Webb Institute 2019-20 ANNUAL REPORT THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THE WEBB FAMILY SHINES THROUGH Webb Institute | 2019-20 Annual Report CONTENTS CONTRIBUTORS 2-3 Message from the President 4 Message from the Chairman of the Board R. Keith Michel '73 5 Board of Trustees President 5 Faculty and Administration Matthew R. Werner '95, PG'97 6 Message from the Development Committee Chair Dean & ABS Chair of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering 7-9 Bill Blanton Way GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT: 10-12 Giving Back to Webb: An Interview with WAA President, Kerri Allegretta Vicky Dlugokecki '88 Director of Media Relations & Communications 13-14 Remembering Professor Jens Holm SUPERVISING EDITOR: 15-16 Message from the Dean Anthony R. Zic Director of Development 17-18 Message from the Chairman of the Webb Alumni Fund 19-20 2019-20 Class Giving Summary EDITORS: Dr. Richard Harris 21-22 2019-20 Donations - William H. Webb Society Assistant Dean & Director of Humanities 23-25 2019-20 Donations - Webb Honor Roll Donors Gailmarie Sujecki (Hon.) 26 WAA Executive Committee Executive Assistant to the President & Director of 26 Alumni Regional Coordinators & Webb Group Leaders Alumni Relations 27-28 2019-20 Donations - Cumulative Giving Josie Wilson (Hon.) Director of Academic Services 29-30 Message from the Planned Giving Chair 31-32 The Heritage Society EDITORIAL & PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS: 33-34 Scholarships, Professorships & More... Kerri Allegretta Kasey Kennedy '23 Jeanine Becker, P'21, P'22 Kyle Koleda 35 2019-20 Gifts in Honor of, in Memory of, and WAA Paul Becker, P'21, P'22 Jon LaBerge '76 Donations in Memory of Joseph Cascio John Malone '71 Si Chon Chen '23 George Mouravieff P'09, 36 Message from the Parent of Alumni Fund Co-Chairs Kaitlin Cremmins P'11, P'16 37-38 Message from the Chairs of the Webb Parent Annual Fund Vicky Dlugokecki '88 Jake Neuman '93 38 Message from the Webb Parents Association Chair Alison Granger P'14 (Hon.) Steven Pagan '88 Hal Granger P'14 (Hon.) Bruce Rosenblatt (Hon.) 39 2019-20 Donations - Webb Every Year (WebbEY) Program Shanna Hamilton Jennifer Waters '91, P'20 40-41 Finance & Investments Fiscal Year 2020 Inga Johansson '21 Tom Waters '89, P'20 Jackson Juska '21 Anthony Zic 42 2019-20 Donations - Matching Gift Organizations OUR MISSION: To inspire and educate tomorrow’s leaders in an extraordinary learning community focused on engineering and design in the marine field. Webb Institute: • Provides a rigorous education in the principles of engineering and the fundamentals of naval architecture, marine engineering and related marine technologies; • Develops skills that will enable graduates to become leaders in, and make significant contributions to, their chosen profession and the wider community; • Instills in graduates the highest ethical standards and sense of professionalism; • Cultivates curiosity in the arts, sciences and humanities, and provides the background and encouragement necessary to support lifelong learning; and • Perpetuates the values of William H. Webb. 1 Webb Institute 2019-20 Annual Report A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT GETTING THE JOB DONE IN A THRIVING WEBB BUBBLE R. KEITH MICHEL '73 President At the Board of Trustees meeting on October 15, 2020, I trees have recently been planted along the periphery of the announced plans to retire on June 30, 2022. field (see below). Time passes by so quickly at Webb. It seems like only Webb has remained COVID-free since the outbreak began yesterday that we were planning for our six-year Campaign in the early spring. All students are on campus for this fall for Webb, initiating implementation of the 2013 Strategic semester, with most of the classes and all labs being taught Plan, and were in the early planning stages for much in person. Our students have demonstrated resiliency and needed infrastructure enhancements to Webb’s campus. a sense of responsibility throughout the pandemic. The We have now completed our successful Campaign, isolated location of the Webb campus, lamented over the are fully immersed in the implementation of the 2019 years by our more gregarious students, is now a great asset. Strategic Plan, and are putting to good use our recently We have created a Webb bubble, limited travel to more completed Couch Academic Center. We have installed essential needs, and enjoyed the safety of the confines of a faster and more reliable information technology the Webb campus. Thanks to the generous gift from the network, new septic systems, and a new watermain. Work classes of 1977 and 1988, and to the hard work of Paul to repurpose the Stevenson Taylor Hall classrooms to Vibrans '71, the automated gates we recently installed at dormitory spaces is well underway. The dormitory rooms the entrances to campus have served us well, limiting the will be ready for occupancy at the start of the Spring number of uninvited guests roaming the grounds. 