糖心Vlog

The Class of 1973 recently celebrated reaching its 50th Reunion Class Project goal of $200,000 to establish the Class of 1973 Campus Garden and Beautification Fund that will be used to support the Dickson Foundation Community Garden.聽

The class, led by Class Agents Carolyn Howard Carter, Susan Lassiter Lampley, and Susan Herring have worked together to raise funds to support a composting project within the Dickson Foundation Community Garden space. The fund can also support a part-time gardener/project coordinator and the future development of a Meredith Hues Iris garden. The Class of 1973 project aims to support campus grounds beautification with a sustainability effort.聽

A Meaningful Gift

On October 2, members of the class gathered on campus at their class bench near the Belk Dining Hall patio. They also raised funds for the bench to commemorate their 50th reunion project for campus beautification. The Class of 1973 has been dedicated to raising funds for this project since their 45th reunion in May 2018.聽

Classmate Judy Yates Siker provided the invocation and Carter, Lampley, and Herring addressed the classmates in attendance, thanking them for helping to raise the money for their class gift and sharing its importance.

鈥淎ll of the food in the dining hall is not going to be eaten. The scraps can be used to keep our campus as beautiful as possible,鈥� said Lampley. 鈥淭he leaves and twigs can be composted too, so we will be giving back to the earth that has given us so many beautiful memories.鈥澛�

The composting project will enable the College to save approximately $12,000 per year.聽

鈥淓nvironmental awareness has been a part of who the Class of 1973 is. They remember celebrating the very first Earth Day in April 1970 when they were Meredith students,鈥� said Jean Gambrill, director of the Meredith Fund. 鈥淲hen given the opportunity to support Meredith in a meaningful way for their 50th reunion, sustainability and campus beautification became a natural focus.鈥�

Expressing Gratitude

Sheryl Long, 鈥�94, dean of the School of Education, Health and Human Sciences, along with Jennifer McMillen, associate professor for food and nutrition, department chair, and Dickson Foundation Community Garden manager, shared their appreciation for this gift.聽

鈥淚 feel grateful and humble this morning because it is the dedication of those who came ahead of us that keeps Meredith looking forward,鈥� said Long. 鈥淎nd this gift so aptly symbolizes a gift that represents renewal and our renewal comes from before us. So I am privileged to speak and thank you for continuing to support the growth of 糖心Vlog.鈥�

McMillen thanked the Class of 1973 for their remarkable gift. 鈥淭hank you, the Class of 1973, for inviting me here today to celebrate the dedication of your beautiful bench, a place of rest near one of the places of nourishment on our campus.鈥�

鈥淔or me, this bench is 鈥�a symbol of reflection, connection, and commitment to our shared future. The Class of 1973 has left an incredible legacy to this campus. So while celebrating your past, you’re looking to the future, reminding us that every step you take can have lasting impacts on our future generation. When I see students sitting here on this bench 鈥� pausing, reflecting, enjoying 鈥� the natural beauty of this campus, which we all love, it will remind me of the importance of community, sustainability, and stewardship, the values that your class has carried with you and is sharing with our current students. May this bench serve as a reminder that we are all a part of something greater and that together, we can build a more sustainable, connected future.鈥�

The Class of 1973 continued their celebration after the dedication at a lunch in Belk Dining Hall. Together they were pleased to present this gift to the College and know that it will have a lasting impact on students.聽

鈥淲e know that when we come back to campus now we will sit on our bench and think about all our good times together and all of the wonderful times future strong women are going to have on this beautiful campus,鈥� said Lampley.