May 4, 2026
A Night of Gratitude
On a spring evening filled with warmth, reflection, and unmistakable pride, our community gathered to mark our 250th anniversary, as well as to celebrate a historic campaign – one that will shape the future of the College for generations to come. More than a celebration, the evening was a tribute: to the vision, generosity, and steadfast belief of the donors who made it all possible.
At the heart of the night was a simple but profound truth: this achievement belongs to all who believe in the College’s mission and chose to invest in Hampden-Sydney.
Because of this support, the campaign reached an extraordinary milestone of $400 million. This is not merely a number; it is a testament to what can be accomplished when a community rallies around a shared purpose. Each gift, whether large or small, helped build a future that will endure: scholarship aid to ensure that the College will remain affordable and attract the most talented young men, expanded opportunities for students, strengthened academic programs, enhanced facilities, and a renewed commitment to the mission that has guided the College for generations.
As the program began, remarks from College leadership offered a behind-the-scenes look at the journey to this moment. There were stories of quiet generosity, of transformational gifts made not for recognition but for impact. There were reflections on challenges overcome, milestones reached, and the collective determination that carried the campaign forward.
“We are incredibly privileged to have inherited a wonderful 250-year legacy. But the College’s most important work is the work we do today and the work we’ll do tomorrow.”
-President Larry Stimpert
Perhaps most moving were the stories of students – those whose lives have already been changed because of the investment that donors chose to make. Scholarships opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed. Faculty endowments ensured that exceptional teaching continues to define the academic experience.
As Kalefah Sirleaf ’27 stated during the program, “There is a common saying at Hampden-Sydney: as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. My professors played a critical role in sharpening my iron. They didn’t just teach me, they challenged me, provoked me, and made me hungry to learn. That hunger carried me all the way to the University of Cambridge for my study abroad experience.”
Investments in programs and facilities created new pathways for growth, discovery, and leadership. During the evening, Brandon Finch ’26 remarked, “I have had the opportunity to dive deep into subjects that I am passionate about like the development and current treatments for cancer, and anatomy and physiology; and I had the chance to perform research. Hampden-Sydney teaches students to face adversity and difficulties head on, with courage, because that is what it means to be a good man and a good citizen.”
These stories served as a powerful reminder: the true measure of this campaign is not in dollars raised, but in lives transformed.
Throughout the evening, there was a palpable sense of joy, and also momentum. This was not an ending. It was a beginning.
The campaign may have culminated in celebration, but the impact is just beginning to unfold. The foundation laid by this extraordinary effort will support students, faculty, and the physical campus for decades to come, ensuring that the College continues to thrive and lead with purpose.
Hampden-Sydney will enter its second quarter millennium stronger and better positioned than at any time in its history, but there’s much more we want to accomplish. As our president Larry Stimpert shared as he concluded his remarks last Friday evening, “We are incredibly privileged to have inherited a wonderful 250-year legacy. But the College’s most important work is the work we do today and the work we’ll do tomorrow.”
As inspiring as the evening was, it also carried a warm reminder.
To be part of this community is to be part of something larger than oneself. It is to invest in potential, to believe in the power of education, and to help write the next chapter of a remarkable story. For those who gave, we offer our deepest gratitude. For those considering how they might become involved, there has never been a more meaningful time.
The campaign has shown what is possible. The future will show what comes next.
Together, we move forward – with gratitude, with purpose, and with an enduring commitment to the College we proudly call our own.