Spider census

Being a Spider is a way of thinking about the world, a camaraderie in a remarkable community, and an outlook about what matters and what’s possible. What it means to be a Spider hasn’t changed over the last 125 years, but the ways to be a Spider have grown.

Today’s Spiders come from, study, and live around the world. They’re still immersed in a challenging liberal arts education, but the ways they can use it to explore keep growing. In 1970, students had about two dozen majors to choose among. Today’s students have 62.

The pages that follow offer a comprehensive survey that covers the generational spans, geographic range, and academic interests of Spiders today. We also highlight some Spiders’ stories of legacy and love, of academic accomplishment, friendships, and leadership. You’ll recognize yourself in some of the specific data and be able to situate yourself in all of it.

Spiders may be diverse in interest, but we are united by a common bond that develops at this place and then transcends it.

The Hills: Tom, R’64, Brad, ’94, and Grace, ’22 

Tom Hill came to Richmond in the fall of 1960. Son Brad followed in the fall of 1990. Grace followed them both in August. She saw something new in her dad’s gait when he dropped her off for orientation. “I call it his Richmond posture,” Grace said. “He gets so comfortable on this campus. He feels so confident. I can’t wait for it to be me.”

Shannon Kelley, B’87, and Mike Mendelson, B’88

When Shannon was a student, “there was a lot of folklore around the gazebo,” she said. She was skeptical. That’s why she laughs — because there’s no avoiding the fact that, during the commencement candlelight ceremony in 1988, the gazebo is where the casual hellos she and Mike had exchanged in the b-school’s hallways started to become romance. “The romantic connection that spring evening led to a wedding,” she said. “We joined the happy club of Spiders marrying Spiders, keeping the folklore alive.”

Tim May, ’05

Tim’s volunteerism eased his adjustment to college. “It’s a different world from Richmond Public Schools,” he said. “The Bonner scholarship was one of the reasons I stayed at the university.” Tim mentored children from Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward neighborhood, often bringing them back to campus with him. Now the owner of a travel agency, Tim remains committed to his hometown. He coaches a basketball team for Church Hill Activities and Tutoring, a community organization that named him its 2018 volunteer of the year.

Danielle Stokes, ’13

“This is a challenging place to go to school,” said Danielle, an associate at prominent Richmond law firm McGuireWoods. That isn’t is a criticism — she’s grateful for the academic rigor she faced as an undergrad. The native of rural Martinsville, Virginia, believes the university’s small classes and exacting faculty gave her an advantage in law school. “In terms of providing a quality education,” Danielle said, “I couldn’t have made a better choice.”

Ayaka Hasegawa, ’19, Hannah Wolfe, ’19, and Pal Patil, ’19

For the record, Pal’s the one who asked the photographer, “Should we carry her?” Because, you know, friends. There’s no bond like the Spider bond. Since these three met at Richmond, they’ve been roommates, classmates, sorority sisters, study pals — partners in crime carrying one another through graduation this spring and beyond.

Monica Stack, ’19, Sara Hyman, ’19, Tyler York, ’19, and Gardner Nash, ’19

The current leadership of the Westhampton and Richmond College student government associations have a shared appreciation for their involvement at Richmond. Sara, WCGA’s chair of senate, describes student government as “a great exposure to all the wonderful, different, diverse types of people on this campus.” They view their advocacy for fellow students and interactions with university administrators and trustees as essential to their personal development — and that of their soon-to-be alma mater. “I want to see a university that has grown because of the impact that I’ve had on it,” said Tyler, RCSGA’s president.