The Ethel Walker School
Giving Circles
We are deeply grateful for your support.
The opportunities at Walker’s are made possible because of the generosity of donors like you. No matter what your connection to the School or the size of your gift, we are truly honored to have your support.
Through our recognition circles, the Annual Report of Philanthropy, events, and communications, we seek to celebrate you and showcase your impact on the Walker’s community.
The Ethel Walker School, through the following Circles, recognizes the impact of those who have made gifts to support the mission of the School. Donors receive special communication and accolades throughout the year and are honored in our Annual Report of Philanthropy.
The 1911 Circle
$1,911-$4,999
The 1911 Circle honors the year Ethel Walker Smith’s vision for an extraordinary girls education first became a reality.
The Cluett Circle
$5,000-$9,999
The Cluett Circle honors the legacy of Emily Cluett , Class of 1918, and her family’s extraordinary generosity which helped establish the campus that Walker’s still calls home today.
The Founder’s Circle
$10,000-$24,999
The Founder’s Circle honors the School’s founder, Ethel McCoy Walker Smith, who believed girls deserved a rigorous preparation for college and a foundation for lifelong learning and intellectual curiosity. This vision continues to guide Walker’s today.
The Sundial Circle
$25,000-$49,999
The Sundial has been The Ethel Walker School’s enduring emblem since 1911, when a student mistook a pepper grinder and pot for a sundial at the inaugural dinner. It has inspired beloved Walker traditions, from Suns and Dials spirit groups to The Sundial student newspaper and today’s Sundial Magazine.
The Horas Aureas Circle
$50,000-$99,999
“Horas Aureas” is Latin for “Golden Hours” and comes from the School’s full Latin motto, Nullas Horas Nisi Aureas, which translates to “None But Golden Hours.” Today, the motto symbolizes the meaningful and transformative experience of a Walker’s education.
The Copper Beech Circle
$100,000+ over 5 years
The magnificent copper beech tree beside the chapel is one of the oldest surviving trees on Walker’s campus. Generations of students have passed beneath its branches, making it a living symbol of continuity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the School.
The Pepperpot Circle
$25 1-5 years since graduation
$250 6-10 years since graduation
$500 11-15 years since graduation
The Pepperpot Circle takes its name from the School’s yearbook, The Pepperpot. The name traces back to the legendary first School dinner in 1911, when a student mistook a pepper grinder and pot for a sundial. Since then, The Pepperpot has chronicled student life and preserved Walker’s history for generations.
Giving Circles
Cumulative Giving Honor Roll
The Dogswood Consecutive Giving Circle celebrates our loyal annual donors. Acknowledgement of their consecutive years of giving is highlighted in our Annual Report of Philanthropy through special recognition accorded for contributions in five, 10, 15, and 20-plus consecutive years. Their loyalty helps sustain Walker’s, and we salute them for their faithful and stalwart support of Walker’s and its mission.
Recognition begins after two consecutive years of giving, regardless of gift amount or purpose.
The Ethel Walker Heritage Society
The Ethel Walker Heritage Society includes those alumnae, parents, faculty, and staff who have provided for the future of The Ethel Walker School by making financial support of the Academy part of their estate plans.
Recognition is open to anyone who has made provisions for Walker’s in their will or estate plan regardless of size. Those who have informed us of their plans will be added to the society and honored accordingly. Recognition is accorded posthumously to those who do not make us aware of their plans prior to their passing.