$50,000 Donation Lifts Magnan Scholarship

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the John William Magnan Scholarship is $50,000 closer to its goal. Though the benefactor did not wrestle, he has vivid memories of the Rice Wrestling Room and the enthusiasm and raucous environment of VES matches. Additionally, he understands the important role financial aid plays in private school education and has an abiding appreciation for the commitment VES teachers make to their students.

Bill Magnan was one such great teacher whose dedication to his craft was seen in the classroom as well as on the wrestling mat. He influenced those he taught and those who wrestled under his tutelage to give their utmost in all circumstances. With his death in November 2005, a bereaving wrestler took the “old man’s” encouragement to heart and was the first to make a financial contribution in his memory. It was his thoughtful donation that inspired three families with close ties to the wrestling program to initiate a matching gift challenge and establish a scholarship in Bill’s memory.

Since its inception the scholarship has grown, and with the news of this exceptional gift now stands at $75,205 against a goal of $100,000. Once the goal is met, the challengers will match the gift total 1:1 and a deserving student with a passion for wrestling will be named the Magnan Scholar. Moreover, Bill’s kind smile and fiercely competitive spirit will live on at the Old 160, especially when the quiet of Barksdale Gym is overrun by the frenzied atmosphere of the program he helped build.

If you would like to help fulfill this challenge, please contact Meade King, Assistant Headmaster for Advancement, mking@ves.org or 434.385.3708, or send your tax-deductible donation to his attention at P.O. Box 408, Lynchburg, VA 24505. Please indicate “Magnan Challenge” on the memo of your check.

 Let’s finish the challenge!