Philanthropy Highlights

Fundraising gala launches Walter and Maritza Diaz Endowed Scholarship Fund

On April 9, nearly 200 Eastern community members and professional colleagues gathered to celebrate the 22 years of service of Walter Diaz, who retired as Eastern’s vice president of student affairs earlier this year. Located at Farmington Gardens, the fundraising gala also served to establish the Walter and Maritza Diaz Endowed Scholarship Fund.

The event generated nearly $60,000, far exceeding the committee’s initial fundraising goal. “I was overwhelmed when the total amount of funds raised was unveiled at the event,” said Diaz. “It was important for me to provide a way to give back to the Eastern community upon my retirement. The organizing committee and I felt this was the perfect way. The fund will provide students in need with financial support to reduce barriers to degree completion.”

Alyssa Duffy, associate director of student activities and member of the event’s organizing committee, agreed: “This gala was a huge success. It brought together so many people who have been a part of Dr. Diaz’s life. Throughout the night, we celebrated and learned of the impact he had on so many during his career. It was an honor to be a part of planning and attending this amazing event.”

“Dr. Diaz had a unique, determined way of connecting with students and finding those who were the most in need of his mentorship, encouragement and counsel,” said Quinlan Lyte ’05, senior director and general manager of Propeller Systems at Collins Aerospace. “In the process, he developed a community of contributors to this passion. He provided a foundation to build upon my personal development, a voice that advocated for me, and an ear to share my failures and successes.”

Campus preschool’s ‘Marketplace’ named for Teresa James ‘49

Eastern honored one of its most loyal alumni supporters on Sept. 6 when it named a central space of the Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) in memory of Teresa ’49 and Carleton James. In honor of the late couple’s philanthropic support, the CFDRC’s primary indoor play space — a magnificent tree surrounded by a pretend marketplace — is now named the Carleton P. and Teresa H. James Marketplace.

Affectionately known as “Nana,” Teresa was a well-known and widely respected figure in Willimantic. She taught for more than 38 years at several local schools, including Lebanon Elementary, F.R. Noble Elementary and St. Mary-St. Joseph Catholic School. She was a devoted and generous parishioner of St. Mary Church for decades.

By the time of her death in December 2020, Teresa had donated $120,000 to the Carleton P. and Teresa H. James Endowed Scholarship. In honor of Teresa’s commitment to Eastern and its early childhood development programs, her daughter, Carlene Gaudette, donated an additional $55,000 to have the Marketplace named in her mother’s memory.

“I look at this as an extension of my parents’ (giving),” said Gaudette. “(They) donated to the most important things in their lives in an under-the-radar sort of way. I’m glad I was able to fulfill their wishes. My mother was very proud of Eastern and of being an Eastern graduate.” 

Chance Thompson Scholarship established in memory of student’s untimely passing

The Chance Dian Thompson Memorial Endowed Scholarship was started when Nina Ruckes, a friend of Chance, made a five-figure gift to initiate the scholarship following Chance’s untimely death on July 9, 2022. Chance was an honors graduate of The Sound School and was enrolled as a sophomore at Eastern, where she was majoring in history and minoring in anthropology.

Chance had many passions in life, from volunteering at the Orange Historical Society (OHS) where she met Nina, to watching anime with her best friend Emma. Her love for reading was also noteworthy — she loved history, especially European history.

Chance was one of the youngest board members of the Orange Historical Society. “Chance embraced the efforts of the society to further educate the public with tours of the historic houses entrusted to the OHS and was always excited to participate in those public events,” said Ginny Reinhard, president of the historical society. “She started volunteering in high school and even bought a historically correct outfit to wear when she helped as a docent.” She also managed to convince her friends to contribute to the society during the Great Give in May.

“Chance was a lovely young woman who was very dedicated to the Orange Historical Society,” said Ruckes, recording secretary for the OHS. “She made time to attend board meetings through Zoom even when she was in the middle of her freshman exams. As a young person, she really moved the society forward using social media to announce events, and that helped us greatly.”