On Thursday, March 15, the Vermont State Colleges System inducted their third alumni Hall of Fame class and raised nearly $100,000 for student scholarships at their annual VSCS Hall of Fame Ceremony. Former faculty member and longtime Castleton supporter Jennifer Bagley was honored as the third Castleton affiliate inducted into the VSCS Hall of Fame.
Jennifer Bagley has personified the Castleton Way for more than two decades, doing all that she can to make Castleton a better place for its students without ever seeking the spotlight. As a longtime and well-respected part-time faculty member in the English Department, Jennifer took on advanced roles as student advisor and professor in the First Year Seminar program.
Prior to, and alongside her time teaching at Castleton, she taught English at nearby Mount Saint Joseph Academy, while also serving as Director of the MSJ Shoestring Theater, where she has contributed countless one-act plays for over 34 years. Her passion for fine and performing art has greatly benefited Castleton and the Rutland Region through donations of public art as well as serving as one of the driving forces behind the reinvigoration and renovation of Rutland’s famed Paramount Theatre.
Though no longer a member of the faculty, Bagley and her husband Fred remain deeply engaged in the university through several philanthropic efforts, including their service as almost full-time volunteer mainstays at Spartan Arena. From October through March, Jennifer can be found at the Arena doing everything from greeting visitors to providing her voice as public address announcer for the Castleton women’s hockey games. Jennifer and her husband Fred are instrumental in creating excitement around Spartan hockey and helping to provide student-athletes and spectators with an incredible game day experience, engaging veterans, the Cancer Center at RRMC, local elementary and middle and high schools, law enforcement, Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups, and countless others at the Arena, introducing them to the university in a fun and exciting way.
In 2007 the Bagley’s anonymously and most generously gifted the University funds for a part-time faculty award, which for the last decade has honored and recognized the importance of the part-time faculty at Castleton. Bagley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton College and a Master of Education degree from Boston University.
“In my short time at Castleton, I have been amazed by Jennifer’s tireless energy and commitment to our students and community,” said Castleton President Dr. Karen M. Scolforo. “Jennifer understands the value of community engagement, collaborative experiences, and mentorship, and the ways these elements contribute to a holistic educational experience for our students. Jennifer is legendary at Castleton for all of the right reasons.”