SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Skidmore College is celebrating a massive surprise donation from a woman who graduated back in 1947. The transformative $3.3 million donation will go toward scholarships for future Skidmore students.
In the final days of World War II, many women had their hearts set on starting families. But Sibyl Kirby was starting college.
“She was a pioneer in so many ways right, not only pursuing education at a time when women didn’t always do so, but she was an incredible tennis player apparently,” said Jessica Ricker.
Ricker is the vice president of enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid at Skidmore College. She said Kirby graduated from Skidmore in 1947. Kirby ran the Student Athletic Association and also majored in Sociology.
“She really wanted to have an impact and life of purpose,” said Ricker.
After graduation, Sibyl began a life as a social worker for the Vermont Department of Social Welfare. She later joined the Vermont Achievement Center when it was founded in 1970. During her free time, Sibyl volunteered at the Rutland Free Library in Vermont and the Rutland Regional Medical Center.
“I think it was that enriched educational experience that really led her to want to continue giving back,” said Ricker.
That desire lasted even after Kirby passed just before her 97th birthday in 2021, when she made a surprise donation to Skidmore College.
“We received an initial $200,000 and that was I believe in 2022,” said Ricker. “And then it was actually another 3.1 million that arrived just this year in 2025.”
Ricker said it’s one of the largest donations Skidmore has received in recent years. As Kirby wished, all of the money will go specifically toward financial aid and scholarships for students. Ricker said this monetary aid will help the school in more ways Kirby could’ve imagined.
“Really it opens the door, it unlocks the door right,” said Ricker. “We can offer admission to a student, but if they don’t have the means to be able to afford that four-year education. It’s an opportunity that’s kind of closed to them.”Â
But now, that door can remain open. The money has become part of Skidmore’s permanent endowment. $160,000 a year will be set aside for student scholarships — something faculty called, “a forever gift.”
“I think the sense of excitement is because it’s the future for these students and they’re going to have a tremendous opportunity here,” said Ricker.
Faculty at Skidmore said that Kirby’s generosity will always be remembered. She’ll be inducted into Skidmore’s Parnassus Society later this year. The society honors people who have donated over $1 million to the school.
Furthermore, Skidmore College isn’t the only place that Kirby donated to. After spending many years volunteering at the Rutland Free Library, Kirby donated $2.68 million to the library after she passed. Library Director Randall Smathers shared with NEWS10’s Vanessa Blasi that this is the largest donation the library has received in its 139-year history.
“The timing could not have been better, as its Civil War-era library building is in need of major repairs. Now, the library is planning on how best to use Sibyl’s donation to help create a 21st-Century facility,” said Smathers in part of a written statement.
Smathers also shared that Heather Ruelke, the library’s longest-serving staff member, remembered when Kirby would visit the library. Ruelke said Kirby was a lover of books and often chatted with her at the checkout desk.
“We would have never expected such a gift from such an quiet, friendly person,” said Ruelke.
Smathers said Rutland Free Library will be eternally grateful for Kirby’s kind donation.
