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One Small Idea, One Grand Project
By Edna Maye Loveless
It began in 1999 with a chance remark to Bruce Johnston, a college
classmate of mine. “Next year is our 5oth anniversary. Why don’t
we put together a significant class gift?” And our 50-year honor class
project was born.
It was a plan to place in the entrance of a renewed Administration Building
an aesthetic reminder of the way God has led His people at Walla Walla College,
from the pioneers of the 19th century to the forward thinkers of the 21st
century. Let this be a reminder of “alabaster box” quality, we said,
representing our gratitude for God’s goodness to us.
First, we needed to raise the funds to provide for this class gift. We sought the college’s alumni records. We had names, addresses, majors, even birth dates! Those birth dates ranged from 1909 to 1930, reflecting the diversity of a class blessed by veterans.
Bruce Johnston, president of our class, carried the ball. Conference calls ensued. Esther McCluskey, Clarence “Bud” Carnahan, Bob Burgess, Everett Cumbo, Larry Claridge, Maxine Blome, Don DeVries, Harold Benson, Bruce, and I divvied up the list of graduates based on majors, memory, and friendship. Because we wanted to remember those in our class who are no longer with us, Janice Dopp, whose husband, Matthew “Bud” Dopp, was a member of the class of 1950, agreed to call the spouses of our deceased classmates to ask if they would like to join in the project.
Contacting our classmates was a chance to catch up with people we may not have seen in decades as well as invite them to participate in a gift of gratitude to the college that gave us such a good start in life. The Class of 1950, with its large number of veterans, had more than 200 graduates, making it at that time the largest class to graduate from the institution.
More than 100 phone calls later, the class of 1950 came through. Although not everyone could give, our classmates were enthusiastic about the project.
Consider the class member on Social Security and living in an assisted living facility who said, “I’m already sending money to help my grandchildren who are studying at Walla Walla College! I wish I could extend my giving for the class gift.”
In an overwhelmingly positive response, individual gifts came in ranging from $15 to $6,000 and adding up to more than $54,000 in cash and pledges.
Everyone I called had notable words of appreciation for the WWC experience. Not one said, “I don’t want to give!” We were
consistently blessed as we connected with our classmates.
Why did we do it? First, to acknowledge in small measure an awareness that
we cannot justify our privileged status—educated, living in freedom,
and exposed to the truth of God’s grace—based on our merits or accomplishments.
We justify our privileges when we seek to change the status of people whose
talents are thwarted by circumstances we have the ability to alter.
We wanted to create a “presence” or reminder in the Ad Building of the pioneer vision that started an institution that has endured into the 21st century. The gift, whether an etched glass panel or marble flooring with scenes recalling faith acts of WWC’s pioneers, is subject to consultation with the planners of the building.
Why did we do it? Most readers of this publication are alumni anticipating landmark anniversaries of their graduations. We want our gift to provide impetus for future honor classes to contact fellow alumni as we did—reminisce with them, catch up with them, and pray with them. We challenge future honor classes to honor their teachers, their college experience, and God with a gift that distributes the blessings He has bestowed.