The Class of 1971 supports two funds for its 50th reunion project: The Class of 1971 Washington and Lee Scholarship Endowment and the Class of 1971 R.E. Lee Summer Research Endowment.
For Jordan Jontz ’24, a neuroscience and geology double-major and French minor, summer research support provided the opportunity to spend nine days in Belize where she learned to scuba dive in order to collect, photograph and study an endangered coral reef.
Jontz, an Ohio native, shared the impact of her experience with donors who support summer research in the following excerpt:
“I cannot express how grateful I am to have had this experience as a first-year student. No one can believe it when I tell them about the opportunity I had this summer. While in Belize, I got to meet so many dedicated, passionate people who are doing meaningful work in their community against all odds. Seeing this work was so inspiring to me. It showed me that there are real solutions and innovators working in a field that I am passionate about, using their time and resources to create something good for the world. Being in Belize and diving with sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and seeing the interactions on the coral reef has made me realize that my true passion in life is marine biology and preserving earth’s oceans.”
Thanks to the Class of 1971, many students will have experiences like Jontz, with hands-on, transformative educational opportunities during the summer.
“This endowment will provide students with the high-quality experiences they need to continue learning and to build their future,” 50th Reunion Chair Buddy LeTourneau said.
If you would like to learn more about the summer experience in Belize, watch the Beyond the Classroom video where Professor of Geology Lisa Greer discusses her research.