Building a Legacy: How W&L Shapes Lives of Consequence

As I travel the country visiting with Washington and Lee alumni, parents and friends, I frequently ask them to join me in considering: What does it mean to lead a life of consequence?

I receive wide-ranging answers, but there are some common themes. Leading a life of consequence means making an impact — personally or professionally. Being an ethical leader and a positive role model. Giving more than one receives. Using one’s talents for the greater good. Serving a noble purpose.

Washington and Lee’s educational mission is to cultivate the intellectual habits, character traits, and skills that lay the foundation for such a life. We teach our students to think freely, critically, and humanely and to conduct themselves with honor, integrity, and civility. We prepare them for lifelong learning, personal achievement, responsible leadership, service to others, and engaged citizenship in a global and diverse society.

This endeavor begins before our students even set foot on campus. Each year we recruit deep and diverse applicant pools, from which we invite the most compelling applicants to join our community. We look for students who have the capacity to thrive in a small, demanding liberal arts or law school environment, and we offer generous financial aid to ensure that all who are admitted to Washington and Lee can afford to attend.

Our curriculum is both traditional and innovative, reflecting the courage to be different within higher education. We are distinguished from other top liberal arts colleges in virtue of having an accredited undergraduate school of commerce and a venerable law school. Each of our three academic units is strengthened by its meaningful collaborations with the others, encouraging students to develop creative solutions to complex problems, and preparing them to make significant contributions to their communities.

We emphasize high-quality teaching, with small classes taught by skilled faculty mentors who are devoted to helping students cultivate their potential. We supplement classroom teaching with opportunities for participation in research, experiential learning, study abroad, internships, and legal clinics, all of which prepare our students for professional success.

Our vision for Washington and Lee is to make it a national model for liberal arts education in the 21st century. Our community of trust and civility, our distinctive curriculum, our commitment to institutional citizenship for the benefit of society, and our beautiful and historic campus, are a potent educational combination.

This campaign will underwrite initiatives that enable us to offer a truly exceptional education, by providing the resources to attract and support top-quality students and faculty, investing in our innovative liberal arts and legal curriculum, expanding athletic and recreational opportunities, and providing first-rate facilities that support our mission.

I hope you will take the opportunity to learn more about how you can help Washington and Lee prepare future generations to lead lives of consequence.