Dear Sewanee Family,

Fall is reunion season on the Mountain! In celebration of this exciting time of year, we’re glad to share a feature story about the College's Class of 1973—Exornati alumni who have raised the bar with their Sewanee philanthropy.

We’re also sending special congrats to new members of Sewanee’s 25 Years of Giving Society. Thank you for your loyal generosity!

With appreciation and warm wishes,

Your friends in University Relations

In honor of their 50th reunion and their unique status as Sewanee's first class to welcome women as full-time undergraduates, members of the Class of 1973 raised more than $1.1 million to develop the Sewanee Welcome Center and create an endowed scholarship fund.

Earlier this month, Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen, C’76, P’14, P’17, stood with Jimmy Wilson, C’73, P’01, P’23, and cut the ribbon on a long-anticipated addition to the Sewanee Village. Located in the heart of town, the Sewanee Welcome Center gives a fresh identity to a decades-old building that, at various times, housed a bait shop, a pharmacy, a hair salon, and, initially and most famously, Sewanee’s train depot. 

The word “welcome” has special meaning—the Welcome Center pays tribute to, and was largely funded by, the Class of 1973, which was Sewanee’s first class to welcome women as full-time undergraduates. As co-chairs of the Class of 1973’s 50th Reunion Committee, Wilson and Nan Tucker Jennings, C’73, led the charge to secure more than $1.1 million in gifts and pledges toward the center and the Class of 1973 Endowed Scholarship Fund.

"I could talk about Sewanee football forever," says Alfonza Knight, C'12. 

If you don't know much about the rich history of Sewanee football, watch Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899, the documentary written and produced by Norman Jetmundsen, C'76, P'16, P'16—and talk to former Sewanee defensive back Alfonza Knight, C'12. Since 2014, Knight has worked as a scout for the Arizona Cardinals, covering the southeastern region. The world of professional football might seem like an odd fit for an anthropology major, but Knight says learning how to study and analyze cultures has helped in his work evaluating college athletes and assessing their preparedness for the National Football League. He now shows his appreciation for the University by regularly supporting the Sewanee Fund.

Like all the best coaches, Catherine Powell Box, C’04, and John Shoaf IV, C’04, give significant credit to their team. “We’ve got a good group of very engaged class volunteers,” Shoaf says, describing the winning strategy that led the Class of 2004 to earn the Sewanee Fund’s Jack Stephenson Award for 2024-2025. The Stephenson Award honors the reunion-year class (fifth to 50th) that achieves the highest giving participation within a fiscal year. With leadership from Box and Shoaf, the Class of 2004 pushed to a giving rate of 55%.

Catherine Powell Box, C'04, and John Shoaf IV, C'04

Box says she sees her Sewanee story as including two chapters: her undergraduate experience and the four years she spent working as a senior admission counselor for the University. Her time in the Office of Admission introduced her to the importance of alumni giving in determining college rankings. “From a technical perspective, that’s something I’ve thought a lot about [as class co-chair].” On the Mountain, Box majored in history, pledged Theta Pi, and participated in Perpetual Motion, working closely with Phoebe Pearigen, P’14, P’17. Currently, she is co-director of college counseling at The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Shoaf was an economics major and took part in outreach and the Sewanee Outing Program. He now lives in Nashville and is co-owner of Perimeter Holdco and a partner at Shoaf Farms.

Ultimately, Shoaf says, his Sewanee philanthropy is driven by both gratitude and a “more outward-facing” catalyst: “I want Sewanee to continue to be well-respected, and part of that is [achieved through] giving back.”

On Sept. 20, Sewanee held a dedication ceremony to celebrate the installation of new scoreboards at Bruton-Guerry Tennis Center. Pictured are (left to right): Director of Athletics John Shackelford, P'24; Jay Wicklund, P'25; Michelle Wicklund, P'25; Quinn Wicklund, C'25; and Head Men's Tennis Coach Hamza Khan, C'20.

Fans of Sewanee’s tennis teams have a big reason to cheer: in late summer, new scoreboards were installed at Bruton-Guerry Tennis Center. This major addition is hard to miss—the towering, purple-and-white boards feature Sewanee’s gothic S logo and large digital displays. The upgrade is owed to the generosity of Michelle and Jay Wicklund, P’25, whose son, Quinn, C’25, had a standout, four-year career on the University’s men’s tennis team. “The Sewanee tennis program was an exceptional experience for Quinn,”  Jay and Michelle say. “The coaches are invested in the players both on and off the court. They understand the bigger picture—preparing these student-athletes for the next stages of life, caring about others, working and competing hard, being amazing teammates, and being great people.” To see the new scoreboards unveiled on Facebook, click here.

At this year's Advent Semester Convocation, Professor Emeritus of Religion Gerald L. Smith, P'15, received the Sewanee Medal.

“It is possible to change your mind, embrace a different vision, outgrow or overcome your past.” Professor Emeritus of Religion Gerald L. Smith, P’15, shared this guidance, along with other reflections, at the Advent Semester Convocation on Sept. 12. During the ceremony, Smith was presented with the Sewanee Medal, which has been awarded only one other time since its inception in 2022, in recognition of rare and extraordinary service to the University. 

In his remarks, Smith encouraged Sewanee alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends to step up and “support Sewanee at a level never before imagined.” Evoking the memory of bonfires in Manigault Park, he urged his audience: “Build the fire!”

Established through a donor’s generosity, the Gerald L. Smith Experiential Learning Endowment Fund supports hands-on learning in the humanities. Gifts to the fund in honor of Smith's exceptional Sewanee legacy can be made here. In the designation field, select “Other” and note “Gerald L. Smith Experiential Learning Endowment Fund.” Smith’s full Convocation address can be viewed and read here.

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