Golden Anniversary
A Golden Opportunity for Friendship and Generosity
The Golden Girls shared a “golden moment” this year that was especially touching. While graduates of the Class of 1957 enjoyed the spring Commencement program, nursing graduate Anna Lee '57 had a sweet surprise.
While awards and praises were announced during the May ceremony, a secret was unveiled. An endowed scholarship had been established in honor of Lee in memory of her parents, Mar-Shee and Kye Yang Lee, who were strong believers in the value of education. The fund was discretely created by Lee's brother-in-law and sister, Dr. Franklin and Lily Lee Chinn '54. Golden Girl Lee was moved by their gesture. Her parents' dreams for their daughters' education had come full circle.
The creation of a permanent scholarship in her parents' memory was one of several momentous events taking place over the 2007 Commencement weekend. Twenty-three Golden Girls of '57 were welcomed back to campus with a champagne reception and private viewing of the Madonna del Libro painting from the studio of Renaissance artist Botticelli, displayed in the McCreless Gallery of UIW's Mabee Library.
After the Golden Girls proudly walked across the stage in their golden gowns with the Class of 2007, they enjoyed a luncheon in their honor. They caught up on news about former teachers and fellow alumni who were unable to attend. The activities continued with a gathering of nursing alumnae at the home of Gloria Trippe Grainge’s '57 sister-in-law, Diane Trippe '62 IWHS.
Like most Incarnate Word graduates, Lee and her family have been shaped by the lessons they learned in and out of the classroom at Incarnate Word. Lee's sister remarked, “Giving future students the opportunity to experience an education at UIW makes it all worthwhile.”
Truly, these alumni are taking a golden opportunity to make other's dreams come true! To find out how you, too, can contribute to the educational opportunities of UIW students, contact Heather Welder Russo at (210) 829-6071 or [email protected].
Contributed by Heather Welder Russo