MY PARENTS GAVE ME LIFE;WARREN WILSON COLLEGE

GAVE ME MY FUTURE

Betty Jane Nelson, Class of 1962

I graduated from a small-townMichigan high school in 1960knowing that I wanted to go to

college even though no one inmy family had previously hadan opportunity to go. I had noclue how to go about it; I didn’teven know I needed to apply!In fact, after my parentsdivorced and my father wasliving in Muncie, Indiana, whereBall State Teachers College waslocated, I decided to go there.My plan was to get a job, earnmoney over the summer andshow up on campus in the fall—what a naïve seventeen-year-old.

My plans fell through whenthe poor economy made it

MY PARENTS GAVE ME LIFE;WARREN WILSON COLLEGE

GAVE ME MY FUTURE

Betty Jane Nelson, Class of 1962

Betty Jane Nelson, a 1962 graduate and former memberof the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Board, sharedher journey with former Interim Annual Fund DirectorNathan Gower ’13 in the summer of 2014. Her story isrecounted here, along with why she has decided to leavea planned gift to WarrenWilson College.

Betty Jane Nelson ’62

impossible to find a job. Duringthis struggle my Michigan pastorwrote and told me about howhe had led a youth group tripthrough the South doingmaintenance work at smallPresbyterian churches and takinga tour of Warren WilsonCollege. Back then WarrenWilson was a junior college withabout 200 students—includingstudents from Asia, Africa, andSouth America. It was fascinating.I wrote the following letter:Dear WWC: I’m coming in thefall. Please send information.”Doc Jensen wrote back saying hewas delighted I was interested intheir little school and asked,Would I mind filling out anapplication?” I completed theapplication, gave permission tocontact my high school forgrades, provided somereferences, and sent it off.Thinking I was now going toWWC in the fall, I returned toMichigan where I found a factoryjob to save money for school.

Sometime in late August or earlySeptember, a letter from DocJensen arrived saying I had met

entrance requirements, butbeds were full. I destroyed theletter because I didn’t want myparents to find out there wasn’ta bed. I figured I’d just getthere and then I’d be DocJensen’s problem.

When the time came, I packedup and got on a bus. It tooktwenty-six hours to get there.Finally, I arrived in Asheville.I had never seen a mountainbefore and had never taken ataxicab. After what seemed likean unending trip, the cab turnedonto Warren Wilson Road.With that two-lane, windingroad on a very dark night,I thought, “It’s all over.”My parents would never knowwhat happened to me. Justabout the time I thoughtI would panic, we pulledinto Women’s Dorm Circle.We stopped at the first dorm,Stephenson. Unbeknownst tome, the letter apparently arrivedthe day I left home; Doc Jensenhad written and said there wasa bed available in the dorm afterall. They were expecting me andwelcomed me with open arms.

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The next morning, I asked fordirections to Doc Jensen’s officeand made my way to the oldCarson building. Once there,he invited me into his office.I told him who I was and thatI was there to pay my fees.I didn’t know the cost becauseI had yet to even see a collegecatalogue. I explained allI had in my pocket was whatI had left from my summerearnings. He said, “Well, that’sa fine way to start your collegecareer.”He then asked, “Howmuchdo you have?” I replied, “I have$75.” Doc Jensen looked me inthe eye and said, “That’s exactlywhat it costs.” He put his handout, and I gave him the $75.

I never paid another dimefor two years of tuition, roomor board.

Even so, I was never madeto feel that I hadn’t paid my way.I was assigned to work in thelaundry. In early October, a cardarrived from my father witha $5 bill in it for my birthday.My dad said he would send$5 a month as long as I was inschool. I needed laundrydetergent and other supplies;so, the problem was solved.But that was the last $5I saw from him. I stretchedthat $5 until Christmas, butthere was no way I couldstretch it any further. I don’tknow whom I talked toabout it. I must have toldthe other girls in the dorm.I think Mrs. Furst, dormhousemother, was told oroverheard or probably figuredout what was going on.Beginning in January, everymonth for the next year anda half, $5 magically appearedon my pillow. The donorto this day remains unknownto me.

Dr. Henry Jensen

Upon graduation, Doc Jensencalled me to his office andasked me about my plans. I toldhim I had no money. He asked,Have you thought about Berea?Do you know what it is?”I applied to Berea Collegeand was accepted. Doc workedwith the Presbyterian Boardof National Missions to arrangefor a grant and loans to payfor Berea. After getting mydegree from Berea, I wentto graduate school at theUniversity of Kentucky, whereI earned a degree inrehabilitation counseling.

