Campaign Impact
Full Circle: The Impact of Philanthropy on the Hill
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Jonas Eshelman ’50: The Largest Gift in College History
A landmark estate gift of approximately $15 million from the late Jonas Eshelman ’50 marks the largest in the college’s history. It will be used to establish an endowment that will fund initiatives to enhance academic excellence and support the college’s unrestricted priorities.
The Ripple Effects of Consistent Giving
While they have long since made the transition from annual giving to major gifts, the Sheltons — the recipients of the 2025 Founders Award — are proof that what may seem like small gifts can add up over time. And the Sheltons know that while all alumni may not be able to give at the Founders Society level, they reinforce that every gift — of time, talent, or treasure — has the potential to change a student’s life.
Finding Fulfillment in Volunteerism on the Hill
Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and 2025 Alum of the Year Nupur Parekh Flynn ’94 says that generosity is simply a part of her DNA. Whether that’s through her service on the McDaniel College Board of Trustees from 2007 until 2011, her work with United Way of Central Maryland, her tenure as a trustee of the Baltimore Museum of Art, her stints coming back to the Hill as a guest lecturer, or serving as a mentor for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge, Flynn says that giving back in whatever ways she can “is just the most fulfilling part of life.”
For Nine Women Known As The Round Robins, College Ties Can Ne’er Be Broken
Since meeting in McDaniel Hall in 1966, the Round Robins have remained connected through the decades with monthly book club gatherings, weekly Zoom cocktail hours during the COVID-19 pandemic, and annual getaways. In April this year, they gathered once again to honor one of their own after the passing of Patricia Johnson “PJ” Krantz ’70.
How Philanthropy Has Guided One Senior’s McDaniel Experience
At just 21 years old, Nicki James ’26 has a resume that would rival many mid-career professionals when it comes to community involvement, both here on the Hill and in Westminster and Carroll County as a whole. The senior who will complete her degree in Social Work in May says that there’s something special about knowing you belong somewhere and that others are invested in your success. Read more about her journey in her own words.
From Refugee to Green Terror for Life
Thanks to the financial and personal support of alumni and donors, Sana Askari has found a true sense of belonging and started a new chapter for herself, her siblings, and women back home in Afghanistan. She shares her experiences — and the life-changing influence of McDaniel’s alumni network — in her own words.
McDaniel College and LifeBridge Health Announce Landmark Partnership
Leaders from LifeBridge Health and McDaniel College joined together at Carroll Hospital on Oct. 30 to announce a landmark partnership that not only helps to address the nursing shortage in Carroll County and the surrounding region through McDaniel’s new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program, but also benefits McDaniel students and LifeBridge Health team members.
Donation Supports McDaniel Women’s Leadership Network Scholarship
McDaniel College has received a $10,000 donation from higher education partner CampusWorks to support an endowed scholarship through the McDaniel Women’s Leadership Network. The scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming first-year student who has exhibited leadership potential through academic, athletic, and/or community service.
The Campaign in Action
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Your Gift. Their Stories. Our Future.
Every act of generosity helps write the next chapter of McDaniel’s story — in the lives of students whose journeys are shaped by scholarships and support, in alumni who give back to strengthen the Hill, and in the spaces and programs that bring our community together. Your impact is everywhere. Together, we’re reaching new heights.
Turning Vision Into Reality
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Track Renovation
As announced during the 2024 Homecoming pregame celebration, construction of McDaniel’s bold new track has finally come to completion. Brandishing our signature green-and-gold stripes, the updated facility is able to host track and field competitions for the first time in years — now with improved safety and a design that reflects McDaniel’s pride in its student-athletes.
BSU Clubroom and Historical Exhibit
The Black Student Union (BSU) Clubroom has been a welcoming space for students of all backgrounds on the Hill for more than 40 years. The space has recently undergone a major renovation so that it may remain a cornerstone of belonging at the...
McDaniel College Moves to Develop New Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology
McDaniel College is continuing to grow its graduate programs, while expanding the college’s academic offerings in health care, with the development of a new Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology.
The Learning Commons @ Hoover Library
Renovations @ Hoover Library have resulted in a vibrant student success space now known as The Learning Commons. The Learning Commons at Hoover Library centralizes key services and enhances individual talents to support academic excellence and improve student learning.
STEM Center Gift Bridges Disciplines
Trustee Bob Pick '92, P'25 says that he and his wife, Heather, were eager to donate to this project because it establishes a visible STEM pillar in the center of campus. “The liberal arts, in many respects, are all about ‘and.’ It’s not one discipline or the other; one culture or another. It’s about navigating all,” he says.
A New Chapter for the Writing Center
Fostering further collaboration among academic support services, the Writing Center has a new home in the Learning Commons @ Hoover Library, with a modernized facility in a central location.
Building for the Future: Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology
Inherent in our pursuit of academic excellence and innovation is transforming health care education in our region through the development of new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.), Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T.), and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (M.S. in S-LP) programs.
Investing in McDaniel’s Business Legacy
Renovations to upgrade the Economics and Business Administration Department in Lewis Recitation Hall took place over the summer. Built in 1914, Lewis Recitation Hall was the first building constructed on campus following a plan developed by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm and is named for President Thomas Hamilton Lewis, who served as the college’s president from 1886 to 1920.
Accessible Spaces and Friendly Faces: SASS Moves to the Learning Commons
Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS) has long been housed in Merritt Hall, but with approximately 30% of McDaniel undergraduate students utilizing SASS accommodations, the office has outgrown its physical space. Now, students registered with SASS will have easier access to other support services like the Writing Center, STEM Center, librarians, IT, student success coaches, and academic deans, all of whom are frequent collaborators with SASS staff.
McDaniel Receives $2 Million for Mathematics and Computer Science Department
McDaniel College has been awarded $2 million through the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund (MEIF), a state program created to spur basic and applied research in scientific and technical fields at colleges and universities. The funding will be...