December 6, 2008, marked a Cottey College Alumnae gathering of about 30 alumnae in Washington, D.C., spanning back to the Class of 1961 to support Cottey and a new D.C. Cottey Alumnae Scholarship to send prospective students to Cottey’s grounds. The mission of the scholarship is inspired by statistics that show young women who visit Cottey are highly likely to apply to and attend Cottey. The scholarship can pay for a summer workshop or a visit to tour the campus for “C” for Yourself! Weekend.

Alumnae at the event shared stories of midnight fun and buckling down for the challenges of college at a truly unique institution, where many appear to still dream of the fantastic baked potato soup and brunches. All seemed to agree that Cottey was a place of personal growth, even if it took years to understand that growth.

Jacquie Segal, a P.E.O. chapter president and Cottey Class of 1990 alum, also “learned much more than what was written in my books. I learned a new way of living. I learned to open my heart to other women, a skill that has served me well over the years, as my girlfriends (and my mother) are the foundation of my soul. I learned to revere education and rise above challenges and heartache - and I still give Dr. Anne Bunton most of the credit for getting me through!”

Elise Van Pool, Class of 2003, said that serving in Cottey student government taught her how to get things done, something that put her steps ahead of many of those at her transfer college.

Isabella Zakaryan, Class of 2001, had a memorable story of getting to Cottey, which she thanks D.C. P.E.O. for fostering. Several years ago “Bella” was living in the U.S. as an Armenian exchange student in Alabama where a local paper did a feature about her, noting her interest in staying in the U.S. for college. A D.C.-based company that organizes and sponsors exchange students circulated the news article and a P.E.O. working in that company saw the article, contacted Bella, and then sent her Cottey application forms.

D.C. hostess and 2001 Truman Scholar Gabrielle Mary Sivage is always up to half-a-dozen projects and is currently supporting the efforts of fellow Truman Scholar Chris Myers Asch’s founding of the Public Service Academy, which now has pending legislation in Congress’ House and Senate. Supporters are hopeful that with Truman Scholars like Janet Napolitano and Susan Rice now nominated to serve in the next Administration’s Cabinet, that this could be a watershed period for establishing a new collegiate legacy like the Public Service Academy (www.uspublicserviceacademy.org).

Cottey College is no stranger to academic leaps and bounds. The D.C. P.E.O. Cottey Committee was pleased to learn about Cottey’s baccalaureate program ambitions; and upon hearing remarks from Cottey’s Judi Steege, alumnae were excited to support the College in increasing applicants. D.C. area P.E.O.s and alumnae are happily embarking upon a partnership to support Cottey alumnae while sending area young women to Cottey. Jacquie Segal put it best with her sentiment that, “I am thrilled to be a part of the D.C. Cottey alumnae and to help send other women off onto this great adventure. May they all learn as much as we did…this world can always use more women who’ve had the opportunity to grow in the way that only Cottey can afford.”

Sivage, Cottey Class of 2000, would like to thank Cheryl Mathews-White and Cathy Thurston, her fellow D.C. State P.E.O. Cottey Committee Chairwomen for their support throughout the year, as well as Cottey’s Carrie Reeves ‘96 and Judi Steege, who supported the hosting of this event in various ways, including Judi’s Cottey update at the event. On behalf of the Committee, she also thanks the D.C. State P.E.O. Board for their support in attending the event at Oyamel in D.C. All were thrilled with the venue and the brunch menu. All cheered Ol’ Cottey C!