Classes and Reunions
Class of 1961: A Lovely Reciprocity
 The
scholarship that Nancy Peters Ryan, CW'61, set up in
memory of her husband of thirty-three years, embodies
one of his frequently expressed thoughts: "'In a relationship',
he always said, 'you must have reciprocity.'"
For Nancy, who established Ryan's Way Endowed Scholarship three years ago, scholarship giving is about much more than making a financial commitment. "I wanted to support scholarships, which I knew were a university priority, but I also hoped to have a good relationship with a student," she says. That is just what she got.
In the three years since Nancy and Peggy Liu, C'03, the first recipient of the Ryan's Way Scholarship, have known each other, they have become close friends. In addition to sharing academic interests (Peggy double majored in biology and Biological Basis of Behavior, and Nancy was a zoology major and a botany minor, a precursor to what is now the biology major), they have also shared meals; excursions to the theater, orchestra, and opera; and a love of Penn. "There's a lovely reciprocity between us," says Nancy.
According to Peggy, the feeling is mutual. "I have always seen Nancy as more of a friend than a scholarship donor. I never expected to develop a lasting relationship with my donor - not because I did not welcome a friendship but because it was not been my experience in the past. I feel different about financial aid as a result of our friendship. Although I have always been grateful for this kind of support, our relationship is a reminder of the goodwill that is represented by financial aid but could not be put in a dollar amount." "Nancy is," Peggy continues, "one of the kindest and most remarkable people I know."
So, when Peggy graduated last May, it was only natural that Nancy was there to share the day with her. Extending an invitation to Commencement, explains Peggy, "was something I could do for her." "We had a beautiful day," says Nancy, who had not been to a Penn graduation since her own. The ceremony also gave Peggy's family an opportunity to meet Nancy, who was happy to show the Lius around campus. Afterward, they all went out to lunch to celebrate.
Today, Nancy and Peggy, now a first-year medical student at SUNY Downstate, remain close. They see each other often in New York City, meeting for a concert or dinner at the Penn Club, and both count, in Peggy's words, on "maintaining our relationship for years to come." "It's wonderful to stay in touch, to see what your student accomplishes and to know that you played a small role in that," explains Nancy. "This is exactly what I hoped for," she continues. "It's absolutely ideal."
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