Alumnus Donates $1 million to Worcester State College

New Residence Hall named Wasylean Hall in his honor

(Worcester—November 7, 2004) With his gift of one million dollars to Worcester State College, Phillip M. Wasylean II, a resident of Hampton, NH, has given the college the largest donation in its history. In return, the college has named its newest building Wasylean Hall in his honor. The 348-bed residence hall opened its doors in September 2004. A special plaque unveiling occurred today in the entryway of the new residence hall as Worcester State College President Janelle C. Ashley announced Wasylean’s million dollar gift.

“Words cannot express our gratitude to Mr. Wasylean,” said Ashley, “He has donated not only his time to his class reunions and other events, but he is a staunch supporter of the Annual Fund. He created the Challenge Grant program that has been so incredibly successful that he recently gave the college a check for $10,000 as the match. In return for all that he has done and for this tremendous, unprecedented gift, we have named this beautiful hall in his honor. Every year as new students enroll they will learn that this building is called Wasylean Hall for Phil Wasylean, an alumnus who gave so generously to his alma mater.”

“Worcester State College has been a major factor in my success in life,” said Wasylean. “The professors took a personal interest in their students and inspired us to become the best we could be. Now that I’m in a position to give back, I feel it’s important to make sure that the College has the means to retain its personal approach. It’s important to me to help other students have the same opportunities I had.”

Wasylean, who grew up in Blackstone, MA, and graduated from Blackstone High School, was the first member of his family to graduate from college. After graduating from WSC in 1963, he taught at LaSalle Academy in Providence, RI, for many years before moving on to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover, NH, and then to Lawrence High School in Lawrence, MA. Wasylean received the John F. Kennedy Teaching Award in 1992. He was one of only fifteen educators nationwide chosen to serve on the National Board for Professional Standards Board for Bilingual Education, a post he held for five-and-a-half years. At Lawrence High School he established a scholarship for students who chose to attend Worcester State College and supported scholarships for others as well.

“Besides the amount, this gift is especially appreciated by the college because it is unrestricted,” said Thomas M. McNamara, vice president for Institutional Advancement. “We will be able to direct those funds to the greatest need whether it be scholarships for students, funding for faculty development, the purchasing of equipment to maintain our laboratories, or other programmatic needs as they develop in the years to come. We currently have $900,000 out of our $9 million endowment in unrestricted funds, so Phil’s gift more than doubles our unrestricted funds.”

Wasylean says that he hopes his gift will enable the College to continue its tradition of giving personal attention to its students. And he hopes that future students will be inspired to live their lives wisely. “I have been very fortunate in my choices,” he said. “I would like future students to associate my name with living frugally, investing wisely, and working hard. I hope students will take the time to examine their lives and put their priorities in order.”

Wasylean attributes his life lessons to his mother, Edith (Carr) Wasylean of Rhode Island, who also worked and instilled strong values into her family. During the ceremony he paid special tribute to his mother and to his mentor, WSC professor emerita Helen Shaughnessy who passed away earlier this year.

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