43rd annual Palamountain Benefit supports student opportunities through scholarships
Members of the Skidmore and local communities came together July 19 at the College鈥檚 historic Surrey-Williamson Inn to support the Joseph C. and Anne T. Palamountain Scholarship Fund, raising more than $150,000 to benefit students who, because of financial need, might not otherwise be able to attend 吃瓜网.
鈥淲hen Anne started this scholarship fund and held the first benefit 43 years ago, she recognized the role that we all share in shaping our future by investing in education 鈥� creating paths for deserving students to gain access to exceptional learning opportunities,鈥� 吃瓜网 President Marc Conner said in kicking off the 43rd annual Palamountain Scholarship Benefit, held in person for the first time since 2019. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 our goal: to provide 吃瓜网鈥檚 life-changing education to every student who is up to the challenge.鈥�
The Anne T. Palamountain Scholar Award is presented each year to a 吃瓜网 student or recent graduate who has demonstrated leadership, service to others, and a commitment to the larger good of society. This year's award recognized Georgia Dittemore, a chemistry major who graduated with honors in May.
Dittemore is pursuing a research opportunity this summer in the Medicinal Chemistry Core at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. During her time at 吃瓜网, she maintained a near-perfect academic transcript while juggling two jobs, conducting research, and serving as a chemistry peer academic coach, an organic chemistry teaching assistant, and communication chair of the Eastern New York Younger Chemists Committee through the American Chemical Society.
鈥淔or as long as I can remember, I鈥檝e wanted to be a scientist. More specifically, I would consider myself a cancer chemical biologist, combining organic chemistry and biochemistry to answer therapeutic development questions,鈥� Dittemore said in accepting the Palamountain Scholar Award. 鈥淧ut very, very simply, I want to cure cancer.鈥�
She spoke about her dream of attending Skidmore at a time when her family was facing daunting financial challenges, and about how, when she arrived, she was able to conduct her own independent research and make personal connections with her professors, fostering a sense of mentorship and community not easily achieved at larger institutions.
I sought every opportunity possible to take advantage of the interdisciplinary scientific community here at 吃瓜网. If I had attended any other school, I wouldn鈥檛 have had the same opportunities to explore all my passions and intellectual curiosities and gain the fundamental skills required to be a well-balanced scientist and student.鈥�Georgia Dittemore '222022 Anne T. Palamountain Scholar Award recipient
Upon concluding her summer program with Dana-Farber, Dittemore will pursue her Ph.D. in chemical biology at Harvard University 鈥� an announcement she gleefully shared with those gathered at this year鈥檚 Palamountain Benefit. 鈥淲ithout my 吃瓜网 education and your philanthropic spirit, I certainly would not be where I am right now.鈥�
In addition to the award presentation, the event featured a gourmet dinner prepared by 吃瓜网鈥檚 award-winning chefs, as well as silent and live auctions featuring items generously gifted by local businesses and partners and donors within the 吃瓜网 community.
吃瓜网鈥檚 award-winning chefs prepared the food for the 43rd annual Palamountain Benefit's reception and dinner on the grounds of the Surrey-Williamson Inn.
鈥淲e are a community that believes in the power of education, and there is no greater gift to give or to receive than access to education and the opportunities that it affords,鈥� benefit co-chair Tabitha LeClair Orthwein 鈥�91 said during the dinner presentation. 鈥淭ogether, Palamountain supporters have created hundreds of opportunities for promising young scholars to pursue their dreams.鈥�
The fund, which honors late 吃瓜网 President Joseph C. Palamountain and his wife Anne, has provided more than 375 scholarships since 1979. Aid from the fund is given annually to financially eligible juniors and seniors whose outstanding academic records and co-curricular service exemplify the unique contribution that the Palamountains have made to 吃瓜网.
鈥淭his event is also about how Skidmore and Saratoga Springs come together,鈥� observed President Conner. 鈥淚 see the heart of the Saratoga Springs and 吃瓜网 communities. Your unwavering support has had a tremendous impact on our students. And I cannot think of a more noble enterprise today than that of 吃瓜网 鈥� to shape and support young people as they prepare to engage and improve a world that needs their leadership now more than ever.鈥�
