Like most teenagers, Ellen MacDonald ’16 wasn’t particularly interested in following in her father’s footsteps. When she was looking at colleges, she purposely avoided his alma mater Plymouth State. “My dad dragged me here anyway,” she recalls. “And I ended up loving it!”

Steve MacDonald ’79 has fond memories of living in Hall Residence Hall, hosting Winter Carnival events that united students across campus, and being recognized with the Harold E. Hyde Award for his work with Student Senate. “To me, Plymouth State was the greatest place in the world,” he says. That’s what he wanted for his daughter.

The friendly campus, caring faculty members, and excellent education Steve always talked about when Ellen was growing up are exactly what have made her years at Plymouth State so special. “I was very shy when I came here, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a career,” she recalls. “Not only did I meet my best friend in my residence hall and connect with great people in the business department, but I also discovered my interest in professional sales.”

As a proud alumnus, Steve has donated to the Fund for Plymouth State in support of the people and programs that make the University the special place that it is. Now as a proud parent, he has made his most recent gift in honor of Ellen, who will graduate next spring. “It’s nice that we’re both part of something bigger,” he says.

Find Steve’s name, along with the names of all of our generous donors in 2014–15 at go.plymouth.edu/honor-roll.

Get a head start on making our 2016 donor honor roll! Use the giving envelope in this magazine to make your annual gift today.

Tags:  annual fund Barbra Alan giving philanthropy The Fund for Plymouth State