Mary Ann Steger Conrad received the 19th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. Pictured (from left): Jane Sandel; Amanda Mansfield, Virginia Western Educational Foundation Philanthropy Director; Mary Ann Steger Conrad; Dr. David Dor\u00e9, Virginia Community College System Chancellor; Dr. Robert Sandel, Virginia Western President; and Marilyn Herbert-Ashton, Virginia Western Vice President of Institutional Advancement. Photo by Clem Britt, Virginia Community College System.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE), more than two dozen individuals, families, and organizations were honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. The awards were presented at a luncheon ceremony in Richmond on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Chancellor Dr. David Dor\u00e9 served as the emcee, and Mr. Mark Hourigan, founder and CEO of Hourigan, delivered the keynote address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Every time our donors support a scholarship, fund a new program, or an emergency grant, they are not just giving back, they are lifting up,” said Hourigan. “They are invaluable partners whose generosity can and does make the difference between a student dropping out or staying the course and realizing their true potential.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Dor\u00e9 echoed those sentiments, adding that a culture of care can have a profound impact on student performance. “When our students realize that someone cares enough to help remove the formidable obstacles standing in their way, it’s life-changing,” he said. “The things they thought impossible suddenly become doable, and their confidence soars as a result.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year’s class of distinguished philanthropy leaders has collectively contributed $24 million to Virginia’s Community Colleges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virginia Western nominated Ms. Conrad in recognition of her naming gift to the Virginia Western Forward Permanent Endowment Fund: a vision of Dr. Charles. W. Steger Jr., for the Mary Ann and Glen Conrad Center for the Humanities. Ms. Conrad earned an associate degree from Virginia Western, a bachelor’s degree from Roanoke College and served as a member and former board chair of Virginia’s State Board of Community Colleges. She has participated in leadership roles in many local civic and community activities, including the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society and Sister Cities. She was married 39 years to the late Honorable Glen E. Conrad, U.S. District Judge for Western Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms. Conrad additionally was recognized by the Virginia Western Educational Foundation, receiving the annual Community Impact Award at a ceremony Wednesday, April 16, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recipients of the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBlue Ridge: Cadence, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brightpoint: Pamela M. Comstock<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Central Virginia: Delta Star, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Danville: The late Melvin C. Vernon, Jr. and Mrs. Jean Carol Harper Vernon<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eastern Shore: John Custis<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Germanna: Mary Washington Health Care<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laurel Ridge: Dr. Brent L. Kendrick<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mountain Empire: JC “Clay” Stiles<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mountain Gateway: The late Dr. Raymond L Claterbaugh, Jr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New River: The Lunch Pail Defense Foundation – Bud Foster<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Northern Virginia: Microsoft<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patrick & Henry: Darrell Bowling<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul D. Camp: Truist Foundation <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Piedmont Virginia: Smith Vicars Family Foundation<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rappahannock: Carolyn A. Lemon<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reynolds: The late William R. Hendley<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Southside Virginia: Benchmark Community Bank <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Southwest Virginia: Randall Hillman<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tidewater: Dan Banister<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virginia Highlands: The Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virginia Peninsula: Sentara Foundation<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virginia Western: Mary Ann Steger Conrad<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wytheville: Twin County Community Foundation<\/p>\n\n\n\n
VFCCE: Gilliam Family Foundation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ms. Mary Ann Steger Conrad of Roanoke, Va., has received the 19th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. She was nominated for the award by Virginia Western Community College. Hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE), more than two dozen individuals, families, and organizations were honored with the Chancellor’s Award for… Continue Reading Community college philanthropists honored with Chancellor’s Award<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-campus-news","category-foundation"],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Carole Tarrant","author_link":"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/news\/author\/foundation\/"},"yoast_head":"\nCommunity college philanthropists honored with Chancellor's Award - News from Virginia Western<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Article about Community college philanthropists honored with Chancellor's Award\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/news\/2025\/04\/25\/community-college-philanthropists-honored-with-chancellors-award\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Community college philanthropists honored with Chancellor's Award - 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