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Anonymous Gift Creates Immediate Opportunities for Improvement

During the flurry of True Blue Weekend celebrations, one special gesture stood out: a $1,000,000 anonymous donation.

The gift was created as a match challenge, designed to inspire alumni and others to support our students and programs like never before. Specifically, every dollar received by The Hartwick Fund before Dec. 31 will be matched, effectively doubling the impact of all cash gifts received.

The Hartwick Fund provides broad, unrestricted campus support and makes the biggest impact on students. While it funds financial aid and scholarships, it also fuels student life programming, campus gathering spaces and a host of emerging initiatives. That’s especially exciting to Dean of Students Cary Dresher, who sees the many possibilities such funding could bring to life.

“I always consider the student experience as a passing of the baton once students leave the academic realm,” Dresher said. “We look to improve their programmatic and wellness components — needs which enhance their time on campus.”

Dresher and his team oversee a host of departments and functions, including residence life, fraternity and sorority life, and campus programming and vibrancy. They also manage the counseling center and other health and wellness efforts. Together, these services provide students with added comfort and community while continuing their education outside of classrooms and labs.

“We’re here to add to their grit and proficiencies, to help them succeed as they enter this next phase of independence. The more funding we have, the more impact we’ll make on our future leaders.”

Cary Dresher

Dean of Students

There’s no shortage of items on Dresher’s wish list, but enhancements to Hartwick’s residential curriculum are near the top. He cites programming specific to class years, such as experts who can speak to personal bias, sexual wellbeing and combating this
generation’s loneliness.

“Hartwick has often been a beacon for a variety of professionals to come speak and perform, and I’d like to see us improve upon that reputation,” he noted.

Dresher also wants to enhance leadership opportunities among his resident assistants and health, wellness and career counselors.

“We’d like to increase their training, awareness and professional development,” he added. “This extends to professional staff too, who enhance student experiences on campus and in the community.”

Dean of Students Cary Dresher and Student Government Association V.P. of Finance Sarah Matumbura ’26 on Founders' Way on the Hartwick College campus

Dean of Students Cary Dresher and Student Government Association V.P. of Finance Sarah Matumbura ’26 are excited about the impact a $1 million matching gift could have on student life.

That resonates with Sarah Matumbura ’26, who has firsthand experience with them all. The accounting and criminal justice double major and philosophy minor from Waterbury, Conn., is a senior resident assistant and peer health educator. She is a former Soar Program mentee as well and is currently vice president of finance for the Student Government Association.

“More resources would allow us to help and educate so many more students,” she agreed. “In the Office of Health and Wellness, for example, we could cover more topics and communicate to even broader audiences.”

Matumbura also knows the value of travel experiences, having studied anthropology in South Africa her first year; sustainability in Belgium, France, The Netherlands and Germany in year two; and marketing in South Korea this past summer — all thanks to donor-funded scholarships. Yet, even with all those experiences, her wish list starts with strengthening support for Hartwick’s Student Life teams.

“I’d like to see more mentors to guide students,” she said. “Most staff are as immersed in student life as possible currently. It’s really the staff that make the experience, and we could use more.”

That experience extends into the community too, Dresher notes, with events like food, clothing and blood drives, voter events, downtown shopping incentives and nonprofit support efforts — all of which improve town-gown relations as they inform young minds.

He also sees growing trends across campuses reflecting modern-day preferences and expectations. These could include expanded student living options and eye-catching enhancements to The Commons, such as stand-alone coffee shops, restaurants and bookstore upgrades.

“Dewar Union has always been the center of student activities,” he said, “and we’re always eager to evolve the space to be more in line with student needs.”

All of these options are now greater possibilities, especially if you support Hartwick by year end when your unrestricted gift to the Hartwick Fund is doubled. Please, help us meet this challenge grant by making a gift today.

To contribute to the Together, We Soar campaign, visit www.hartwick.edu/togetherwesoar or contact the Office of Advancement at 607-431-4081 or [email protected].

December 2, 2025
Campaign

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