Jepson Alumni Executive Center

Jepson Alumni Executive Center All projects begin with a vision. In the summer of 1998, the Mary Washington College Board of Visitors- foreseeing the vast and varied needs of the coming century-commissioned a Master Plan for the campus. That plan identified many critical areas, but at the top of the list was the need for a facility dedicated to the more than 35,000 alumni and the Fredericksburg-area community. A presidential committee was subsequently appointed and the concept for an Alumni Executive Center was born.

When President Anderson shared these plans with Mary Washington alumna Alice Andrews Jepson '64, she graciously offered to assist with the project. She and her husband, Robert S. Jepson, Jr., pledged a leadership gift of $2 million toward the new Alumni Executive Center and Alice Jepson agreed to chair the campaign to raise the remaining funds needed to complete the new facility by the spring of 2004.

The Alumni Executive Center campaign committee held a campaign kick-off event in May 2000. In December 2002, a Groundbreaking Ceremony was held at Trench Hill, and construction of the new Alumni Executive Center began in March 2003.

In October 2003, more than 150 guests gathered for An Historic Celebration at Lee hall. Hosted by President and Mrs. William M. Anderson, Jr., and Robert S., Jr., and Alice Andrews Jepson '64, the Renaissance-themed reception and dinner provided an occasion to commemorate the successful completion of the Alumni Executive Center campaign and to recognize donors, especially those who came forward to help meet the Kresge Challenge of raising $5.6 million by June 30, 2003. In total, nearly $8 million was raised to fund the new facility, making the Alumni Executive Center campaign the largest single fund-raising effort in the history of Mary Washington.

On June 5, 2004, nearly 500 area business leaders, friends and Mary Washington alumni from across the country attended the Alumni Executive Center Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. President Anderson announced that the Board of Visitors had voted unanimously to name the facility the "Jepson Alumni Executive Center" in honor of Campaign Chair Alice Andrews Jepson '64 and her husband Robert S. Jepson, Jr. The original Trench Hill house has been converted into an Inn for guests and will now be called "Kalnen Inn on Trench Hill" in honor of Elizabeth Kalnen '37, and in memory of her sister, the late Margaret Rose Kalnen '33.

Nearly 200 donors and special guests celebrated the official Grand Opening of the Jepson Alumni Executive Center October 29, 2004. Dinner was served inside the Rappahannock Grand Ballroom. President Anderson expressed his pride in the facility and shared his hope for the future of the University of Mary Washington. Alice Andrews Jepson '64, Chair of the Alumni Executive Center campaign, acknowledged all volunteers who had helped with the campaign as well as the planning and finishing of the facility. She said, "It's one thing to see plans on paper, but it is absolutely wonderful to be here with all of you tonight."

The Rappahannock Grand Ballroom, the Minor Executive Boardroom and lower-level rooms within Kalnen Inn on Trench Hill will be available for public rental.