Raised by an institution they nurture in return

Raised by an institution they nurture in return

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Friday, October 11, 2024

Mary Anne Hyde Saul had hundreds of babysitters as a young child.

The daughter of Harold Hyde, then president of Plymouth Teachers College, she and her parents enjoyed a formal, sit-down dinner many nights in the dining room in Mary Lyon Hall with all 250 college students.

"When I looked bored, a student or two would take me off to play ping pong in the game room," Mary Anne recalls. "Plymouth State was like my extended family."

Her father served as president of the teachers' college from 1951 through the transition to Plymouth State College, until 1977. As an only child, Saul felt that all eyes were on her. "I was constantly told, 'Don't do anything to embarrass the college,'" she says.

Mary Anne and her husband, Bert Saul, are multiple degree holders with successful, academically focused careers in education and research. As longtime donors, they bolster the work of Plymouth State by supporting student scholarships and countless campaigns and initiatives.

The Sauls began giving in 2001 when Harold Hyde passed away. They helped create the Harold Hyde Endowed Scholarship Fund and established a second fund in 2009 to honor Saul's mother, an English teacher at Plymouth High School, with the Mary Rita Hyde English Scholarship. "She was as famous as my dad was in town," says Mary Anne.

They support Plymouth State because of Mary Anne's strong ties and also for its engaged faculty and staff. "It's very easy to talk to the professors," Mary Anne says. "That makes students more comfortable and makes it easier to ask questions."

In addition to creating scholarships, Mary Anne and Bert are Holmes Heritage Society members, having made a generous bequest to PSU, as well as founders and supporters of the Museum of the White Mountains. They've contributed to multiple campaigns and initiatives over the years including projects like ALLWell North, The Elizabeth W. Cheney '89, '99G Studio Theatre, the Morgridge Strength & Performance Lab, and the Hyde Hall renovation. Mary Anne also serves on the President's Council, an advisory group that provides leadership and support to the president on development and fundraising.

"I feel so strongly about Plymouth," she says. "I saw it grow from 250 students to four or five thousand. Just to walk around and see how it's grown is astounding, and it's much more diverse."

Bert says Plymouth State is adapting to a rapidly changing student population and radically changing expectations of parents and students. There is pressure on students to graduate and get a well-paying job right away-more than ever.

"Plymouth is doing a good job balancing that need and expectation of the parents and sticking with the core tenets of what a quality college education should be," he says. "Plymouth is holding its own in a very competitive environment thanks to the philanthropy of many friends and alumni."

"The fact that public institutions need support from private individuals is one of the reasons we stay involved," Bert adds.

The Sauls appreciate making personal connections with students who have received their awards at annual gatherings on campus. "You get to find out what they're like and what their dreams are. It's rewarding," Mary Anne says, noting a recent recipient of the award in her mother's name told Mary Anne she would not have been able to complete her degree at PSU without the help. "I wanted to cry."

HOLMES HERITAGE SOCIETY

Anyone can leave a legacy. Mary Anne and Bert have established a generous bequest that will support Plymouth State students in perpetuity. There are many ways to make an impactful gift that will shape the future with your legacy. For more information, visit plannedgiving.plymouth.edu or contact Director of Development John Scheinman '19P, '21PG by at (603) 535-2805 or email at [email protected].

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• Donor Impact