Unfortunately, college is a luxury these days that not many can afford. If you want to further your education past High School, you'll have to shell out thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars just to get your foot in the door.

Luckily, most schools offer scholarships and grants to allow those who may not have had a chance to attend the opportunity to further their education, and one school in Upstate New York just got a massive step-up.

A Transformative Gift

In 2022, Skidmore College alumni Sibyl Vaughan Kirby donated $200,000 to the school. Sure, that seems like a lot, but it's nothing compared to the $3.1 million dollar donation she made in August of 2025.

This is the largest gift the school has received in recent years, and sets up the Sibyl V. Kirby ’47 College Scholarship Fund, helping students from across the state find the finances needed to attend Skidmore. The hope is that this donation will leave around $160,000 per year for scholarships.

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Who was Sibyl Kirby?

Kirby's love for Skidmore started when she did, in the waning days of World War II. She revived her bachelor's, and decided, against the norm of the time, to find a place in the professional world.

She was an accomplished tennis player, and consistently donated anonymously to the school that gave her her start until her passing in December of 2021. Despite her passing just under four years ago, her estate has ensured that new students will have the same opportunities that she did, regardless of financial status.

Look-Mary Lou Whitney's Sprawling Saratoga Estate Back On Market

This beautiful 120+ acre property in Saratoga Springs, once owned by the late Marylou Whitney and her late husband John Hendrickson, is rich in history and charm.
The 6,218 sq ft mansion, built in 1851, offers 7 bedrooms, 7 full baths, and 2 half baths. It features 3 covered porches, a pool house with a heated pool and gym, a chapel, tennis courts, rose gardens, a 2-bay heated garage, a 9-bay heated garage with a generator, a gatehouse, a root cellar, an office building, a maintenance building, and 2 single-family ranch homes.
The sale includes the mansion’s furniture but excludes accessories, personal items, and the Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney "Daphne" statue from the rose garden. 
Check out the eclectic rooms and the sprawling estate. It is now back on the market.

Gallery Credit: 2024 Global MLS

6 Mountain Ski Lifts For the Ultimate Northeast Leaf Peeping Experience

This is the gorgeous time of year in the Northeast. Travel up to the most popular ski mountains in Vermont and hop on a chair lift to get a birds-eye view of the fantastic fall foliage. Here are the top six mountain ski lifts to enjoy the view.

Gallery Credit: Facebook pages: Okemo Mountain, Mount Snow Resort, Stowe Mountain Resort, Sugarbush Mountain Resort, Killington Mountain Resort, Stratton Mountain Resort

Ranking The Top 15 Movies Filmed in Upstate New York

Gallery Credit: Brian Cody TSM

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