A legacy of generosity and service at Lander University will soon be reflected in a new name on one of the campus’s largest buildings — and in new opportunities for students to pursue their dreams of a college education.
Lander alumna Linda Dolny-Lister, a member of Lander’s Board of Trustees and a longtime supporter of the University, is making a significant philanthropic investment that will name the university’s most recently constructed residence hall as Dolny Hall. Since its opening, the building has been referred to as New Hall.
The undisclosed gift in excess of $1 million will support the University’s endowment and go toward the Presidential Medallion Scholarship fund.
Lander President Richard Cosentino said the investment builds upon Dolny-Lister’s long record of service and philanthropy to Lander, adding that it will have “generational impact” for students.
“Linda Dolny-Lister has contributed so much to Lander over the years, and this gift is another reflection of the deep commitment she has to her alma mater. In each of her roles as alumna, scholarship donor and trustee, she has helped make Lander stronger and opened doors for our students,” he said. “We are profoundly grateful for her enduring belief in our institution and mission.”
Lander’s Board of Trustees voted Sept. 22 to approve the building’s official naming as Dolny Hall, with a ceremony and signage unveiling planned for the spring. The three story, 70,000-sq.-ft. residence hall houses more than 200 students and features study and social rooms on each floor, as well as a multipurpose classroom.
“I believe strongly in what a Lander education can mean in a young person’s life because I have seen its impact time and time again,” said Dolny-Lister, a 1969 Lander graduate. “Supporting Lander is one way I can help pay that forward. I want Lander students to have the same opportunity to discover their capabilities, and my family and I are grateful to play a small part in that.”