Legacy Gift from Juniata's Class of 1974 to Support Statton Learning Commons
(Posted June 18, 2024)
HUNTINGDON, Pa. — Members of Juniata College’s Class of 1974 presented their 50th Class Reunion legacy gift during the All Class Dinner at Alumni Weekend. The Class of 1974 raised $4,889,319.74, to support many areas across the College now and in the future. A portion of their overall gift is directed to the living room space within Statton Learning Commons, with the remainder directed to endowments, capital projects, annual scholarships, academic and athletic programs, student programs like the Mock Trial team, and the Juniata Scholarship Fund.
Class of 1974’s Legacy Gift committee co-chairs Dave Andrews and Bruce Moyer and committee members Barbara Beachley Marshall, Bill Zamer, Mike Klag, and Mike Jablonski rallied their classmates to support the cause.
“We express our gratitude to Juniata for the education we received. Our class project is sponsorship of the living room in Statton Learning Commons, an incredibly welcoming space that students and the entire Juniata community have embraced since it opened in the spring,” said Andrews. “I was amazed to see this become the new hangout for students. It was great to see students gathering in an academic environment to spend their spare time.”
Statton Learning Commons opened in totality on March 4, 2024, and students quickly adopted the spaces within as places to study, socialize, and collaborate. The living room, which faces the quad, has hosted movie nights, lectures, and panel discussions and provided a comfortable and adaptable place for individuals and groups.
“I have been thinking about our 50th reunion. Even though we will be returning for our 55th, 60th, and beyond, this is probably the most important time in our lives. This is when living memory is embraced before it becomes permanent history,” Moyer said to his classmates. “This is a special time. We should be joyful that we are here, blessed to be Juniata graduates and friends forever.”
The Class of 1974 made two Juniata College records with their legacy gift. With 114 donors (56% of the class), the class had the highest number of donors for the 2024 fiscal year. They also presented the largest cash gift for a class project, $1,085,263. Andrews and Moyer credited the support of their committee, class engagement officers, classmates, and Juniata College’s advancement team with the success of their effort.
Planning for a class’s 50th reunion begins five years before the 50th reunion, and part of that planning is leaving a lasting legacy in the form of a significant gift to Juniata College.
Outside of the class projects, alumni celebrating their 50th reunion often support areas at Juniata that were most meaningful to them, including the Juniata Scholarship Fund, summer student research initiatives, specific academic programs, facility enhancements across campus, Juniata Athletics, and much more.
Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.