February 7, 2006

Dear Classmates,

Hello from Skidmore! It’s mid-winter in Saratoga and the College has welcomed students back to campus for the spring semester. The fall was full of new beginnings, especially for the 698 members of the Class of 2009 (yes, 2009!). Remember LS-1? The class that we all loved to hate has been replaced by Skidmore's new First-Year Experience program, designed to immediately engage incoming students in their academic work and to serve as a foundation for their four years at the College. FYE is based on a new set of seminars taught by veteran faculty, who serve not only as instructors but also as advisors and mentors. In keeping with Skidmore's approach to the liberal arts, the program is intended to introduce and reinforce an interdisciplinary approach to learning and thinking. A few course titles include: The Idea of Freedom, Mathematics and the Art of M.C. Escher, Saratoga: People & Place, Past & Present, and Robot Design.

We want to extend the College’s sincerest thanks to the one hundred fifty-six ‘94ers who contributed last year – every single gift made a difference for Skidmore students and allows the College to offer innovative programs like FYE. The College is utterly dependent on alumni support to ensure that we have the necessary resources to offer our increasingly impressive students. Our gifts support everything from new library books and faculty salaries, to athletic uniforms and financial aid. Now that the current fund year is underway, we ask you to consider your gift to the College.

This year, please join us by making a gift of any size. Skidmore competes with the top tier of liberal arts colleges and – believe it or not – does so with far less resources than most. Your gift is needed, valued, and will go directly to alleviate the College’s most pressing needs.

REALLY love our alma mater? Join the Friends of the Presidents Society and enjoy perks like a fabulous dinner in New York City and opportunities to network with Skidmore’s most successful and dedicated supporters. To make FOP membership more accessible to younger alums, the giving level is $100 for each year since graduation (normally $2,000 annually). As a member of the Class of 1994, your FOP gift level is $1,200 during the

2005-06 fiscal year (ending on May 31, 2006). Gifts can be easily made with the College’s automatic monthly credit card payment option, so the sooner you make your gift, the smaller each payment will be.

Thank you for supporting Skidmore!

Sincerely,

P.S. Your gift might be bigger than you think! Check to see if your employer has a matching gift program at: www.matchinggifts.com/skidmore.