Since its founding, Lycoming College has benefitted from the generosity of individuals and families who have believed in its mission. Those who have given $100,000 or more during their lifetimes will soon be recognized with a physical space on campus.
Dr. David Detwiler III ’75 suggested the concept of honoring members of the Founders Society in a tangible way. He and his wife, Rita (Ciurlino) Detwiler ’84, made a leadership commitment to create a permanent space that will be known as the Founders Plaza centrally located on the campus’s historic upper quad where Old Main once stood, surrounded by Clarke Chapel, the Krapf Gateway Center, and Lamade Gymnasium. Members of the Founders Society will be permanently recognized and celebrated in this Plaza.
The Plaza will also serve as a functional space for the campus community. The Class of 2020 identified the need for an outdoor classroom and dedicated their Senior Class Gift to incorporating an instructional space into the Founders Plaza. Additionally, the Plaza will include seating areas to welcome alumni, visitors, and those on campus.
The Founders Society was established in 2016 to recognize extraordinary lifetime giving by alumni, parents, and friends and honor the legacy of Lycoming's founder, Benjamin H. Crever, and other significant leaders of the institution. Members of the Founders Society represent Lycoming's most generous philanthropists whose commitments have influenced the trajectory of the College. The Society offers a number of recognition levels to honor our lifetime donors, and since its creation has recognized 173 donors.