Katherine Clayton '18 shares her class trip experience to promote affordability during the College's 250th year event

Celebrating Dartmouth In Seattle

More than 150 alumni, parents, and friends attended the campaign and sestercentennial celebration at the Sanctuary in downtown Seattle.

Two young alumni and two professors spoke about transformative experiences they’ve shared through Dartmouth. Jeremy DeSilva, an associate professor of anthropology, and Katherine Clayton ’18 talked about their archeological work in South Africa in 2016. DeSilva brought 15 students—his Anthropology 70 class—on the three-week trip. Not only did those students participate in hands-on excavation, they discovered a 2-million-year-old fossil. Clayton recalled how the group dealt with a flat tire on a safari, shortly after seeing a pride of lions. “At that moment, all the students there knew what it felt like to be an early human ancestor 2 million years ago on the savannah,” she said. “That is the type of full-sensory experience we had during our trip and something you can’t experience in a regular classroom.”

Also speaking were Leslie Butler, an associate professor of history, and Vivien Rendleman ’16, a Ph.D. candidate at Duke University. They shared insights into their award-winning research into how women in Richmond, Va., shaped that city’s history before women were allowed to vote.

Chip Kelly ’84, of Seattle, said the event was a great way to maintain his connection to Dartmouth, adding that he was excited to learn about the scholarship initiative. “A Dartmouth education will do more for anyone than anything else,” he said. “If someone out there deserves it but can’t afford it, what better thing to do than help them receive it?

To learn more about the initiative click here.