The Wellesley College Alumnae Association’s annual Sed Ministrare Volunteer Awards recognize dedicated volunteer service to Wellesley and celebrate alums who embody the College’s motto, Non Ministrari sed Ministrare. The 2024 recipients, Sam Tackeff ’08, Gretchen Rous Besser ’49, and Jessica Urban ’06, were announced at the annual meeting of the Wellesley College Alumnae Association at reunion.

Sam Tackeff ’08 has been actively volunteering since the lead-up to her fifth reunion in 2013, when she served on the reunion committee and as Wellesley Fund volunteer. Tackeff has also been her class co-president and treasurer. Currently, Tackeff volunteers with The Wellesley Fund and is co-president of the Wellesley Club of Boston, one of the College’s largest regional clubs. Its monthly newsletter is often cited as a “best-in-class” example for other groups. Tackeff is a hands-on volunteer who uses her welcoming voice and messaging in the club’s newsletters to connect alums to Wellesley and to each other. In response to one of these emails, a member remarked, “Such fun. I particularly like your section of Good Things, and [your notes] about gratitude.” Another alumna reflected, “Sam finds a way for everyone to be included and feel connected.” Tackeff has also volunteered with the Office of Admission and as a mentor with the Wellesley HIVE.

Gretchen Rous Besser ’49’s service to Wellesley can be summed up perfectly in her own words, with this line from one of her class notes columns: “Sed Ministrare has been drilled into my bones.” Through the years, Besser has served her class in an array of capacities, including secretary, vice president, president, and class Durant committee member. She is currently the sole volunteer for the class of 1949, and is therefore filling the roles of president, vice president, and magazine correspondent! Besser proceeds with diligence and passion at every step. According to her nominator, “Gretchen has tirelessly served her class with her remarkably detailed and compassionate column in class notes for many years, [all while navigating] through losses and illnesses of her own. She celebrates and honors her connection with the College by sharing her writing every quarter without fail. … I can think of no one more deserving of this honor.”

Jessica Urban ’06 is a passionate volunteer for Wellesley. She currently serves as secretary for both her class and the Washington Wellesley Club. She has consistently raised her hand to volunteer with the Office of Admission. As the Washington Wellesley Club’s admission representative, Urban coordinated off-campus interviews for prospective students with alumnae and supported college fair outreach efforts. During the pandemic, Urban pivoted to the virtual format. After it had subsided, she responded to the Office of Admission’s current opportunities for support and signed up to serve as an AlumConnect panelist. Urban has worked with her local club to organize yield events for admitted students and summer send-off gatherings. She has also volunteered as a mentor with the Wellesley HIVE and Mentorship Affinity Program. Additionally, Urban has connected with Wellesley students through the Senior Support Network (SSN) and the First Generation Network.