A Century of Giving Back Washington and Lee University students have spent more than 100 years turning gratitude into generosity and inspiring future generations to do the same.

By Emily Innes Stanley
March 12, 2026

Washington and Lee University has a rich history of philanthropy from its alumni and families, however, contributions from students through the years have also made a significant impact on the W&L experience.

Whether it’s by supporting capital projects or donating to the W&L Fund, giving back is a key part of the W&L experience; it also spans generations, with student giving reflecting the values alumni carry with them after W&L and inspiring their own philanthropic efforts.

Initial Philanthropy

W&L’s Senior Gift Program began more than 100 years ago with a letter from the Class of 1925 to university President Henry L. Smith detailing the class’s parting gift of $1,800, with 92% of the class participating. Since then, W&L’s senior classes have routinely made gifts to the university, which serve as a building block for students becoming engaged alumni who understand the impact of giving back.

Inspired by this initial parting gift, the Classes of 1927 to 1931 raised funds to build the footbridge connecting Wilson Field to what is now Cannan Green. Student pledges totaled $30,000, and the bridge was dedicated in June 1928 as it neared completion.

Preserving the Tradition

Following the footbridge, W&L students struggled to formalize a senior gift tradition. The Ring-tum Phi frequently reported on the idea, urging the importance of philanthropy to W&L and describing a senior gift as “a custom worth establishing” in the Feb. 14, 1936, issue. According to the same article, a class gift would help connect students to their alma mater long after graduation, providing “concrete evidence that they were once a very active part of the body and the spirit of this university.”

Ed Boze ’36, senior class president, appointed a committee to ask their classmates to pledge a small sum toward the gift, reestablishing the tradition for future classes.

Formalizing the Process

As student philanthropy became a central component of the W&L experience, alumni giving continued to increase, with the 1972-1973 Alumni Fund reaching, at that point, all-time highs in total contributions, number of donors and rate of participation. This record in giving speaks to the continued commitment of students and alumni to W&L, and how their combined efforts create a legacy of giving.

In September 1973, two new trophies were introduced to recognize alumni class giving: The Washington Trophy, for the largest dollar contribution, was won by the Class of 1928 (Percy Cohen, class agent), and the Bierer Trophy, for participation by a class that graduated within the last 10 years, was won by the Class of 1964 (W.B. Ogilvie, class agent).

To encourage and facilitate student involvement in philanthropic contributions to W&L, the Alumni Association established Kathekon in October 1984 to improve and sustain student-alumni relations. Initially comprised of eight seniors and eight juniors, there are currently 47 student members of Kathekon across the junior and senior classes. Kathekon has facilitated philanthropic efforts by organizing student phone-a-thons for the W&L Fund, helping lead the senior class gift project and, most recently, assisting with on-campus alumni weekends and Philanthropy Education Week.

Modern Giving

The inaugural Young Alumni Weekend was held in 2009, a testament to how an engaged student body becomes an enthusiastic alumni network who remain connected to their alma mater. The Class of 1999 set the all-time single class attendance record when celebrating their 10th reunion.

The senior class gift is now an established tradition at W&L, encouraging each graduating class to support future students through contributions to the W&L Fund. The Senior Gift Committee is comprised of students, in consultation with Katherine Dau ’19, director of the W&L Fund, and aims to reach a 70% participation rate among the graduating class each year. Classes that exceed the 70% participation goal are added to a commemorative plaque in the Webster Family Plaza.

The Senior Gift Committee, led by two co-chairs, coordinates events with the goal of reaching as many classmates as possible and engaging them in meaningful conversations about how their contributions to the W&L Fund will impact student life on campus.

In 2023, W&L rebranded Say Thanks Week to Philanthropy Education Week, designed to educate students on how philanthropic gifts directly impact their undergraduate experience, as well as to give students a chance to thank the university’s generous donors.

“I hope our support, along with our committee’s, inspires our peers to reflect on their time in Lexington and acknowledge what has made these precious moments possible,” said William Knight ’26, who co-chairs the current Senior Class Gift Committee with Reagan Radocesky ’26. “Undoubtedly, our experiences were made possible by generous alumni, and it’s our turn to provide for future students.”