Christine Hadley Snyder’s ancestors were there at the founding of Wilmington College in 1870 and her mother, three sisters, two grandmothers, a great-grandmother and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews are among the College’s graduates. Also, Eugene “Gene” Snyder’s mother graduated from WC and both Gene and Christine hold fond memories of growing up in a community for which Wilmington College was and remains a foundational pillar.
The College recognized the local couple as its 2024 Philanthropists of the Year at Friday’s (Nov. 8) Philanthropic Leaders Dinner. The event annually pays tribute to top donors and those who’ve established endowed funds and included the College in their estate plans.
President Corey Cockerill thanked those alumni and friends for their support of the College, “a place where passion and purpose come together.”
Board of Trustees Chair Daniel Buckley compared the years of growth and ambition realized when Samuel Marble was president, 1947 to 1959, to the present-day Wilmington College. WC is enjoying such recent developments as a balanced budget, “gold standard” reaccreditation, increased enrollment, new and innovative modes of outreach and a workable strategic plan as a guide.
“It’s a time to think big again. We have a president with energy and vision,” Buckley said. “Together in common cause, we are in a position to think big together for our beloved College.”
Cockerill and Tammy Shadley-Hutton, vice president for advancement, presented the Snyders for the prestigious Philanthropists of the Year Award.
Gene is a now-retired Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Christine graduated from Ohio State University and earned additional degrees from Wright State University. They founded Bigger Road Veterinary Clinic in Kettering, which flourished with his expertise as a veterinarian and her acumen in business administration and financial management.
She shared an anecdote about their joining the Peace Corps years ago. The recommendation of a university professor was needed as part of the application process. His vet school faculty readily obliged, but Christine was dismayed when, despite her exemplary academic career, “At Ohio State, there was not one professor who knew who I was — this is not the way it should be,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons why I am such a proponent for the small, liberal arts college, where students and professors do know each other and professors have a vested interest in their students’ education.”
Christine served on the College’s Board of Trustees from 1994 through 2006, including several years as WC’s first woman to chair the governing entity. She later led the Sam Marble Society Committee, which encourages and recognizes stakeholders’ planned giving and endowed funds for the College, and served on the Joint Trustee Nominating Committee and the Wilmington Yearly Meeting’s College Committee.
The couple’s support has also included, among many other things, an endowed scholarship established in memory of Christine’s mother, her leadership role in the “Who Sends Thee” statue and Quaker Scenic Byway projects, and their keen interest in WC’s Meriam R. Hare Quaker Heritage Center. All these inform the Snyders’ appreciation for the College’s historic Quaker affiliation. The couple also has a history of opening their home to WC students and, most recently, the College’s newly formed Bass Fishing Club fished in their pond.
“The core beliefs of Wilmington College parallel the testimonies of Quakers,” Christine said, noting she hopes students graduate with an appreciation for these values. “I also hope they leave Wilmington College with solid academic training to be an educated person and I hope they’ll live lives of service and success.” Gene added, “It’s good to see these students graduate and have success in their lives — and believing that Christine and I were at least a small part of that. Wilmington College is a gem. To me, it’s like, in a pocket full of change, the College is a $20 gold piece.
PICTURED: President Corey Cockerill presents Christine and Gene Snyder as the College's 2024 Philanthropists of the Year.