New labyrinth dedicated in honor of past College leaders
Alumnae and other members of the Randolph community examine the labyrinth, gifted to the College by Katharine Stark Caldwell ’74.
Members of the Randolph College community gathered Friday morning to dedicate a new feature on campus that honors three former chairs of the Board of Trustees and a past president of the College.
The new labyrinth is located on back campus between the Houston Memorial Chapel and the Mabel K. Whiteside Greek Theatre, and was gifted to the College by Katharine Stark Caldwell ’74, a trustee emerita. The labyrinth was given to recognize the leadership of Alice Hilseweck Ball ’61, Jolley Bruce Christman ’69, Lucy Williams Hooper ’73, and Virginia Hill Worden ’69.
Katharine Stark Caldwell ’74 speaks at the dedication service.
Ball, Christman, and Hooper each chaired the Board of Trustees during Caldwell’s term from 2002-2012, and Worden served as interim president of the College from 2006-2007.
“Randolph-Macon Woman’s College gave these women the keys to a life more abundant and they, in turn, gave the College a chance for a bright future; they gave the College vita abundantior,” Caldwell said.
The structure is a replica of a 13th century labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France and was designed by David Tolzmann of the Labyrinth Company.
“The labyrinth repeats the circular patterns of the chapel and the Dell and connects the spiritual center of the College with an artistic and celebratory center,” Caldwell said. “My hope is that the labyrinth, situated amongst these two iconic College landmarks, will create an energy that can be of value to the College community both in a corporate and individual way.”
In addition to her most recent gift and her service on the Board of Trustees, Caldwell has been a strong supporter of Randolph’s Annual Fund, and she and her husband, Hacker, are members of the College’s Vita Abundantior Society. In 2011, she helped fund the creation of an illustrated book documenting 100 years of the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College’s Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Art. Also in 2011, Randolph dedicated Caldwell Commons, a foyer area for social gatherings near Cheatham Dining Hall, in recognition of her support and service to the College.
The Caldwells live in Lookout Mountain, Tenn.
Alice Hilseweck Ball ’61 takes a moment to reflect in the center of the labyrinth.
