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14

O U T S T A N D I N G S E R V I C E A W A R D

and Sonnabend Gala Committee. She has also been a reunion volunteer. Volunteering, she notes, is “a great way to stay connected to my alma mater, and I’ve met wonderful people along the way.” She adds, “I am constantly meeting Skidmore alums through business, travels, or elsewhere, and there is always an immediate connection.” Her fondness for Skidmore was no doubt made stronger by one of her frst college experiences—being wait-listed. That was a “major disappointment,” she admits, but she fnally received notice of acceptance on the very day in September when all the incoming freshmen were arriving on campus. By the time she got to Saratoga Springs, placement exams had been given and students had registered for classes. Nonetheless, Meg found some peace of mind in being assigned to an older student who proved to be “the most amazing ‘bib sister,’” referring to the “baby bibs” that frst-year students were required to wear. That peer mentor walked her through the registration process and made sure she felt at home. Meg recalls the bibs, which bore the students’ names and hometowns, as “a wonderful way to easily make new friends and get to know who your fellow classmates were.” Meg was very happy to be at Skidmore and says that sentiment never changed throughout her four years there. She adds, “I loved my math and art classes, but the professor who stands out the most to me was one who taught American literature: Dr. Alan McGill.” He taught Meg, the math major, how to write a research paper—a skill she’s never forgotten.

She also has fond memories of skating on the frozen, fooded tennis courts on Union Avenue in downtown Saratoga Springs. She often had the ice to herself

and says the experience helped relieve the pressure of studying for exams. “It was exhilarating and allowed me to go back to the library with a clear head.” Happy Pappy weekends were another joyful time for Meg. She says, “My dad and I became very close then, skiing together and enjoying being with other girls and their dads. It was always a fabulous and memorable time.” Not insignifcantly, Meg notes that her two best friends date back to her undergraduate years—her college roommate and her Skidmore “little sister.” The mother of Kristy Jacobs Maslin ’91 , Meg herself has an extended legacy family that includes sister Kit Reitman ’72 , niece Dana Lowenstein Siegel ’93 and cousins Margaret Weill Wolf ’63, Gretchen Eisner Rachlin ’48, Susan Berla ’59 , and the late Joan Eisner Garb ’50 .

Skidmore has always meant a lot to Meg. Grateful she was accepted in the frst place, she is thrilled now to receive the Outstanding Service Award.

Recalling her student years at Skidmore, Carrie Van Kloberg ’68 counts among her most vivid memories “the academic challenge and mentoring by professors,” and particularly “the feeling of family and encouragement in the Government Department, chaired by Henry Galant”; extracurricular fun with friends, including bridge with dorm mates, tennis on the clay courts, and swimming in the old pool; and some key historic moments, including the Vietnam War and the ice storm of 1964. A resident of Saratoga Springs, she has had the good fortune of being able to continue her relationship with the

’68

The combination of a solid liberal arts education and the experiences she’s had in a variety of volunteer roles has given her the tools and confdence to change careers. Gaining leadership skills has enhanced her ability to “listen to and respect others’ viewpoints, mentor, take risks, value change, and challenge myself.”

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