Onyx Anneau Spring 2021

The Yaw family donates a 10-carat Ring each year. Pictured left to right is Lisa McCormick, Elizabeth Yaw ’92 , Dorothy Carole Bonwell Yaw ’91 , Allison Parks and Elaine Yaw ’95 .

estate of Sue Pietrus, SP, ’72 . who served as Chorale and Madrigals director in the music department prior to her death in 2008. Wendell says wearing Pietrus’ Ring is a daily reminder of their shared love of music. “As a recent graduate from the music department, it fills me with joy knowing that I can continue

[Stipanovich] ’52 and The Woods after receiving my Ring on my Ring Day was overwhelming joy, the same joy I feel when I glance at my ring today,” Madden says. “I’m grateful to Alice and her family for allowing me the chance to wear this Ring with pride.” The legacy of these programs is one the College hopes to continue for a long time. Saunders, associate vice president for advancement, says,

Donating to the scholarship program is a family affair for the Yaw women, who decided to donate a 10-carat Ring each year. Dorothy Carole Bonwell Yaw ’91, Ph.D. , and her daughters, SMWC associate professor of

“I talked it over with Elaine and Elizabeth and we decided to give a Ring scholarship as a family, because we love our Rings.” — Dorothy Carole Bonwell Yaw ’91, Ph.D.

making music in her memory,” Wendell says. While the origins of the Legacy Ring Program likely began when family members began passing Rings down to relatives and close friends, it has branched out to include bequests as well as donations

“We are deeply grateful to the generous alumni who have donated legacy Rings and provided funding for students who need assistance with purchasing their Rings.”

in honorarium from living alumni who wish to pass on their Rings.

media art Elaine Yaw ’95 and Elizabeth Yaw ’92 , are members of the East Central Illinois/ West Central Indiana Alumni Club. “ Catherine Mickey Saunders ’98 attends our meetings once or twice a year. At our last meeting in 2019, she talked about the Woods Ring and how several students could not afford them, so they had started scholarships. I talked it over with Elaine and Elizabeth, and we decided to give a Ring scholarship as a family, because we love our Rings,” Dorothy says. “The Ring is a symbol to all of us of the dedication The Woods has shown to educate women and empower them,” Dorothy says. Madden feels this inter-generational bond every day. “The connection I felt to Alice

To participate in the program, alumni may contact the SMWC Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs. For more information, visit smwc.edu/legacy-ring .

This creates a connection — one that helped Patricia “Patsy” Lysaught Oser ’70 decide to donate her Ring while she is still around to meet the student who will wear it next. She would like to see more alums give their Rings to mark special reunion years and create a new tradition of giving with the Ring to build inter-generational alumni relationships. “If I can give this back and remind someone else of the memories they have, those moments will be just as special as the Ring,” Oser says. Woods alumni can make Ring Day a reality for more students by participating in the Woods Ring Scholarship Program. This program helps students defray the cost of a Ring.

Do you have a Woods Ring story to share? Plans are currently underway for a big celebration in 2022 for the Ring’s 100th anniversary. Let us know what the Ring means to you.

Email alumni@smwc.edu to share your Woods Ring story and photos.

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