Aug. 21, 2001
Columbian Women Reach New Heights
By Jane
Lingo
The Columbian Women, the University’s oldest scholarship support
group, reached a new level of giving in 2000–01. Sixteen students
received awards totaling $110,000, $10,000 more than the previous year.
The organization was founded in 1894, following a fire at Ford’s
Theater which had taken a father’s life of one of the original
13 women to attend GW. The young woman’s friends made it possible
for her to continue her studies. The first Columbian Women Scholarship
Fund was established in 1897. In the intervening 104 years, members
of the Columbian Women have worked with perseverance and imagination
to raise funds for deserving students.
The new president of Columbian Women is Julie Martin Mangis, a 1984
graduate and the recipient of an Alumni Service Award in 1999. A former
president of the Harmon Choral Associates, she has held the position
of senior alumni relations administrator in the Office of Alumni Relations.
“For me,” Mangis says, “it’s important that Columbian
Women has a long-standing tradition of women supporting women, to see
that they get a good education despite whatever their circumstances
may be. It’s enormously rewarding.”
A well-defined process is used to select the scholarship recipients.
“We award funds to students with a grade point average of 3.5 or
above,” Mangis explains. “The committee decisions are based
on merit and need. Sometimes there are heart-rending decisions and of
course, we’d like to give to all the applicants.”
One of this year’s 16 award recipients is Kena Richardson, who
will be a third-year medical student. Her long-term goal is to be a
pediatrician, with an interest in the social, cultural, and economic
factors that impact health. At the end of her studies, she will receive
a dual degree — an MD/MPH (master of public health). “The
award will decrease my loan,” she says. “Due to the work load
in medical school, it’s nearly impossible to have a job. I’m
very grateful to Columbian Women and very impressed with them as a group.”
“The main thing that struck me,” says member Ramona Stoltz,
“was that after you graduated, everyone (else) was coming after
you for money. When they invited me to a tea, saying ‘Come and
meet us,’ instead of just asking for money, they wanted my time
and my skills. I realized I was in perfect company of over-achievers
like myself. When I came to GW, I had to pay my own way. Every month,
when I write a check to pay off my student loan, I think that by raising
funds, I take that burden off other women. It’s wonderful to have
that freedom.”
Along the way the Columbian Women, whose membership is open to current
and former women students, as well as women faculty, staff, and trustees,
have enjoyed each other’s friendship and many memorable occasions.
Three first ladies of the United States have been interested in the
scholarship program — Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, Mrs. Herbert Hoover,
and Mrs. Harry Truman. Mrs. Truman entertained Columbian Women members
at a White House tea while her husband was in office. Over the years,
there has been entertaining at luncheons, teas, and dinners. Francine
Trachtenberg has frequently received the Columbian Women and their scholarship
recipients at the official president’s residence on Bancroft Place,
as have previous first ladies of the University. The late Jessie Fant
Evans, the first woman trustee of GW, was also an active member.
The Columbian Women have had a national and international touch through
the years. The Honorable Perle Mesta, who served as United States ambassador
to Luxembourg, was enlisted to participate in fund-raising by Columbian
Woman Alice Andersen. Andersen asked people to participate in a “Do-It-Yourself
Benefit” to raise $33 to pay for a semester hour of tuition in
1962. She invited guests to a buffet dinner at their home for $1 each
toward the goal. After several months, Mesta entertained at a tea to
mark the successful completion of the campaign.
On one occasion, Mrs. Frederick A. de Moleyns, wife of the First Secretary
of the British Embassy, was invited by Columbian Women to give a luncheon
talk on replicas of the English Crown Jewels. The group, known as the
Royal Regalia included St. Edward’s Crown, the Orb, the Imperial
State Crown, a Scepter with a Dove, and a large Ampulla in the shape
of a bird to hold sacred oil. The replicas, the property of the British
Embassy, were insured for $900 in 1960. Prior to the luncheon, there
was a photo session at the de Moleyns’s Georgetown house. While
the pictures were being taken, de Moleyns’s Cairn terrier, William,
climbed up on the velvet covered table with the jewels and went to sleep
among them. That picture pleased the photo editors and it was published
far and wide, even appearing in a London paper. It caught the attention
of the British foreign minister who sent “Freddy” de Moleyns
a stern letter indicating the British Crown Jewels should not appear
in any such informal circumstances.
The luncheon was a success and so far as is known, de Moleyns’s
diplomatic career was not jeopardized.
Many distinguished women have been members, among them novelist Mary
Roberts Rinehart, Judge Sarah T. Hughes, who administered the oath of
office to President Lyndon Johnson after President John F. Kennedy’s
death, and the Director of the US Mint Eva Adams.
“The social support of others and the team effort with a common
goal of giving back is ever evident in the Columbian Women and was my
inspiration in my term as president,” comments Mary Young, immediate
past president.
Scholarship recipients have had distinguished careers all over the world
and many have contributed to the scholarship funds. Notable among them
was the late Emilie Margaret White, who left the bulk of her estate
of some $200,000, to the Columbian Women.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu
