to conserve and protect our natural resources, to provide food, books, shelter and clothing to our neighbors, and to lend a hand to those less fortunate. The concept of giving back seems to be part of students’ DNA—they understand that with great privilege comes great responsibility. Just recently, we began to quantify how fully engaged our stu-dents have become. The SGA now asks student clubs and orga-nizations (82 in all) to log their community service hours. Last year alone, students at Washington College—a campus of just 1,450 undergraduates—donated 11,525 hours of time and raised $87,840.42 for various philanthropic causes. That’s impressive. We see this same generosity of spirit growing among our alumni, who want to do more for their alma mater than support us ﬁnan-cially. Alumni are stepping forward to help recruit the best stu-dents. They are volunteering as mentors and establishing internship positions to help our young graduates launch their careers. Like our undergraduates, they, too, feel compelled to pay it forward, to give back to the place that gave them so much. Even as our economy continues to struggle, I know that better days are ahead. And if we stand together, the MELQL)&#1d;LMMLPFQB7&#1d;>RKAO>&#1d;TBFPPBOQ&#1d;ÑL58&#1d;&#1d;OBFPP&#1d;MELQL7&#1d;GFJ&#1d;DO>E>J&#1d;Ñ5. TEBK&#1d;QFJBP&#1d;DBQ&#1d;QLRDE)&#1d; TEBK&#1d;TB&#1d;PBB&#1d;OB>I&#1d;KBBA&#1d; FK&#1d;QEB&#1d;@LJJRKFQV&#1d;QE>Q&#1d; TB&#1d;ILSB)&#1d;LRO&#1d;>OJP&#1d;LMBK&#1d; TFABO)&#1d;LRO&#1d;BJ?O>@B&#1d; DOLTP&#1d;PQOLKDBO+&#1d; extended Washington College com-munity will emerge stronger and more vibrant than ever. Among several outreach efforts, Mitchell and Elisabeth Reiss donate books and collect socks and underwear for local schoolchildren, volunteer with St. Martin’s Ministries and support Susan G. Komen and Make-A-Wish foundations. Æ°Â·¸½¶Ã¾½
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Message From The President

Mithell B.Reiss

Together We Stand THERE IS LITTLE QUESTION that our nation is in economic difficulty. According to recent U.S. Census Bureau data, a record 46 million Americans are living in poverty. With national unemployment rates hovering above nine percent, real household income has fallen significantly. Here on Maryland's Eastern Shore, where jobs are scarce, families are struggling. In response, Washington College's close-knit community has gotten quite a bit bigger. This tiny school earned its reputation long ago as a place with big heart. Here, where the individual matters, where faculty take a personal interest in their students, and where friendships survive the passage of decades, we embrace all that is good about Chestertown. When times get tough, when we see real need in the community that we love, our arms open wider, our embrace grows stronger. Given the challenges facing our community, we recognize that we have a responsibility to look out for the people and the causes we care about. Good neighbors are compassionate, caring and sensitive to the needs of others. Good neighbors stick together to build a stronger community. As good neighbors, we have an obligation to take care of the citizens of Chestertown, Kent County, the Eastern Shore, all of Maryland and beyond. Yet there is nothing obligatory about Washington College's response. Today's students are volunteering in record numbers not because they have to, but because they want to. As Student Government Association President Andrew Antonio '12 explained, "It would be socially and morally irresponsible for us to stand by and watch humanity unravel. By setting an example for a life of service, we can empower others to build a better world." This is a generation answering the call to serve: to conserve and protect our natural resources, to provide food, books, shelter and clothing to our neighbors, and to lend a hand to those less fortunate. The concept of giving back seems to be part of students' DNA–they understand that with great privilege comes great responsibility. Just recently, we began to quantify how fully engaged our students have become. The SGA now asks student clubs and organizations (82 in all) to log their community service hours. Last year alone, students at Washington College–a campus of just 1,450 undergraduates–donated 11,525 hours of time and raised $87,840.42 for various philanthropic causes. That's impressive. We see this same generosity of spirit growing among our alumni, who want to do more for their alma mater than support us financially. Alumni are stepping forward to help recruit the best students. They are volunteering as mentors and establishing internship positions to help our young graduates launch their careers. Like our undergraduates, they, too, feel compelled to pay it forward, to give back to the place that gave them so much. Even as our economy continues to struggle, I know that better days are ahead. And if we stand together, the extended Washington College community will emerge stronger and more vibrant than ever. WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH, WHEN WE SEE REAL NEED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE LOVE, OUR ARMS OPEN WIDER, OUR EMBRACE GROWS STRONGER. Among several outreach efforts, Mitchell and Elisabeth Reiss donate books and collect socks and underwear for local schoolchildren, volunteer with St. Martin's Ministries and support Susan G. Komen and Make-A-Wish foundations.

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