25^th Class Reunion Challenge

Your classmate Nicole Lehman Nackenson, AB ’98, and her husband, Richard, are so excited to celebrate the Class of 1998, and invite you to join them in making a gift to support current and future WashU students. They have issued a challenge to you: For every $1 you give, the Nackensons will give $5, up to a total of $125,000. And if 50 first-time donors participate, the Nackensons will make an additional $125,000 gift. Participating in the Class of 1998 Class Gift is a great way to show your pride in our class, whether you can attend Reunion or not! Make your contribution to the class gift and learn more below about what motivates the Nackensons to give to WashU today.

What motivates the Nackensons to give to WashU today.

What is a favorite memory from your time on campus?

Nicole: I remember visiting WashU when I was a senior in high school and immediately felt right at home. I saw the beautiful campus and felt so welcomed by the students I met, each of whom seemed happy to be there. I somehow knew this was meant to be the next step in my educational journey. I have many wonderful memories of my time at WashU. One of my earliest memories was my first W.I.L.D during my freshman year. After arriving at school as a freshman, I remember feeling a little overwhelmed and out of place for the first couple of months as I tried to navigate my way through life as a first year college student. That night, I wandered into a dorm room on my floor where a group of students were congregating. I wound up spending the rest of the night with them, talking, laughing, lying down under the night sky listening to the music of W.I.L.D. Some of the students I met that night would go on to be some of my closest friends at school. Another memory is of a favorite class. Although I was a political science major and Spanish and business minor, one of the classes that I most enjoyed was fictional writing, perhaps, because it tapped into my creative side. Every week we would write a story and share them with each other in class. There were some really wonderful storytellers in the class, and I felt privileged to be amongst them. 

Why do you think it is important to support WashU (or provide scholarship support to students)? 

Nicole: When I attended WashU, I was lucky to be in a position where my family could afford to pay for my education. I never took that for granted as I realized that not all of my classmates were as fortunate. Attending such a prestigious institution of learning helped open doors for me in securing my first job after graduating and later in attending graduate school. I want others, who may not have the means, to have similar opportunities. My husband, Richard, and I both feel strongly that anyone with the capability and willingness to succeed at WashU should be able to attend the school regardless of their personal circumstances. We have been encouraged by the school’s position to offer need-blind acceptance, and we feel it is our responsibility to play a role in making this a reality. 

What inspired you to say yes to sponsoring this challenge? 

Nicole & Richard: We want to be at the forefront as we are hopeful that through this challenge, we may encourage everyone in the Class of 1998 to come together to support the university. We have a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of prospective students. We urge everyone to please, give what they can; the students of the future need our help more than ever. 

We are excited to welcome the Class of 1998 back to campus for your 25th reunion! 

Help carry on a longstanding university tradition of giving back. Make a gift in honor of the Class of 1998 and our amazing WashU experience. Your contribution of any amount to any area of the university counts toward our goal. We cannot do this without dedicated alumni like you!

We know a large percentage of our classmates are not able to attend in-person reunion. The class gift allows alumni from around the world to participate in this milestone anniversary. 

The following alumni are currently volunteering their time for our Class of 1998 Gift Committee in 2023 and are playing a vital role in our fundraising efforts. We are thankful for their continued engagement and interest in commemorating our reunion year. Our combined class gift provides resources that will have a positive impact on WashU and students for many years to come. 

Class of 1998 Committee:

Sandra Abrams, AB '98

Kerryn Kent, AB '98

Amanda Matheu, BS '99

Jennifer Kronick Shapiro, AB '98

Interested in getting involved in your Class of 1998 Gift Committee? Reach out to Tracy Speller at tracy.speller@wustl.edu or check out the volunteering responsibilities here. 

Not sure where you want to designate your gift? Your gift or pledge of any amount will help the Class of 1998 meet its goal, and you choose the school, scholarship, or program that is most meaningful to you. 

*Browse a searchable list of areas to support*

REUNION   |    GIVE NOW   |    VOLUNTEER