Outstanding Volunteer Award goes to Steven R. Schilling ’65

Steven R. Schilling ’65 collects this year’s Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Office of Annual Giving for his committed efforts on behalf of the Class of 1965. Schilling serves as Class Representative, a position he has held since 2002, rallying support among his fellow alumni to raise ever-increasing funds for Whitman College. This past year, Schilling led the class to a fundraising total of $257,893 and 73.29% participation.

Recipients of the Outstanding Volunteer Award are chosen on the basis of several factors, including years of service, total dollars raised, and increase in alumni participation and dollars. Along with his service as Class Rep, Steve chaired his 25th Reunion, volunteered at his 30th, and will serve as co-chair for the upcoming 50th Reunion of the Class of 1965 taking place in May of 2015.

Schilling has deep roots at Whitman. His late father Kenneth spent 35 years teaching music at Whitman, 25 of those as the Director of the Conservatory of Music. Both his sisters are Whitties, Nancy L. Schilling ’80 and Janet Schilling Mowery ’70, as well as his step-mother, Martha Philips Schilling ’50. His father and step-mother created the Kenneth and Martha Schilling Vocal Scholarship Endowment, a fund Steve continues to support.

During his time at Whitman, Steve participated in choir and intramural sports, worked on The Pioneer and the Yearbook, and belonged to Phi Delta Theta. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and then went on to earn a master’s in American Studies at Cal State University Los Angeles. After graduation, Steve began a long career in post-secondary education administration.

Steve lives in Sierra Madre, Calif., with his wife JoAnna. He stays in touch with his fraternity brothers as well as other classmates. Brian Dohe, Director of Annual Giving, shared that Steve has earned a reputation for writing lively and engaging letters and always stands willing to tackle new initiatives. He is a loyal member of the W Club, as well as a supporter of several scholarship funds at Whitman.

The Office of Annual Giving also acknowledges Herb Ladley ’40 and Penny Penrose Bignold ’56 whose classmates reached 100 and 91 percent participation respectively. Helen Hurley Barron-Liebel ’44 and Herb Ladley were recognized for the highest increases in participation at 17 and 14 points respectively.

The Annual Giving staff thanks all these dedicated alumni along with all of the volunteers that make the annual giving program at Whitman a success. The energy and commitment of these volunteers has propelled the Whitman class representative program to ever-higher achievements.