Christine McCrea Krolik ’79 still walks with gratitude in her heart. As the granddaughter of Irish immigrants, Chris was the first member of her family to earn an undergraduate degree. Raised in Chalfont, PA, she enthusiastically seized at the opportunity to attend Beaver College in her pursuit of a first-class education. “The opportunity to attend Beaver College – the gift that this university gave me – is a gift that has given me opportunities throughout my life.”
As the former mayor and now vice-mayor of Hillsborough, CA, Chris credits her theater studies at Beaver College for her success in politics. She points to the similarities between theater and politics “There are lessons I learned from my time at Beaver College that have been directly transferrable to my career,” says Krolik. “I learned about responsibility, teamwork, empathy, and the importance of putting myself in someone else’s position to understand their point of view.”
Chris remains engaged with her alma mater from afar and takes pride in Arcadia’s growth and evolution since she graduated in 1979. “There were (some) students of color when I was a student but now I see there is a great, diverse campus at Arcadia, which I love seeing. It is an education of integrity and I am very proud of Arcadia for that.” In addition to a deferred gift commitment, which welcomes her to Arcadia’s Covenant Society, Chris has recently established an endowed scholarship,. “Arcadia is changing people’s lives. When we give to Arcadia we are giving students a gift that will impact them for the rest of their lives.”
Chris continues to serve her alma mater, devoting her time to Arcadia through the Alumni Association’s Philanthropy Committee. “I never say no. The opportunity to make a difference at Arcadia is palpable.”