Annual Fund honors volunteer Carolyn Young Treneer '43

Carolyn Young Treneer ’43 has earned this year’s top spot on the Annual Fund’s roster of volunteers for outstanding achievement. She served as a class representative briefly in the late 1960s and returned last year as the chief volunteer for her class. Through her efforts and the generosity of her classmates, the Class of 1943 achieved an 84.09 percent participation rate and contributed $84,580 to support students and faculty.

When Carolyn learned that her name and achievement would be added to the plaque honoring Annual Fund volunteers, she commented, “I do, however, think that the Class of 1943 should be inscribed on the plaque instead of my name.” Her only request: “a typewritten note saying ‘thank you.’”

Carolyn’s family includes a long legacy of Whitman alumni, including son Chuck Treneer ’71 and granddaughter Stephanie Treneer ’00. Carolyn’s mother, Laura James Young, graduated from Whitman Academy in 1901. Carolyn’s grandfather, who moved to Spokane in the 1800s after he graduated from Middlebury College, was instrumental in instilling the value of a liberal arts education in his family and decided that Laura would attend Whitman.

The Annual Fund also recognizes Walt Wood ’69 and Cathy Highberg Williams ’70 for greatest improvements in total dollars raised in 2008-09, and Mary Belle Preston Wells ’41 and Penny Penrose Bignold ’56 for top percentage of participation. Dale Penrose Harrell ’59 and Judy Seaton Mongan ’37 earned top improvement in percentage of participation. Rowland Thompson ’77 and Wood were recognized for their respective classes’ generosity in total dollars raised. Thompson received the Annual Fund Award in 2006.

“Whitman sincerely appreciates the hard work and dedication of more than 250 class representatives and associate class representatives who work to broaden support for the college by educating, stewarding and soliciting annual gifts from alumni,” said Brian Dohe, Annual Fund director.