At the Alumnae Association’s fall weekend of volunteer training, BLUEprint, the WCAA celebrated significant service with its annual Sed Ministrare Volunteer Awards. Meet the 2019 recipients:
Erin Corcoran ’13 was the driving force behind the Washington Wellesley Club’s successful programs for four years in her capacity as vice president of programs. She coordinated large events with guests such as President Paula Johnson and Madeleine Korbel Albright ’59 that attracted hundreds of alums, and she planned small events that connected alums over a glass of wine or tea. No matter what size the event, Erin made sure the programs were inclusive, accessible, and interesting to as many alums as possible. For the class of 2013, Erin was a Wellesley Fund rep as well as reunion co-chair for her class’s fifth reunion in 2018.
Lauren Young Durbin ’99 has held many different volunteer positions with the Richmond Wellesley Club: admissions representative, vice president, club webmistress, and finally president of the club in 2014. Lauren also serves as the mid-Atlantic rep for Wellesley Alumnae of African Descent, also known as WAAD. Described as someone who “strongly believes that the Wellesley alum community is strengthened by greater inclusion and engagement of alums across all of Wellesley’s diverse official and unofficial alum groups,” Lauren volunteered to co-chair a working group on inclusion and diversity in 2018 to help provide the Alumnae Association board with recommendations for how to broaden alumnae engagement.
Julia Griffith ’71 has been deeply involved with the Wellesley Club of Sarasota and has held every leadership position, sometimes more than once. Julia is described as “the force that has kept this club not only alive, but thriving.” Her dedication also extends to her class. She served as class secretary from 2007 through 2011, sat on the planning committee for their 2016 reunion, and currently serves as the webmistress. Julia’s dedication has inspired her fellow volunteers, who see her as a “wonderful example of a humble, strong, dedicated Wellesley woman who does all she can to help club members stay connected to the College, and to each other.”
Nominations for these awards come from alumnae around the world. If you know club, class, or Shared Interest Group volunteers who inspire you, you can nominate them until April 1, 2020, at bit.ly/SedMinAward.
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