BURLINGTON, Vt. – Local University of Vermont alumnus and former student-athlete David Holton '72 and his wife Michele have made a $1 million gift to support the UVM Department of Athletics.  The estate commitment will be split evenly to establish two new David B. and Michele A. Holton endowed funds in Athletics. The first will support the general purposes of the Department of Athletics, and the second will provide annual scholarships to varsity student-athletes from Vermont who have demonstrated both financial need and academic merit, with preference for members of the men's basketball team.
 
"On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, and all of Catamount Country, I want to express my deep appreciation to David and Michele for this extraordinarily generous commitment at a time when philanthropic support is more important than ever. Creating an endowed fund to support critical athletic department initiatives in perpetuity is an incredibly impactful form of charitable giving and an ideal way to ensure the success of future generations of Catamount student-athletes," said Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman '89.  "Financial sustainability is a critical factor in the success of college athletics, and this gift that combines scholarship support and program resources will help ensure the long-term success of UVM Athletics.  It also sends a powerful signal to current and future UVM student-athletes about the importance of giving back to an institution and program for which you care deeply."
 
The Holtons have been steadfast supporters of UVM Athletics for decades and are regulars at home basketball and hockey games.  David played shortstop for the UVM baseball team from 1968-1972 and earned his bachelor of science in business administration.  He says he formed friendships at UVM with other student-athletes and members of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, that have continued to influence his life and business in the nearly 50 years since his graduation.  He now serves as president of The Essex Agency, a Main Street fixture in downtown Essex Junction, specializing in commercial insurance.  He started the business shortly after graduation with two fellow student-athletes, George Kreiner '70 and John Hynes '69.
 
"David's experience as a Vermonter, former student athlete, and successful entrepreneur is an ideal example for all of us," said Schulman.  "Creating lifelong relationships with teammates, alumni, and friends is a core component of what it means to be a Catamount and I know these relationships were important motivations in the creation of the Holton Endowment."
 
"I ended up being successful in Burlington, more than I ever expected, to be honest with you. It's been more than a dream come true, but I never forget where I came from and how I got here. UVM is the glue in that piece," said Holton.  "I've never been confused about what I owe back to UVM for what they gave me. It's an easy memory for me to call up. I'm just this poor little Vermont farm boy, you know?"
 
Holton, who is as humble and gracious as they come, is a 10th-generation Vermonter who proudly notes that his family was living here two generations before Vermont officially became a state.  He grew up in an environment of discipline and hard work.  His father was a Marine and his mother a member of the Coast Guard before they married and returned to the family homestead in Westminster.  The Holton Farm was perhaps the last tobacco farm in Vermont, representing the northernmost outpost of a stretch along the Connecticut River extending just south of Hartford that was once called Cigar Valley.  Holton spent his childhood doing hand work in the fields, plowing, harrowing, weeding, and harvesting.  He says each member of the family was expected to contribute.    
 
Today it's that same sense of duty, nurtured on the farm and on the field, that has impelled him to contribute to his alma mater.  While the stories of his youth live vividly in his mind's eye, the veteran insurance man also has his sights set on the future.  He says he hopes the two endowments will benefit student-athletes, teams, and the entire community of Catamount fans for generations to come.
 
"I look back at where I was when I was 18 years old, and if I could duplicate that for somebody else, that would be meaningful for me. If there's some young man or young woman who is striking out trying to become an athlete at UVM and could use some help financially to get to UVM...I want to kind of pass the torch back a little bit because people have helped me.  People gave me a break, people gave me an opportunity that I would like to pay back."
 
"I've known David and Michele for years," says Schulman.  "Their passion and unwavering support for our student-athletes, coaches, and teams has been truly exemplary and serves as a model for others to follow.  Catamount Athletics will be forever grateful for their extraordinary generosity."
 
"It makes me incredibly proud to be able to do it. I've wanted to do something like this for a long time," said Holton.  "The feeling of humbleness, and of a job well done, and giving back is pretty powerful."                
 
Fundraising for UVM Athletics is a major focus for the University of Vermont Foundation, a nonprofit corporation established to secure and manage private support for the benefit of the University of Vermont.   During the University's 8-year Move Mountains comprehensive fundraising campaign, which concluded in summer 2019, donors like the Holtons gave over $43 million to support Athletics programs, coaches, and facilities.  More information about the impact of donors and the work of the UVM Foundation can be found at www.uvmfoundation.org.
 
If you would like to support UVM Athletics, please visit https://go.uvm.edu/gocats.