Coast Guard Academy alumni pledge $860,000 for school projects

New London — During this weekend’s homecoming celebration at the Coast Guard Academy, five alumni classes pledged more than $860,000 in donations toward the Alumni Association’s $30 million fundraising campaign, including a $500,000 gift from the Class of 1967 to fund renovations for a new student union.

The Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association went public with its $30 million campaign during the 2016 homecoming weekend, at which point it had raised nearly $18 million. The campaign aims to fund 15 different projects on campus.

Ten of those projects are fully funded and the association has raised $27.7 million to date, according to its president, Capt. Andrea Marcille, a member of the Class of 1989. Several classes have pledged $1 million.

Each year, the academy comes up with a list of its top needs that officials hope will be funded, at least in part, by the federal government. For the others, the academy relies on private donations, particularly in tough fiscal times.

Of the gifts announced this weekend, the Class of 1967 pledged $500,000; the Class of 1977 pledged $29,000; the Class of 1987 pledged $200,000; the Class of 1997 pledged $97,000; and the Class of 2007 pledged $35,000, totaling $861,000 in funding for several different projects.

The classes of 1967 and 2007 chose to donate to upgrade the lower lounge in Leamy Hall, which serves as a de-facto student union. The new student union space will improve quality of life for cadets with improved amenities, and will serve as an area where cadets can relax, socialize, hold club meetings and study, according to academy officials. Construction is supposed to start in 2018.

Alumni were interested in donating to the project because the student union will be accessible to all cadets, is a good recruiting tool since most college campuses have one, and is something the alumni never had, Marcille said. In addition to the Class of 1967, the Class of 1970 also has pledged $500,000 to support the project.

The Class of 1977 pledged its donation to the Merle J. Smith Eclipse Legacy Endowment, which aims to increase the recruitment and retention of minorities by building networks between cadets, officers and civilian partners, fostering personal and professional development.

The Class of 1987 supported the Otto Graham Hall of Excellence, which displays and highlights the academy’s athletic programs and accomplishments. The class is also supporting the Women’s Leadership Initiative Endowment, which aims to increase the retention of women in the Coast Guard through mentorship, leadership training and professional development opportunities.

The Class of 1997 is supporting a new, 6,000-square-foot cadet strength and conditioning center.

Also this weekend, the alumni association honored New London native Capt. W. Russell Webster as its distinguished alumnus. After serving in the Coast Guard, Webster worked for the Transportation Safety Administration, including the development of a terrorist facial detection program following 9/11, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including setting up the agency’s initial incident command post following the Boston Marathon bombing.

In remarks after receiving the award, Webster, who now lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, said he grew up near Ocean Beach and had always dreamed of attending the academy. He said he owes his start in life to the academy, which taught him discipline, leadership training, and perseverance.