Celebrating 2024–2025 Annual Giving Volunteer Award Winners

Each year, the Office of Annual Giving presents awards to individual and team volunteers, recognizing their service to the College. “The annual giving team and I are so grateful for the dedication and loyalty of our alumni volunteers,” said Christi Lumiere, executive director of annual giving at the College. “Our class agents help us shine a light on how critical the annual funds are to Bowdoin and spread the message that every gift makes a difference every year.”

In addition to the award winners below, Lumiere also highlighted the contributions made by the 25^th and 50^thReunion Committees. “Milestone reunion classes fundraise annual support and multiyear pledges that help sustain Bowdoin for years to come,” she said.  “The committees’ dedication to Bowdoin was incredible—it shows in the results! I hope others will be inspired by their collaboration, loyalty, and deep commitment to giving back.”

The Class of 2000’s 25^th Reunion Committee helped inspire $6,872,594 in annual and capital gifts and commitments, breaking the previous record set by the Class of 1994’s 25^th Reunion total of $2,086,448. The Class of 1975’s 50^th Reunion Committee helped raise 12,766,234 in annual and capital gifts and commitments, with an additional $9,760,350 in documented bequests.

VOLUNTEER AND TEAM AWARDS

Alumni Fund Directors Trophy

Established in 1972 by directors of the Alumni Fund, this trophy is awarded annually to the class or classes that, in the opinion of the directors, achieved outstanding performance that deserves special mention. This year, the award goes to two classes:

 

The thirty-five volunteers for the Class of 1975’s 50th Reunion Committee collaborated to raise the most revenue and participation in the class’s history—and broke the attendance record for 50^th Reunion Weekend and yearbook entry submissions. “Celebrating the 50^th Reunion is always an achievement, but the Class of 1975 should be recognized for their outstanding work this year,” said nominator Sarah Daniels, assistant director of annual giving. “The 50^th Reunion Committee took their work to the next level!”

The Class of 2005’s 20th Reunion Committee, led by Keely Boyer, Sarah Begin Cameron, Haliday Douglas, and Marc Mendoza, also led a successful reunion effort. The committee was energized and eager to help with classmate outreach, developing class-specific moments during Reunion Weekend and more. During Bowdoin One Day, the Class of 2005 had the most alumni donors—reaching the top of the leaderboard for the first time. “Their dedication, loyalty, creativity, and overall can-do spirit was fantastic during their 20^th Reunion year,” said their nominator, Josh Elowe, associate director of annual giving.

Robert M. Cross Award

Established in 1990, the Cross Award annually recognizes the class agent or agents whose outstanding performance, hard work, and loyalty to Bowdoin—as personified by Robert M. Cross ’45, P’72, P’76, H’89 during his many years of association with annual giving—are deserving of special recognition. This year’s award recognizes two class agents:

Janice Warren ’80 served as a member of her 45^th Reunion Committee this year and helped lead the planning and execution of several Reunion Weekend events, including a Class of 1980 Radio Hour and a Women’s Coffee meet-up. “Janet’s leadership of these projects was commendable,” said Jordan Drolet, senior associate director of annual giving, who nominated Warren. “The grace and kindness with which she executed them made her a delight to work with.”

Cole Crawford ’20 was an active advocate on his 5^th Reunion Committee, motivating classmates to support each fundraising push throughout the year. He raises his hand whenever asked to pitch in, most recently serving as the young alumni guest speaker for the Class of 2025’s Commencing Dinner, when he shared stories about his Bowdoin journey and the support and joy he receives from continuing to engage with the College. “Cole has been a rock star this year and is excited to remain on his class agent team for years to come,” said his nominator, Norah Schlax, associate director of annual giving. “He frequently shares fundraising priorities with peers, solicitating gifts of all sizes, and kindly debunks myths about giving to Bowdoin.”

Class of 1976 Trophy
Established in 2004, this trophy is awarded annually to the class agent or volunteer team whose energy, creativity, and leadership in a non-reunion year are deserving of special recognition. The 2024–2025 trophy recognizes two winners this year:

The 1961 Lead Class Agents: Joel Sherman, Mase Pratt, Gerard Haviland, and Dick Cutter, who facilitated a highly personalized outreach effort comprising phone calls and emails to every classmate. This energetic and loyal team writes two class newsletters every year to keep classmates updated on everyone’s news, often engaging a new classmate to write the introduction and share their voice. In addition, the team penned two personalized solicitation letters to the class.

“Joel, Mase, Gerard, and Dick prioritize connections with each other and with the College through frequent emails, phone calls, and visits with classmates,” said Jane Camp, senior associate director of annual giving, who nominated the group. “They are a wonderful team who values their shared experience, are committed to their life-long friendships, and give so much back to Bowdoin.”

Additionally, Sarah Lovely ’02, who serves as a lead class agent and alumni fund director, is being recognized for this honor. Her enthusiasm, class leadership, and creativity make her a stand-out volunteer. This year, she led a Class of 2002 participation challenge during Bowdoin One Day that helped increase the class’s participation in giving, and she frequently raises her hand to take on more outreach assignments, help craft class communications, and more. “Sarah is a wonderful representative of the College and a brilliant volunteer to collaborate with,” says Lovely’s nominataor, Josh Elowe, associate director of annual giving.

Class Awards

The Leon W. Babcock Plate is awarded annually to the class that makes the largest contribution to annual giving. Created in 1980 by William L. Babcock Jr. ’69 in honor of his grandfather, a member of the Class of 1917, the award goes to the Class of 1975, which raised $517,900 in annual gifts for Bowdoin.

Awarded annually since 1932, the Alumni Fund Cup recognizes the non-reunion class making the largest contribution to annual giving. The 2024–2025 award goes to the Class of 1974, which raised $468,961 in annual gifts for Bowdoin.

The Class of 1916 Bowl annually acknowledges the class with the greatest year-over-year improvement in fundraising. This year it’s a tie; the Class of 2000 raised $223,189 for the Alumni Fund during their 25^threunion year, and the Class of 2022 raised $4,578—both achieving a 144 percent increase.

During their tenth reunion year, the Class of 2015 won two awards recognizing stellar performance in the youngest ten class years: the Class of 1929 Trophy, for the highest participation percentage, and the Robert Seaver Edwards Trophy, for making the largest Alumni Fund contribution. They raised nearly $30,000 from more than 40 percent of the class.

Finally, the Harry K. Warren Trophy, which was established in 1998, recognizes the two reunion classes that achieve the highest percentage of alumni participation in annual giving. Among the classes celebrating the fifth to the twenty-fifth reunion, the trophy went to the Class of 2005, which achieved 53.8 percent participation. Among the classes celebrating the thirtieth to fiftieth reunion years, the trophy went to the Class of 1975, which achieved an annual giving participation rate of 81.7 percent participation.