Join the Friends of the Presidents!

Established in 1966, the Friends of the Presidents society recognizes the College’s most generous donors, who set a standard of support and an example of leadership. A new initiative in 1999-2000 is the first-ever increase in the minimum giving level for membership, from $1,000 to $2,000 (with a sliding scale of lower levels for the 19 most recent classes). Meet a brand-new FOP member:

Terry Chatkupt '99

Terry Chatkupt ’99 believes that Skidmore has a great art program, and he wants to keep it that way. He says, "I want to do everything I can to support the old scene while keeping an eye to the future."

The desire to maintain that excellence and the excitement of Skidmore’s new Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery prompted Chatkupt to make his Annual Fund donation at the Friends of the Presidents level–and the sliding scale of giving levels for young alumni made it a possibility for him. With gifts of $100 for each year since their graduation (that is, $100 the year after graduation, $200 the second year after, $300 the third year, and so on), young alumni can qualify as FOP donors. FOP members not only enjoy the honor and recognition of having their names listed on the FOP Wall of Honor in the Palamountain Hall lobby, but they also have the satisfaction of knowing that they’re leaders in providing key support for their alma mater.

Chatkupt says it feels good to give back to the college that gave him so much. An art major from Excelsior Springs, Mo., he graduated with departmental honors and received the Pamela Weidenman ’72 Memorial Prize. He went on to become a salesman in fine paper at New York Central Art Supply. Recently he took the post of gallery assistant at Caren Golden Fine Art in Chelsea. He hopes a successful career will help him keep up his Skidmore donations at the FOP level in future years. –SG