WITH THE ASSIST: BASKETBALL ALUMNAE PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE EMERGENCY FUND

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in the early spring of 2020, virtually all colleges and universities across the country were faced with the difficult decision to shift to remote learning and send students home for their safety and the safety of faculty and staff. At Guilford, this caused widespread financial hardship for some students, which in turn led the school to create the Guilford Emergency Fund. This fund helped provide support to those students who needed it.

Many alumni who are former Guilford student-athletes answered the call to lend a helping hand, including Lois Wright ’85 and Catherine Herring Johnson ’94. Lois and Catherine recently answered questions about their time at Guilford and why they chose to donate to the Guilford Emergency Fund.

Lois Wright ’85

Lois Wright was a two sport athlete as she competed for both the women’s basketball and softball teams. She still ranks among basketball career leaders in scoring average (14.2, 6th), field goals made (412, 15th) and scoring (972, 22nd). Lois was inducted into the Guilford Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.

How did Guilford prepare you for life after graduation?

“The most important learning I gained from Guilford was to open my mind to different ways of thinking and being. The diversity of people and thinking at Guilford College cannot be understated. I would never have gotten the personal attention or developed the meaningful relationships with my professors at a large institution.”

What makes Guilford special and unique?

“Guilford was unique because of dedicated professors like Elwood Parker ’64, Sheridan Simon and Rex Adelberger, who cared about each student. Guilford was special because of the coaches like Gayle Currie, who recruited me, and Judy Flynn, who coached me in basketball for three years. In short, it is the people that make Guilford College the wonderful place it was and continues to be.”

Why do you donate to Guilford, and why did you choose to donate to the Emergency Fund specifically?

“I choose to donate to Guilford College because it’s my way of giving back to the community that provided a firm foundation for me to be successful in my career and to be successful as a person. I want to pass it forward in hopes of giving others the same opportunities I had to discover who I was and who I wanted to become. I chose to donate to the Emergency Fund because I know what a difficult time we are all experiencing — fear, frustration, uncertainty. Financial support is just one small way I can help.”

Catherine Herring Johnson ’94

Catherine Herring Johnson competed for Guilford’s women’s basketball team from 1990-94 and was a student athletic trainer. She also ranks among career leaders in field goals made (372, 22nd), scoring average (9.8, 24th) and scoring (868, 28th).

How did Guilford prepare you for life after graduation?

“I believe Guilford prepared me for life after graduation in two ways: Most obviously was my academic education that allowed me to pursue my career as an athletic trainer. The second was more of a life education that allowed me to widen my perspectives. The liberal arts education exposed me to a variety of subjects that I possibly would not have gotten elsewhere, and the people I came into contact with introduced me to a larger variety of backgrounds, cultures, personalities and beliefs than I had had before college. This was as valuable, if not more valuable, than my academic preparation and has allowed me to be able to better relate to a larger variety of people and experiences than if my perspectives had been more narrow.”

What makes Guilford special and unique?

“I think the feeling of community is what makes Guilford special. With it being a small school, there are so many opportunities, if one chooses, to connect and invest in the community as a whole.”

Why do you donate to Guilford, and why did you choose to donate to the Emergency Fund specifically?

“I’ve always thought it was important to give back to my alma mater. COVID-19 affected and continues to affect every facet of our lives, and I just wanted to do something to help mitigate that for the faculty, staff and students.”