Campus News
November 25th, 2025
GC, Foundation thank President's Circle
Donors' roles in three capital campaigns, scholarships lauded
Photo by John Rudd
Garrett College Administrative Athletics Director Eric Hallenbeck, left, looks on as Laker baseball player Grayden Gillott talks about his experiences as a Garrett College student.
Garrett College and the Garrett College Foundation celebrated their generous donors during last Thursday morning's semi-annual President's Circle.
"I'm continually amazed at the ongoing generosity of all of our donors, particularly those who are members of the President's Circle," said Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College's president. Midcap summarized the Foundation donors' generosity in 2025, which has included:
- 615 gifts received;
- 299 scholarships awarded totaling $217,897;
- 43 new donors;
- $675,000 raised since June for the Garrett College Foundation Athletics Capital Campaign.
Professor Christa Bowser, Garrett College's chief academic officer, spotlighted donor gifts that have helped provide the art program with a new, totally renovated space and create classroom and lab space for GC's first-year radiologic technology program.
"The Virginia ‘Ginny' Neff Memorial Fund for the Arts has allowed us to refresh the art studio as we moved it to a new location," said Krug. "Three new kilns were purchased with this gift as well as many new program supplies. The new learning environment is a modern area where collaboration, creativity, and academic engagement can flourish."
Bowser also noted that the art studio helps support GC's College & Me program, which brings county fifth-graders to campus for a four-day college experience.
"Through that program, 150 fifth-grade students have gotten to create art in the new studio this semester," she said.
Bowser also discussed the Radiology Fund, which was established to help launch the new Radiologic Technology program.
"Your investment has ensured that the new positioning lab/classroom is welcoming and conducive to student success," Bowser told the donors. "The classroom space is filled with current medical supplies in a setting that mirrors classic medical learning spaces."
Outdoor Leadership & Adventure (OLA) Education student Travis Martin, a Garrett County resident who appeared via recorded message, said the Scott Hess Adventuresports Student Fund "has helped me to get all sorts of certifications that I need to pursue my dream career of being an outdoor leader."
"I was actually able to put a down payment on my house because of all the money I saved. I would not have been able to do that if I'd had to pay full cost for all of these courses," Martin told donors. "Thank you again for your generous support and the gifts that you've given . . . to help people like me get their dream careers."
Midcap noted that the College and Foundation have jointly operated three capital campaigns since 2018 that have generated nearly $7 million for STEM, the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College, and the renovation of the 700 Building into athletics expansion space.
"Fundraising professionals were skeptical when we launched our Performing Arts Center campaign during COVID – and you helped us raise about $3.6 million to support the arts in Garrett County," said Midcap.
"A fundraising consultant expressed doubts about running a third consecutive capital campaign, this time for an area – athletics – where we'd never raised appreciable gifts," added Midcap. "Today, we have gifts for 18 of the 19 naming opportunities associated with the Athletics Capital Campaign."
Garrett College Administrative Athletics Director Eric Hallenbeck, who is also GC's head baseball coach, also spoke at the President's Circle. While Hallenbeck led GC's baseball team to a school-record 36 wins last spring, he preferred to emphasize the classroom performance of the Laker student athletes.
"Thirty student athletes received All-Academic Team honors last academic year, which was the second-highest total in NJCAA Region 20 out of 22 teams. Three of our teams were named Academic Teams of the Year," said Hallenbeck, adding that baseball (3.28 GPA) and men's basketball (3.22) were first in the region among their respective sports while women's volleyball (3.15) was third.
Cherie Krug, executive director of the Garrett College Foundation, expressed the Foundation's appreciation of the ongoing gifts provided by President's Circle members.
"Your gifts have enabled us to do what we do best: expand educational opportunities for Garrett College students and enhance the academic environment of Garrett College," said Krug.
