Class of 1974 makes largest 50th reunion gift in Carleton history
Over $65M was given to support student health and wellness, expand access
The Carleton College Class of 1974 made history over the weekend with the largest-ever 50th reunion gift to the College. Over $65M was raised by class members in celebration of their milestone reunion, which was celebrated June 13-16, 2024.
“This extraordinary gift is a wonderful example of what I appreciate most about Carleton alumni: their deep commitment to ensuring that future Carls have what they need to be successful,” President Alison Byerly said. “The impact of the Class of 1974 will be felt for generations to come.”
The gift will support a number of key initiatives at Carleton, but this class’s legacy will be most deeply felt through the establishment of a new building focused on student health and well-being. The College breaks ground this week on a new 23,000-square-foot, three-story facility that will open in the fall of 2025 as The Class of 1974 Center.
“Securing a permanent facility for Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) is long overdue, and the need for physical and mental health support services has become an even greater area of focus in recent years,” said class member Cathy James Paglia ’74, chair-elect of the Carleton Board of Trustees. “We are proud that The Class of 1974 Center will be the first building at Carleton to carry a class name in recognition of our support.”
The Class of 1974 Center—part of the College’s Student Life and Housing Plan—will feature exam rooms; counseling offices; spaces for alternative therapies, group counseling, and meditation; and sound-proofed private rooms for students to attend telehealth sessions. Carleton provides all students with free, 24/7 access to telehealth, in addition to the comprehensive on-campus medical and mental health services offered by SHAC. The new building also will house the Title IX Office and the Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR).
“The Class of 1974’s record-breaking donation will significantly impact student health and well-being,” Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Carolyn H. Livingston said. “The Class of 1974 Center is the first building at Carleton to be designed intentionally with this purpose, and the enhanced programs and services offered there will help to develop a generation of graduates who better understand the benefits of a healthy global community.”
In total, more than half of the class—56%—made gifts in honor of their 50th, and 40% of class members returned to campus to celebrate in person. Gifts from the class will support many other initiatives at Carleton, including endowed scholarships, scientific research and field experiences, off-campus study, interdisciplinarity, accessibility, academic departments and athletics, as well as unrestricted funds for Carleton through endowment and the Alumni Annual Fund.
“When I read our class Bio Book, I was struck by how many classmates had worked in public service or taken on significant volunteer roles in their community,” said Pam Luecke ’74, co-chair of the Class of 1974 50th Reunion Committee. “Perhaps during our four years at Carleton, we witnessed how individuals can make a difference in the world and were inspired to do the same. Giving back to Carleton is a natural extension of that. We are grateful that our Carleton education gave us a foundation to weather life’s ups and downs, and we are pleased we can help ensure that future students will have similar opportunities.”
Another significant initiative supported by the class gift will do just that. The Class of 1974 Endowed Scholarship will increase financial aid resources for incoming students as part of the Carleton Access Initiative, which aims to permanently increase the number of low-income students who are eligible for federal Pell grants from around 285 per year to about 340, or about 17 percent of the student population.
“Carleton believes that learning is greatly enhanced by having a diverse student body representing many points of view, personal history and experiences,” Paglia said. “We want Carleton to remain a place where students from all backgrounds are welcomed and can thrive.”
“Nothing is more important to the ongoing success of the College than our ability to admit the best students, regardless of their family’s income level,” Byerly added. “By expanding access through financial aid to Carleton’s highest-need students, the Class of 1974 Endowed Scholarship benefits those students, and also the College.”
The previous record for 50th Reunion class giving at Carleton was held by the Class of 1970, who contributed $64.2M. Their gift established the Class of 1970 Endowed Internship Fund, which supports more than a dozen internships each year and equalizes opportunities for students to benefit fully from their Carleton experience.
“They say that Carls aren’t competitive,” Byerly said at the June 15 Reunion Convocation, where the new record set by 1974 received a standing ovation, “but I appreciate that Carls are willing to be competitive for a good cause!”