Soaring Hawk donors invest in FLC’s bright future

Donors who include the FLC Foundation in their estate plans are honored as Soaring Hawks. This year, Soaring Hawk members pledged over $13 million to support the FLC Foundation's greatest needs, including scholarships, academic programs, and athletics. 

When Marchell Fletcher arrived at Fort Lewis College in 1975, she immediately felt at home. A Denver native, she was drawn to FLC's innovative atmosphere, strong student-to-professor ratio, and opportunities to study geology.

"Taking classes outside of my geology field, like history and business, gave me a broader liberal arts education," Marchell says. "It helped me become a more well-rounded person and set me up for success in my later career."

The creative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit fostered at FLC helped Marchell transition from a geology career just a few years after graduating. She went on to build a successful 20-plus-year career in the financial industry, owning her own insurance and financial planning business.

Along the way, she stayed connected to FLC, bringing her financial expertise and passion for the college to the FLC Alumni Board and the Foundation Board of Directors. As a Soaring Hawk member—FLC's recognition society for donors who include the college in their estate plans—Marchell exemplifies the forward-thinking leadership that ensures FLC's future.

"If you're successful, I think it's important to give back," Marchell says. "It's inspiring to be surrounded by that energy on the board and to share a commitment to both the community and FLC."

Driven by a desire to ensure future students and community members benefit from FLC, Marchell has included a legacy gift to the college in her trust. She's also established an endowment fund to support the Foundation Board's ongoing community-building efforts.

"I feel at peace with what I've done because I believe it's important to pay it forward," Marchell says. "FLC means so much to me that I want to share it with others and contribute to its future. It's fulfilling to know I've done something in my lifetime that will help others."