Palamountain Benefit supports scholarships for Skidmore students

Members of the Skidmore community and friends of the College gathered for the 47th annual Palamountain Benefit, an evening dedicated to expanding scholarship opportunities for Skidmore students.

Established by Anne T. Palamountain in 1979, the annual benefit supports the Joseph C. and Anne T. Palamountain Scholarship Fund, which has helped generations of students access the transformative opportunities of a Skidmore education.

"When Anne T. Palamountain started this scholarship fund and held her first benefit 47 years ago, she recognized the role that we all share in shaping our future by investing in education — making sure that we are creating paths for deserving students to gain access to exceptional learning opportunities," President Marc C. Conner said. "Most importantly, this event is about our students. The Palamountain Scholarship Fund helps ensure that talented, deserving students have access to a Skidmore education."

Hosted by alumnus and musician Garland Nelson '96, the Tuesday, July 14, benefit took place on the grounds of the historic Surrey-Williamson Inn, where alumni, parents, and friends celebrated Anne Palamountain's enduring vision of opening doors for students through philanthropy.

Guests enjoyed live pottery demonstrations by artist Jill Fishon-Kovachic '81, culinary demonstrations by Skidmore Dining Services, and a performance by the folk band Question of the Century, featuring recent graduates Francis Davies '26 and Ellie Ushakov '26. The evening also included a silent auction offering exclusive experiences ranging from behind-the-scenes tour of the Tang Teaching Museum to a trip to Iceland.