Albertus Magnus College Receives Gift Commitments Totaling $3.7 Million for Student Scholarships
Estate Gifts From Three Alumnae Will Endow Scholarships as the College’s Centennial Approaches in 2025
Rosary Hall
New Haven, Conn., March 5, 2024 – Albertus Magnus College is pleased to announce estate gift commitments totaling $3.7 million from three generous alumnae. The commitments from Janice Ainger Roman ’59, Kathleen Prendergast Hollowell ’68, and Tess McGuinness Torrey ’68 are among the largest planned gifts in the College’s 98-year history. When received, the donations will support endowed student scholarships.
“I have come to admire the spirit, accomplishments, and generosity of Albertus graduates, and these three women have answered a call to support their alma mater as it approaches its historic 100th anniversary year,” said Albertus President Marc M. Camille, Ed.D. “Their wonderful commitments speak to the value of the Albertus experience and are an investment in support of future students who will benefit from this life and dreams-elevating College. I am humbled by and grateful for these women and their trust, vision, and investment.”
With these gifts, the alumnae donors become members of The Prospect Hill Society, which honors those who have remembered the College in their estate plans and is named for the historic New Haven neighborhood where Albertus Magnus was founded in 1925.
“By supporting scholarship, it’s my hope to help future generations of Albertus students enjoy the same opportunities that I was fortunate to have,” said Hollowell.
“I hope this gift can provide others—especially other first-generation students, as I was—invaluable financial support to pursue their dreams, and discover and nurture their unique skills,” added Torrey.
“Albertus was founded as New England’s first Catholic, residential liberal arts college for women, and I am a firm believer in scholarship support and helping make education available to those who might not otherwise have access to it,” said Roman.
Approaching its 100th anniversary year in 2025-26, the Albertus Magnus is currently planning the largest and most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history. “Gifts like these are transformative, not only because of the generous financial support they provide, but also because of the giving they inspire from others,” said Mary Young ’91, Vice President for Advancement at Albertus. “Estate gifts and annual gifts, both large and small, combine to have a powerful impact on students’ lives.”
If you already have Albertus Magnus College in your estate plan, please let the Office of Advancement know by calling (203) 773-8502. For more information about planned giving and other ways to support Albertus, please visit www.albertus.edu/plannedgiving
About Albertus Magnus College
Albertus Magnus College, founded in 1925, is a coeducational Catholic College in the Dominican tradition. As New England's most diverse Catholic College, Albertus' values and liberal arts-based education is recognized by external rankings such as US News & World Report, Money Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, and has been named a Top 10 Military Friendly School. For seven consecutive years, graduating classes at Albertus have achieved post-graduate employment and graduate school success at a rate of at least 95%. The College has an enrollment of approximately 1,300 students across its traditional undergraduate, accelerated adult undergraduate, and 11 graduate programs. Proud to enroll a student body where more than half of its students come from minority backgrounds with nearly the same percentage of undergraduates receiving Federal Pell Grants and being first generation college goers, Albertus is known for its innovative curricular offerings, recently launching new Bachelor’s degree programs in Game and Computer Arts, General Health Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Project Management, Public Health, Social Media, and Supply Chain Management; among its graduate programs is the State of Connecticut's only Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program. Just two years from its historic 100th Anniversary Year, the College is implementing its Albertus 2025: Lighting the Way to a Second Century strategic plan, which articulates an inspiring, bold vision to "be a destination liberal arts-based college, distinguished in its interdisciplinary and experiential approach to education, rooted in Dominican values, that prepares students for lifelong civic engagement and success." To learn more, please visit albertus.edu.