Hands-on learning, exceptional faculty, a transformative House life. David Worley ’80, P’17, ’15 and Bernadette Drankoski ’80, P’17, ’15 have given back in gratitude for what Harvard gave them. And as parents of College students Robert ’15 and Claire ’17, the couple wants to ensure that students today have an even better Harvard experience than they did.
“We would like to help make the College as meaningful as it can be for current students. And this requires resources,” says Worley. He and his wife volunteer for the Harvard College Fund Parents Committee and as leadership chairs for the Class of 1980.
“We are excited to think we are helping students who are in the same shoes we were in 35 years ago,” says Drankoski. “We want to support initiatives that can make a difference every day.”
For Drankoski, this means ensuring students have the opportunity to learn in new ways, whether at dinner in the Houses, in classes that connect across subjects, or by trying something different—like her own experience competing on the fencing team.
“I see even more of these exciting opportunities for our students. Faculty are expanding into new ways of teaching and disciplines,” she says. “And with House Renewal, Harvard is enhancing one of the most important foundations of a Harvard education.”
Worley hopes their support gives others the opportunity to discover all that Harvard has to offer. “I came from a small town in Georgia through the generosity of financial aid, and it opened an entirely new world for me,” he says. “My freshman year I took an introduction to philosophy course and one of the teaching assistants was Cornel West ’74. He was just one of the amazing teachers that I had.”
Today, the couple lives in Peachtree City, Georgia. Despite their busy schedules—Worley works as counsel for Harris Penn Lowry and Drankoski as senior marketing counsel for the Coca-Cola Company—they regularly make the time to volunteer. “Being a part of the Parents Committee is a great opportunity to meet parents of other students,” says Drankoski. “It is an incredible community, and I encourage people to join us.”
As a volunteer and parent, Worley enjoys hearing directly from College students. “It’s very gratifying to see how students are able to take advantage of everything that Harvard has to offer,” he says.
Drankoski agrees, saying, “As a parent, you want to support this tremendous array of resources available for undergraduates. And we want to ensure that these resources are the very best in the world.”