Letter from the President

Dear Friends,

What an amazing year this has been for Hampden-Sydney College. It is my pleasure to be President of such a well regarded and widely recognized institution of higher education. Our students and faculty continue to impress me with their intellectual rigor, personal drive, and community spirit.

We have been busy on The Hill. In May, we celebrated the graduation of 232 young men, including Joshua D. Aho and Charles E. Jones who were commissioned into the U.S. Army and our valedictorian Cameron Auker, who graduated with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. We complete ahead of schedule the construction of Ty Cobb Ball Park, one of the leading Division III baseball stadiums in the country. This fall, we also completed the renovation and expansion of the Wilson Center for Leadership in the Public Interest, our premiere leadership-training program.

A strategic plan for the future of Hampden-Sydney College is under development, soon to be approved by the Board of Trustees. This plan will ensure the College continues its success as a liberal arts institution that forms good citizens for the country and the world. I am eager to share the details of the plan with you once they have been finalized.

Our exemplary faculty members continue to bring acclaim to Hampden-Sydney College. This year, Pamela Fox, Elliot Associate Professor of Fine Arts, received a Fellowship from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; Dr. Nolan Wages (H-SC ’04), assistant professor of mathematics and computer science, received a grant from the National Institutes of Health; Dr. Michael Wolyniak, assistant professor of biology, received a grant from the National Science Foundation; and Dr. Kristain Hargardon (H-SC ’01), assistant professor of biology, received a grant from the Virginia Academy of Sciences Jeffress Memorial Trust and a Sigma Xi Fresh Faces of the 125th Anniversary Award for his commitment to research. Longtime professor of economics, Dr. Anthony Carilli, was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Virginia Association of Economics for his significant contributions to the organization and the field of economics. In the English Department, Dr. Sarah Hardy was named “One of the Most Creative Teachers in the South” by Oxford American magazine.

The work Hampden-Sydney College faculty and staff do for our students is widely recognized. U.S. News and World Report ranks the College number 94 among all nationally ranked liberal arts colleges. This reflects a 17-point jump in the ranking from last year, a feat unequaled by any other school in the top 100 except Austin College. Hampden-Sydney was also ranked third among private nationally ranked liberal arts colleges in the state of Virginia. Forbes.com ranks us number 19 among Best Colleges in the South. In a nod to how well Hampden-Sydney College prepares its students for life after graduation, PayScale.com ranks us number 7 in salary potential for graduates among all colleges and universities in the South.

This year has been an outstanding fundraising year, despite continued worries about our national economy. The Hampden-Sydney Fund, our unrestricted gifts that go toward budget relief, continues to be vital for the success of the College. I am pleased to announce that we exceeded our goal and alumni participation in the Fund increased significantly this year; I hope this is the beginning of a positive trend. Also, our endowment is growing, albeit slowly, as investments rebound and contributions continue to come in. With just over $9 million in total gifts for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, we exceeded our collective goals by $3.3 million. This is a wonderful achievement by Hampden-Sydney College and its remarkable supporters.

With each successful year at Hampden-Sydney College, I get more excited about the coming year. We are continuing our centuries old tradition of preparing young men for a lifetime of contribution and purpose, while forging a path for higher education in the future. Thank you for your support of Hampden-Sydney College

See you on The Hill,

President Christopher B. Howard