Our 6th Zoom meeting was on Tuesday, November 17 from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, EST. 

We had already heard from lots of wonderful ’71 classmates (and will hear from more in the future). It was time to hear from several present Williams students and recent grads, all of whom happen to be Class of ’71 Scholars. You may remember the Class of 1971 Scholarship Fund was part of our 25th Reunion gift. The Fund has grown to over $2,000,000; this year it is providing $95,000 split between a male and female student. To date, 45 different students have received ’71 funds to help them through Williams.  These students are a slice of the  “ever-changing Williams” and with today’s students increasingly coming from diverse socio-economic, geographic and first generation households, our Class program is to be recognized as an important link of financial support allowing this diversity to be implemented – exactly what we anticipated 25 years ago in setting up the Scholarship:

In honor of our history as the first coeducational class, we will recommend that the scholarship, when fully funded, be awarded in alternating years to a female and male student. Once we are able to endow a fund of sufficient size, we will provide for two students a year.  Further , like the Class of 1957, we will seek to establish a relationship between the recipients of this scholarship and our Class, which will allow us to share their insights on an ever-changing Williams.

Such foresight!  Some of us have had chances to interact with our Scholars at past events; it is illuminating to listen to recipients of our program established 25 years ago and recognize how these individuals become accomplished, gain self-confidence and become well-spoken members of the College and their respective communities. Join us to experience them and hear their stories. We had current students introduce their backgrounds and reflect on the Williams’ experience, as well as an alum of the program discussing his time at the College and sharing what he is pursuing now.