Fireside chats and treats with COA President Darron Collins '92 were a highlight of the day d... Fireside chats and treats with COA President Darron Collins '92 were a highlight of the day during the 24 Hour Challenge fundraiser.The school took in a total of $193,013 during the 10th annual event, which will provide critical funding for countless aspects of the COA experience, including student scholarships and financial aid, field-based coursework, and upgrades to campus facilities. A total of 630 donors contributed to the total.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated during the 24-Hour Challenge,” said COA Dean of Institutional Advancement Shawn Keeley ’00. “As an alumus, I’m especially inspired to see so many other alums supporting our mission. And our local community, which has always been a cornerstone of the college, really stepped up as well.”

A total of 323 COA alumnx joined 53 staff and faculty members, 131 parents, 135 friends, 21 trustees, and a handful of students to support the 24-Hour Challenge. Together, they raised $118,013 towards the total and unlocked two matching gifts for an additional $75,000.

COA President Darron Collins '92 and Melissa Osanna '91 chat by the fire during the annual 24 hou... COA President Darron Collins ’92 and Melissa Osanna ’91 chat by the fire during the annual 24 hour Challenge fundraiser.Three long-time friends and supporters of the college—Mary K. Eliot, Casey Mallinckrodt, and Walter Robinson—joined together to provide a $50,000 matching gift in advance of the challenge. An additional $25,000 in matching funds from an anonymous donor was announced the day of the event.

“It is so meaningful to have Mary K., Casey, Walter, and our anonymous friend, who all have very long histories with the college, lead the way .” Keeley said. “This combination of friendship and generosity has always been at the heart of the college and continues to inspire so many of us.”

This year’s challenge set a new one-day fundraising record for the college. The total raised during the 9th annual challenge in 2021 was $187,000.

College of the Atlantic is the first college in the U.S. to focus on the relationship between humans and the environment. The intentionally small school of 350 students and 35 faculty members offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in human ecology — the study of how humans interact with our natural, social and built environments. Each student develops their own course of study, collaborating and innovating across multiple disciplines. COA is Princeton Review’s #1 Green College 2016-2021. Learn more at coa.edu.

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