THE BENNETTVOICE BENNETT COLLEGE’S MAGAZINE JUNE 2018 Bennett Belles Soaring to New Heights A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Greetings, Bennett College Faculty, Staff, Students, Parents, Alumnae and Friends! On May 5, I shook the hands of 78 young women as they transitioned from Bennett College students to Bennett College graduates. That same weekend, our dedicated Alumnae returned to campus for a great time of fellowship and fun. I got a chance to interact with Alumnae Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins at The Donor Breakfast, The All Bennett Luncheon and The White President Breakfast. My gratitude over the significant financial contributions Mason Blacher Alumnae have made this year continues. Acting Vice President for Institutional Advancement As we close out the 2017-2018 fiscal year, I’m excited about the influx of new students we anticipate this fall. Bennett has a record number Laurie D. Willis of applications on file! To date, 263 young women have paid their Chief Communications and deposits, and of those 220 say they plan to live on campus. Among Marketing Officer our new students is Jasmine Harrison, a Greensboro native who was Shaakira M. Jones ’11 accepted to 113 schools and is coming to Bennett as a member of the Digital and Social Media Specialist Class of 2022! Jasmine has been featured in The New York Times, and she and her mom have been approached about appearing on The Ellen Aziz Peregrino-Brimah DeGeneres Show. Jasmine said she chose Bennett, in part, because of Webmaster the positive changes she noticed in her older sister, DeAnna Armstrong ‘15. Audrey Demps Franklin ’72 Executive Director of Alumnae Relations As you review this edition of The Bennett Voice, you’ll read about May graduates Shani McMichael and Joy Bullock. Shani enrolled in Yolande Johnson ’83 Bennett with a 2.3 GPA but graduated as valedictorian and is headed Community Campaigns Coordinator to graduate school at Columbia University. Joy served as senior class president and hopes to become a Raleigh police officer before attending Crystal Hall law school at North Carolina Central University. Also included is a Executive Administrative Assistant profile on Belles Ernestine Paschall-Shade ’48 and Dr. Bernadette to the Vice President for Institutional Gregory Watts ’71, a feature on Alumnae giving and others articles. Advancement Julie Beard I sincerely hope you enjoy this edition of The Bennett Voice. As you Advancement Services Analyst read, please consider ways you can help Bennett – by donating to Bennett Voice photos taken by grow.bennett.edu, by mailing a check in care of Institutional Shaakira Jones, David Hardy and Advancement to 900 East Aziz Peregrino-Brimah Washington Street, Greensboro, Cover photo: Asheley Taylor of Durham, N.C. N.C. 27401, or by sending some prospective Belles our way. Thank you, as always, for your CONNECT WITH US! support. @BennettCollege Phyllis Worthy Dawkins, Ph.D. President Dr. Dawkins showing support to Carina FOLLOW DR. DAWKINS ON Hernandez ’18 during her Senior Art Exhibit TWITTER! in the Wilbur Steele Hall Art Gallery @BennettPrez_PWD SO O S MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Did you know that Bennett College could write you a check instead of the other way around? It was wonderful visiting with Bennett Belles as they celebrated their reunions during Alumnae Weekend – and learning firsthand why they’re so fiercely devoted. At The Donor Breakfast, there seemed a hunger – not necessarily just for more scrambled eggs, thank you – for a way to move their alma mater toward a stronger, more sustainable future. Belles listened intently to ways they can make a smart investment in Bennett, and themselves, by various methods, including: Mason Blacher, Acting Vice President for Institutional Advancement -Using appreciated securities (stock that has increased in value from the time it was acquired) instead of cash or checks to make a charitable gift to Bennett; -Transferring funds from their IRAs that, after age 70 1/2, are subject to mandatory withdrawal if not otherwise needed; -Joining the Willa B. Player Society to learn more. We all know that Bennett Belles are Voting Belles. As it turns out, Bennett Belles are Investment Belles, too! I say that because as I spoke, dozens of Belles nodded knowingly at the mention of these concepts. Indeed, several came up to me afterwards to discuss stock gifts; another discussed making Bennett the beneficiary of her life insurance policy (a fully paid-up policy is best); one pledged the proceeds from the sale of her parents’ home; and several more stopped me in the corridors to talk. Please consider this your personal invitation to join them by getting in touch with me. There actually are some circumstances where a gift to Bennett College could put more spendable lifetime income in your pocket. Would Bennett really write you a check? Yes, under the right circumstances, with a charitable trust or annuity agreement that pays you an income for life after