2021 semester. The Thorpe Athletic Field has been re- pitched and fitted with a sprinkler system. Thanks to the Faculty and staff have done an outstanding job of dealing generosity of the Class of 1975, red oaks and sugar maple with the challenges posed by COVID-19, including Webb Institute 2019-20 Annual Report 2 Photos: President Michel working on Peggy's gazebo with students. completing construction prior to the Class of 2020 Commencement exercises currently planned for May 1, 2021. For those filling out your calendars, graduation for the class of 2021 will be on June 12th. We are eliminating spring break and completing the spring semester a week earlier than normal, thereby allowing additional time for the Sophomore Sea Term. We continue to attract 28 outstanding freshmen each year. In the last ten years, the number of applicants has more than doubled. As explained in the Message from Chairman of the Board Bruce Rosenblatt (see p. 4), our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion includes a goal of further navigating a smooth transition to distance learning last diversifying the student body. We are seeking to increase March. I have not heard a single complaint all year— the number of female students which has hovered around we are just simply getting the job done. We are now 24% over the last five years. In the two years since we formulating plans for 2021. Winter Work will proceed as established room and board scholarships to meet full usual, with the exception of the Sophomore Sea Term, “demonstrated need,” we have realized sharp increases in which will be postponed until the summer of 2021. We the number of economically disadvantaged students and expect all students to return to campus for the spring a three-fold increase in the number of underrepresented semester. While COVID-19 protocols will remain in minorities. place at the start of the spring semester, we all anxiously await the development of an effective vaccine and remain As we transition out of the Campaign for Webb, hopeful that we can hold an in-person Homecoming event fundraising has continued to exceed our budgetary on May 22nd. The final decision regarding Homecoming projections. Thanks so much for your support of Webb! will be made in mid-March. Stay tuned. Once again, both alumni and parent participation rates exceeded 70%. These numbers make Webb the envy The class of 2020 designed and partially funded a gazebo of development programs nationwide. Last March, we being built in memory of my wife, Peggy. The gazebo, rebated a portion of room and board payments when we located adjacent to the Student Garden, has a majestic sent students home because of the high COVID infection view of Long Island Sound. It will no doubt be a popular rates in the State of New York. The parents and students hangout for future generations of Webb students. The demonstrated their commitment to Webb by returning a Class of 2020 planned on completing construction prior portion of those refunds as gifts to the college. to graduation, but the pandemic got in the way. Students are continuing work this semester with the intent of Wishing you a healthy and happy Holiday Season! 3 Webb Institute 2019-20 Annual Report A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD WEBB'S VILLAGE BRUCE ROSENBLATT (HON.) Chairman of the Board As I complete my fourth year as Chairman of the I’m sure you recall that last year the Planning Committee, Board, I am grateful for the progress made possible by led by Trustee David Bovet '70, completed our Strategic the hard work and dedication of Webb’s family. The Plan. As the next step, Webb’s Administration has administration, faculty, staff, students, fellow trustees, developed a detailed Implementation Plan which serves as alumni, and friends are the reasons that Webb continues a roadmap to Webb’s continued success in every facet of to graduate highly capable and well-respected young Webb operations. I am grateful to everyone involved for men and women, as evidenced by the continued industry their efforts to ensure that Webb’s priorities articulated in demand for Webb graduates. Webb has an outstanding the Strategic Plan are being realized. Early reports by the leadership team, and my efforts were more effective Administration are encouraging. because of their tireless and efficient work. At its annual meeting on October 15th, the Board of Webb has been extraordinarily resilient and successful in Trustees reaffirmed its commitment to a resolution spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when many promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Webb. colleges and universities experienced significant decreases A special thanks to Trustee George Campbell for chairing in fundraising revenue, some of which even made the the Board’s DEI Committee, and for championing painful decisions to cease solicitations, the Webb family an initiative in consonance with our mission and our continues to demonstrate their steadfast support—from understanding of the intentions of our founder, William alumni, parents, past parents, students, faculty, staff, H.