Bonnie Seay Has a History of Breaking New Ground at Vanderbilt

Bonnie Seay, BA’66, MA’80, has always been a leader. In 1962 she was among the first students to move into Branscomb Quadrangle, at that time a new dorm for women. She was the first person in her family to study a foreign language. Then, in 1965, she took part in the very first Vanderbilt-in-Spain program.

Today Seay is continuing that tradition of leadership by naming Vanderbilt’s College of Arts and Science as the beneficiary of her legacy. A recent trip back to campus to celebrate her 50th Reunion reinforced her willingness to support a deserving student.

“The makeup of the students on campus is so much broader now,” she says. “Today they are exposed to so many different cultures and the students are much more accepting of differences. I find that very exciting.”

An anonymous benefactor made it possible for Seay to attend Vanderbilt, and she’s glad to be in a position to pass that generosity along to the next generation. While she’s made no restrictions on her gift, she hopes that it will support a student who wants to go into a “helping profession and will give back to Vanderbilt in the future.”

Seay would like to encourage her fellow Commodores to consider a bequest to Vanderbilt.

“It certainly helps a deserving student,” she says. “It also just makes you feel good knowing that your contribution means someone can come to one of the top schools in the country.”