Nancy VanVoorhis Brush ’53 led a team that reached their goals in reunion giving as part of her class’ 55th Reunion last spring. Of her commitment to St. Lawrence, she says, “I firmly believe in the value of a liberal arts education to prepare our future leaders in the broadest sense to meet the inevitable changes they will face. SLU’s primary commitment is to students through small classes and an excellent teaching faculty, and I am especially proud of the enormous amount of financial aid it provides.  This aid assures an increasingly diverse student body and, when combined with the many opportunities for foreign study, prepares today’s graduates with a crucial world view.

“As a volunteer,” she continues, “I’ve enjoyed a delightful opportunity to re-connect with many friends and have had the satisfaction of helping to provide the financial support so essential in today’s competitive higher education environment.  Two of my children and two grandsons are graduates, continuing a proud Brush tradition across four generations.  I want St. Lawrence to survive and thrive for future generations! 

“I gained an excellent grounding in the liberal arts and a love of learning that is still with me,” the English major reflects. “When I re-entered the workforce after 24 years as a homemaker, that broad liberal arts education was my base for success in several different fields.  I had been encouraged to think critically, question the status quo and have confidence in myself.   St. Lawrence also encouraged my creativity and curiosity, both of which have enriched my life in countless ways.  There seems to be no age limit to learning and new experiences and I owe a debt to SLU for that early awakening.”