Upstate NY College Receives “Transformational” Multi-Million Dollar Gift From Alumni

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.