receiving an asset (like stock) from you, then selling and reinvesting the proceeds and avoiding capital gains tax to earn a higher rate of return. Whether Bennett (or the charitable trust) writes you a check, or whether you simply earn a higher ‘return’ from making a tax wise gift that costs you less to give than cash, there are opportunities to do more for Bennett …and you! You’ve already received a wonderful education for life from Bennett College. And when it comes to the I.R.S., it truly may be better to give than to receive. Mason Blacher, former Director of Major Gifts at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, formed Mason Jay Blacher & Associates, a fundraising firm for nonprofit organizations. He has consulted for a number of women’s colleges, Methodist institutions and smaller liberal arts colleges, including Bennett, where he has accepted the position of Acting Vice President for Institutional Advancement. He welcomes the opportunity to talk with you; however, because he is often out of the office or on the road, you may reach him through his executive administrative assistant, Crystal Hall, at [email protected] or 336.517.2248. Blacher talking with alumnae at The Donor Breakfast during Alumnae Weekend 2018 The Bennett Voice 3 COMMENCEMENT 2018 DELIVERED UPLIFTING, INSPIRING SPEECHES his fall, Bennett’s 2018 graduates an Honorary Degree. Director Dorthea L. Taylor ’99, provided will be all over the place – literally. music. Graduate Toshana Mbombo gave T “Never give up or lose faith even when the Old Testament reading; graduate Graduate schools in London, New York times get hard,” Boasmond encouraged Aliyah McLaughlin gave the New City, Los Angeles and right here in the graduates, noting at one point she Testament reading. Greensboro – among others. Some of the worked three jobs in a single day and had graduates will join the workforce; two only $750 in the bank. Graduates Sandra Toledo (Mexico) and will teach English in China for a year. Delphina Charles (U.S. Virgin Islands) Valedictorian Shani McMichael, who presented flags from their respective Life after graduation began May 5 came to Bennett with a 2.3 GPA but countries. Members of Girl Scout for Bennett’s newest graduates, when graduated with a near-perfect average, Troop 1726 from St. Matthews United White House Correspondent/CNN gave an inspiring speech during Methodist Church conducted presentation Political Analyst April Ryan gave the Commencement, attended by about of the colors. Commencement address. 2,000. Other speakers included Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Gladys Ashe Robinson Gwendolyn Mackel Rice ’61, president of “Graduates, you’ve got to think about ’71 and former Bennett President Dr. the BCNAA, presented the 1968 Honor from whence you’ve come,” Ryan told Gloria Randle Scott. Class and conducted the NAA induction the 78 graduates. “And you’ve got for the newly minted graduates. College to remember to give back to Bennett Robinson brought greetings and Chaplain Reverend Dr. Natalie McLean College. It’s not about how much you presented the Board of Trustees Teaching ’80 gave the benediction after Dawkins give…make a pledge to Bennett in your Excellence Award to Dr. Alan Goble, gave the charge to the graduates. heart today. I also want you to remember chair of the Psychology Department and you’re beautiful black women, but most an associate professor of psychology. “Bennett Belles, please cherish this of all you’re beautiful.” day…” Dawkins said. “After all, Scott gave a tribute to Former First despite your anxiety when you first Bennett President Dr. Phyllis Worthy Lady Barbara Bush, Bennett’s 1989 entered the College, and the failures and Dawkins met Ryan last year in Baltimore Commencement speaker and an Honorary disappointments you have experienced, at a White Breakfast sponsored by Degree recipient. you made it!” the Baltimore chapter of the Bennett National Alumnae Association. Ryan is a The Bennett College Choir, led by Dawkins invited them to visit their alma Baltimore native and proud graduate of mater and echoed Ryan’s directive about Morgan State University. giving back. Dawkins introduced her as someone “Tell other bright young women about who, “gives back to the community by the wonderful education you received serving as a mentor to aspiring journalists at Bennett,” Dawkins said. “Tell them and assisting with developing ‘up and about the sisterhood. Tell them about the coming’ broadcasters.” She said that outstanding faculty and staff. Encourage although Ryan is enjoying an illustrious them to consider enrolling in this career, she considers her greatest life’s awesome institution.” work raising her daughters, Ryan and Grace. After the ceremony, graduates rushed to find their parents and other loved Chasity Byrd and TyQuan Hutchinson, ones. Endia Lilly, who earned a degree who attend the Martin Dixon in psychology and plans to attend Intergenerational Center (MDIC) named graduate school at Pfeiffer University, for Bennett alumna Dr.