Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Expanded Support for Student-Athletes

Through the generosity of Trustee Calvin R. “Chip” Carver Jr. ’81 and Anne DeLaney, renovated facilities offer more resources for players and honor a legendary coach.

BY ANDREW WICKENDEN ‘09

At the beginning of the academic year, the William Smith Soccer team returned to campus to find their locker room remodeled as a new team meeting space, their lounge upgraded, and a former storage area transformed into a spacious new team room. These renovations reflect the latest support from Trustee Chip Carver ’81 and his wife Anne DeLaney, who for 40 years have invested in student wellness, athletics, the arts, the sciences, scholarships and technology.

Carver, who coaches softball at the Pingry School in Basking Ridge, N.J., is a longtime volunteer assistant coach for the Herons Soccer program. He first got involved with the team “because I wanted to learn as much as I could about coaching from one of the best coaches in the United States — Aliceann Wilber P’12, L.H.D. ’22.” Inspired by Wilber’s success “as a coach and mentor to generations of student athletes,” Carver says, “Anne and I wanted to do something for the team that would honor their commitment on the field and in the classroom.”

The renovated team room is named in honor of Wilber, who has coached William Smith to two national titles since she joined the Colleges in 1980. “There are not enough words or languages to adequately express our gratitude to Chip and Anne for their thoughtful and consistent investment of time, financial support and especially care,” says Wilber.

“I am enormously grateful to Chip and Anne for making this project possible, and for giving our student athletes the facilities they deserve,” says President Mark D. Gearan. “Over many years, Chip and Anne have supported nearly every aspect of campus life, from the sciences and the arts to athletics and scholarships. Chip’s leadership on the Board of Trustees has provided the Colleges with exceptional direction, and I appreciate and am thankful for his continued guidance and counsel.”

Carver — who held leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, SwapsWire, Inc., and IHS Markit — spent many years managing and trading financial derivatives and built a reputation as an expert in the management of e-commerce for global trade processing. In 2002, he joined the HWS Board of Trustees, serving on a number of committees and chairing the Task Force on Innovation. Through the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education, he has participated in the Professionals in Residence program and networked with many students and graduates who have gone on to internships and careers in finance.

Carver and DeLaney, a licensed clinical social worker, established the Calvin R. Carver Lecture and Student Support Fund in 2012 in honor of Carver’s father and in memory of his brother. The fund assists students experiencing mental or physical health difficulties and supports an annual speaker series to promote inclusiveness, resiliency, positive mental health and social justice. Among other projects, their support funded the Carver-DeLaney Family Press Box and stadium at John H. Cozzens Jr. ’41 Memorial Field.