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Why I Give is a series that celebrates the generosity of Washington and Lee University alumni and parents. Discover the many reasons the W&L community supports Leading Lives of Consequence: The Campaign for Washington and Lee and how philanthropy shapes the university’s future while honoring its enduring values.
We want to make sure that current students and future generations aren’t limited in their opportunities to succeed both in athletics and academics. - Neelesh Mehendale P’28
What inspired you to make your first gift to Washington and Lee University, and what motivates you to continue giving?
We had no prior experience or exposure to Washington and Lee before our son, Raja Mehendale ’28, started the recruiting process. As our son was taking an official tour, I was left alone on a Sunday to explore the campus on my own. I was overwhelmed by the students who stopped to help this clueless dad as I meandered around campus. Without pretense, these students made sure that I felt comfortable on their campus. This was our first introduction to W&L’s Speaking Tradition, and we were hooked. We hope that our gifts will continue to expose students to W&L who may not have been exposed otherwise.
How do you hope your support impacts current and future generations of W&L students?
As a small liberal arts school without the draw of a large campus or a big city, we want to make sure that current students and future generations aren’t limited in their opportunities to succeed both in athletics and academics. We hope that our support will open doors to experiences for W&L students that are comparable to those available at larger, more urban universities.
Is there a particular experience, faculty member or program at W&L that played a meaningful role in your decision to give back?
Our son was a highly recruited athlete going into his junior year of high school. He sustained a potentially career-threatening injury at the beginning of his junior year that ended up sidelining him for a year. As a long-distance running athlete, the junior year of high school is paramount to the recruiting process, and without the ability to compete, many other coaches backed off on their efforts. Brandon Spalding, the men’s cross country head coach and assistant track coach, was unwavering in his support for our son. Even though Coach Spalding did not know if our son would ever be able to compete for W&L, he was able to see past the athlete and instill belief in our son that he could still contribute to the campus culture. He provided something for our son that was priceless — hope.
We hope that our gifts to W&L will allow faculty and staff to take a chance on similar students in the future.