To continue to build one of the most innovative arts programs at a liberal arts college, Colby is establishing the Lyons Arts Lab. With a focus on developing and realizing original student-driven projects, the dynamic new lab is the result of a $5-million endowed gift from Colby Trustee John Lyons ’85, P’22 and Susannah Gray P’22, who currently serves on the Board of Governors at the Colby College Museum of Art. 

To honor his many personal and familial connections to libraries and reading, Michael D. Wormser ’59 has documented a total of $2 million in planned gifts to Colby College to establish the Michael and Eugenia Wormser Director of the Colby Libraries Fund, which will permanently name and support the salary, benefits, and recruitment of the Michael and Eugenia Wormser Director of the Colby Libraries.

Colby College has accepted a $100,000 gift from Richard A. Zipser ’64 to establish an endowed financial aid fund for students completing academic programs in Germany or Austria. Zipser spent his junior year at Colby studying in the Black Forest region of Germany.

Colby College has received a $1-million bequest gift from Carol Fisher ’57 to establish the Carol A. Fisher Scholarship Fund. The unrestricted gift to financial aid will expand access to Colby for more students.

Nancy Greer Weiland ’65, P’93, GP’24 and Andrew ’64, P’93, GP’24 have endowed the Weiland Welcome Grant, which will award $1,250 in addition to financial aid for expenses associated with necessary school items to first-year students, starting with the Class of 2026 whose families earn $65,000 or less per year with typical assets and are eligible for $0 parent or guardian contribution.

Colby College has become the new steward of Allen Island and Benner Island, two historic islands off the coast of Maine where renowned American artist Andrew Wyeth painted some of his greatest works—inspired and influenced by the landscape and architecture that were curated by his wife, Betsy Wyeth.

To continue to make a lasting difference in the College’s future, Colby is pleased to announce the Leave Your Mark Legacy Challenge. As part of the challenge, anonymous donors have pledged a generous $1 million gift in support of financial aid. Individuals who will be 60 or older by June 30, 2023 and document a new planned gift for Colby will have 10 percent of their gift’s value matched with an immediate, outright gift to support financial aid.

Just over four years into its $750-million Dare Northward campaign—the largest campaign in liberal arts college history—Colby College has surpassed $650 million with contributions from more than 24,700 alumni, family members, and friends. The campaign is already making a substantial impact on the student, faculty, and staff experiences at Colby.

Colby has received a $2-million gift in support of the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, on track to be the most advanced and innovative arts facility in the region. The anonymous gift will name two key backstage spaces: the costume shop and the dressing rooms. The gift was made possible through the generosity of a loyal Colby alumna and longtime resident of Waterville.