When Abby Tank ’24 graduated from the University of Mary Washington, her grandmother had one of the best seats in the house.
“I missed out on my high school graduation four years ago, so having her there made it even more special,” Abby said. As a member of the 1908 Society, Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet ’62 processed onto Ball Circle and watched the ceremony with other alumni who graduated 50 years ago or more. Seeing her granddaughter earn a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and Spanish, she said, was “absolutely one of the highlights of my life.”
Ruth Ann attended Mary Washington over six decades ago, before transferring to another institution. She was a constant presence on campus throughout Abby’s four years of college, cheering on her granddaughter in UMW women’s volleyball games, including the team’s conference championship win, and attending departmental events for families. She even bonded with her granddaughter’s friends and roommates.
“They were all so excited to hug her and take photos with her at Commencement,” said Abby, who was surprised to learn of her grandmother’s ties to the University when she first visited campus for a high school volleyball camp. When Abby applied to Mary Washington, her mother told her that her grandmother had studied dietetics there in the late 1950s.
“It was strictly serendipitious that Abby ended up at UMW,” Ruth Ann said. The strong science education she earned in college helped her land various administrative roles in the healthcare field throughout her career. Meanwhile, she kept in touch with former classmates, attended reunions, and donated to support current students. “I may not have graduated from here, but I consider Mary Washington my true alma mater.”
Another surprise came when Abby earned the prestigious Justin and Helen Piscopo Alvey Scholarship for out-of-state students, providing her with full tuition, fees, and room and board for up to four undergraduate years. She became close to her late donor, Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 – a Mary Washington student at the same time as her grandmother, though they never met – who left UMW a transformational $30 million estate gift for Alvey Scholarships and undergraduate scientific research.
“Irene was a brilliant lady and a pioneer in a male-dominated field,” said Abby, who exchanged handwritten letters and cards with Irene, even gifting her mother’s homemade peanut brittle to her donor. “We loved being pen pals.”
At UMW, Abby began as a biomedical sciences major but soon discovered an interest in international affairs. Taking fascinating courses taught by faculty members like Melissa Martinez and Jason Davidson motivated her to make the switch. She also upgraded her Spanish minor to a major, an asset when she went with UMW’s Global Medical Brigades chapter to Panama to treat underserved patients.
“I was never passionate about just one thing growing up,” Abby said. “Students often feel pressure to stick with their original plans,” she said, but the support and encouragement she received from professors across the University helped her find the right path for her.
And her hard work paid off. She presented her senior thesis on the impact of organized crime on democracy in Brazil at the the Pi Sigma Alpha Conference and Midwest Political Science Association Conference in Chicago, with her grandmother even coming to support her in the Windy City. Abby will soon begin a master’s degree in Latin American studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., before pursuing a career in diplomacy and foreign service.
But she had one more surprise before she graduated from UMW, being named “Outstanding Senior” by the Department of Political Science and International Affairs. “It was such an honor, especially because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do three years ago.”
Her grandmother wasn’t surprised by the news.
“I have all the faith in the world in Abby,” said Ruth Ann, praising the strong academics and personal attention that both she and her granddaughter received from Mary Washington. “The University should be very proud of the graduates it produces.”
Read about the newest Washington and Alvey Scholars. Find scholarship opportunities that are available to UMW students, including Washington and Alvey scholarships. Learn more about establishing scholarships and how private support makes a difference in the lives of UMW students who receive scholarships, research fellowships, and internship grants.
-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04
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