Hundreds of Longwood alumni gathered outside their new home on campus on Saturday, Sept. 12. to celebrate its official opening. [View the photo album on Facebook]
Family members of Katharine Allen Maugans ’47, for whom the space is named, cut the ribbon, marking the completion of the final phase of reconstruction to portions of Longwood’s historic campus center that were damaged in the great fire of 2001.
Joining the Maugans family at the dedication ceremony were President W. Taylor Reveley IV, Board of Visitors Rector Colleen Margiloff ’97, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations Ryan Catherwood, former alumni director Nancy Britton Shelton ’68 and President of the Alumni Board Kendall Lee ’01.
For many, this time of celebration is the culmination of a project more than a decade in the making.
The center, conceived in the early 2000s and spearheaded by former alumni director Nancy Britton Shelton ’68, will showcase Longwood’s history and provide a true home for alumni when they return to campus, while providing expanded office and meeting space.
"This alumni center is truly a home for alumni," said Shelton, who retired in the spring after more than 40 years of service to her alma mater. "Our graduates will be able to gather see where the university is going and meet in a comfortable environment. There is a dramatic impact on what we now offer alumni and the campus."
The alumni center is named for the late Katharine Allen Maugans ’47, a Buckingham County schoolteacher who entered the Navy in 1952, served in the armed forces for 30 years and retired with the rank of captain. A $2.5 million bequest from Katharine Maugans and her husband, Frank, served as the centerpiece gift in fundraising efforts for the space.
"It truly is a historic day in the life of the university," said Ryan Catherwood, assistant vice president for alumni and career services. "It’s a testament to our thriving alumni network that more than 300 alumni and friends have come back and celebrated with us."
Leave a Comment