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Diane Bacon, 鈥�80, established a scholarship endowment in December 2024. She made the gift in honor of Dr. Betty Webb and Dr. Charles Davis, who inspired her to double major in English and math and were instrumental during her time at Meredith.聽

The F. Diane Bacon, 鈥�80, Scholarship will be awarded to students with financial need from rural Virginia or North Carolina. Bacon is grateful for the scholarships she received and wants to pay it forward so other young women have the opportunity to experience a transformational Meredith education.

In February, a formal endowment signing ceremony took place in Johnson Hall with President Aimee Sapp.

鈥淒iane, we are so grateful. You have given time, treasure, and talent back to Meredith. And I can tell you do it with a real love for the institution,鈥� said President Sapp. 鈥淓ndowing a scholarship that will be a permanent gift, that we鈥檒l just keep giving for generations and generations to come, is so incredibly special.鈥�

Also at the endowment signing were Webb and two of Bacon鈥檚 suitemates and lifelong friends, Leslie Landis Hayes, 始80, current member of the Board of Trustees, and Karen Maness Stone 始80. The ceremony gave Bacon a chance to reminisce about her college days. It was a full-circle moment because Bacon and Hayes were student workers in the Institutional Advancement office.

Working in that office instilled in Bacon how important a gift can be for the Meredith community and that giving back can make a difference in students鈥� lives. She planned and attended donor dinners as a student worker, and now will be the donor attending such occasions. Her gift will inspire Meredith students receiving her scholarship to follow in her footsteps.

鈥淵ou have made lifelong friends here, which a lot of people say, but then I turn around and the lifelong friends are actually here for this endowment signing,鈥� said Sapp.

Bacon says it is very difficult to put into words what her closest friends mean to her.

鈥淭hrough every challenge I have ever faced, they have been right with me, supporting me all the way. Whether it was another health challenge, a relationship break-up, the death of a parent, or the loss of a long-time pet, they were there. And, of course, we have immeasurable fun together. There are so many Meredith friends that I am still close to, but my suite is extra-special!鈥�

Bacon feels like most Meredith students can probably relate to her long-lasting college friendships, but doesn鈥檛 think it is as common at other schools.

鈥淚t was wonderful to have Leslie and Karen here today, but we are missing our other suitemate, Nancy Overton Smith,鈥� said Bacon. 鈥淢y closest friends and Dr. Webb, and Dr. Davis were so important to me during my time at Meredith. To share this day with them and you, President Sapp, is so special.鈥�

After graduating from Meredith, Bacon began her first job working for Wachovia [Wells Fargo], where she had a successful four-decade career. Bacon is excited to celebrate her 45th reunion at Meredith in May with her class.

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