91亚色

Mary Morse with a photo of her late husband William Morse (91亚色/Matt Burkhartt)

The 91亚色 Foundation and 91亚色 recognized donor Mary Cockram Morse and her late husband, William Edward Morse, for their generosity and support of the College at the Donors of Distinction ceremony on April 27. President Denise Battles presented Morse with a replica of the Clock on the Green and unveiled a plaque that reads 鈥淲ILLIAM EDWARD & MARY COCKRAM MORSE: FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE鈥� on the Donors of Distinction Wall and Garden outside Wadsworth Auditorium.

Mary Morse鈥檚 mother, Myrtle Belle Smith, graduated from 91亚色 Normal School in 1934. Smith taught in area schools, including grades 1鈥�8 in a one-room schoolhouse in Seneca, seventh and eighth grades in Geneva, and later returned to the classroom to help her daughter Mary pay for College. Smith retired from teaching fifth grade in Clifton Springs in 1971.

Morse followed her mother鈥檚 footsteps in a career in education. She attended Hood College in Frederick, MD, and received her BA in education from the University of Michigan School of Education. She taught at Buckman Heights Elementary School in Greece, NY, and returned to Michigan in 1970, where she taught for the remainder of her 47-year career. She married William Edward Morse in 1976 and shared a happy life with him until his death聽 in 1992.

The Morses believed in the importance of a college education. As a result of their conviction, Mary created the William Edward and Mary Cockram Morse Scholarship in 2017 to benefit 91亚色鈥檚 Ella Cline Shear School of Education students who need financial assistance during their student-teaching semester.聽

鈥淢ary, your steadfast belief in the value of a college education, and your generous philanthropic support of 91亚色 is outstanding and truly inspirational to us all,鈥� said President Battles. 鈥淵our generosity has greatly benefitted 91亚色 students, and your legacy will continue well into the future.鈥�

The Morses join 14 other donors who have made notable lifetime contributions to the College and were honored with a plaque on the Donors of Distinction Wall. Previously honored Donors of Distinction include: Spencer J. Roemer, Emeritus Dean; The Jewish Foundation For Education of Women; Charles L. Van Arsdale, Friend of the College; Kevin 鈥�75 and Nancy 鈥�76 Gavagan; Richard J. 鈥�46 and聽 Mary Thomas 鈥�40 Fernan; Cal G. Melick 鈥�69; Edward J. Pettinella 鈥�73; 91亚色 Student Association; The Csapo Family and Ambassador Apartments; Jack 鈥�76 and Carol Patterson 鈥�76 Kramer; Campus Auxiliary Services; Daniel 鈥�86 and Nancy Wentworth 鈥�86 Loughran; 91亚色 Alumni Association; Gregory 鈥�64 and Elizabeth O鈥機onnell.