You still might wonder whyI continue to support WarrenWilson College bothemotionally and financially.The only way I can put it is, myparents gave me life; WarrenWilson College gave me my future.My life as a counselor would nothave happened without WarrenWilson. Students today are notnearly as naïve as I was backthen, but my story isn’t unique.There are other stories, equallyfascinating, about kids who hadno place to turn, wanted an

education, didn’t know how todo it, and who stumbled uponWarren Wilson. Their lives werechanged just like mine.

I can’t remember when I firstthought about giving back.When I moved to Californiaand began paying off theNational Missions Board loan,I thought about what WarrenWilson had done for me.They worked hard to give mean education. I didn’t pay forit. I thought I’d like to dosomething for Warren Wilson.

In the late 1970’s, Doc Jensenpassed away. Following hisdeath, I visited campus, went bythe administration building andasked to see my old file. PatWilson had a student get it outof archives. She took me into anempty office, handed me the file,set a box of Kleenex on the deskand said, “Call me if you needanything.” As I began reading,the Kleenex came in handy.I read letter after letter fromDoc Jensen to supporters of theCollege around the country thatread, “We have this worthy but

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needy student. Can you help?”These were the people whopaid for my education.I thought, “Ok, if thosefolks could put up moneyfor my education, thensurely I can start doingsomething to pay forsomeone else’s education.”

I was not capable of writinga big check. So, instead ofwriting one check a year duringphonathon, I could write asmaller check every month. Afterthat started, and not long afterformer vice president for collegerelations Carla Sutherland

joined the College, she andI were on the phone, and shebrought up planned giving.Sometimes you need to beinvited to do things. Most of ussay, “I’m not a wealthy person atall.” I wouldn’t have thoughtabout planned giving unlesssomeone talked to me about it.I can’t leave a million dollars tothe College, but Carla helpedme think about what I could do.

After my passing, the Collegewill receive the proceeds fromthe sale of my house. The Collegeis also the beneficiary of aninvestment fund. Many people

Mrs. Furst and the 1962 Stephenson House Council

can do something like that.It’s not just the wealthy membersof our community of friendsand alumni who can make adifference. As middle-class folkswe have a lot more to give toWarren Wilson than we realize.Just so you understand, I’m notwealthy. I never made more than$50-$55k a year, but I madeWarren Wilson one of myprimary beneficiaries.

Why make the College abeneficiary? All I need to dois think back on that summerbefore arriving at WarrenWilson. I was working ina factory. I remember sittingthere at seventeen years oldwith women in their fortiesand fifties working around me.I looked around and I swearI could count half a dozenwomen sitting at their workstations with tears streamingdown their faces. All they hadto do with their day was sitand think about their problems.I promised myself, “That’s not

going to be me. I have to get outof here.” And that’s what WarrenWilson did for me: it got me outof there.

All of us, as friends and alumni,are still an important part ofthe College. Of course, it’s notthe same place it once was.If Warren Wilson hadn’tchanged as the world changed,it wouldn’t be able to servetoday’s students. It’s a goodthing it’s not the same place.That doesn’t mean it doesn’tcontinue to offer many of thesame things.

Warren Wilson will always takecare of the individual. We needto help the College take care ofthe individual. I hope that youwill give as much as you can andmake a planned gift throughyour estate. The students stillneed our help.

Thank you for letting me tellyou my story and why I give tothe College.

4 Ways to Support Your Family andWarren Wilson College through Your Will

1. Specific Bequest: A gift of a specific item to a specificbeneficiary. Example: You leave your home to your oldest daughter.

2. General Bequest: A gift of a stated sum of money.Example: You leave $10,000 to your niece. If you do not have thecash in your estate, other assets will be sold to meet the bequest.

3. Contingent Bequest: A bequest made on condition thata certain event must occur before distribution to the beneficiary.Example: You leave $20,000 to Warren Wilson College in the eventthat, upon your death, your other beneficiaries are no longer living.

4. Residuary Bequest: All the “rest, residue and remainder”of an estate after all other bequests, debts and taxes have been paid.Example: You divide the remainder of your estate into two parts:90 percent to your loved ones and 10 percent to your favorite charities.

Have a question?To learn more about including a charitable gift to us in yourlong-term estate plans, contact Phil Leonard at 828.771.5807or pleonard@warren-wilson.edu.

© The Stelter CompanyThe information in this publication is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice,please consult an attorney. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes onlyand are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only.State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.

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