The new Carolyn Lake Dance Center will be built during phase one of the Centennial Plaza Project
By Kendra Pintor
Scripps College is excited to announce a transformative $15 million gift from the Carolyn Lake Claremont Foundation, completing a multi-year philanthropic commitment that will bring phase one of the College’s Centennial Plaza Project and forthcoming dance center to life. This total includes a previously announced $5.2 million gift and represents one of the largest in the College’s history.
Made in memory of Carolyn Lake ’54, the foundation’s support reflects Lake’s enduring love for Scripps’ landscape, architecture, and community—values she carried throughout her life and work in San Diego.
“Carolyn cherished the peaceful grounds and beautiful botanicals of Scripps,” says Diane Strong, president of the Carolyn Lake Claremont Foundation. “Her passion for campus beautification and enhancement can be traced back to her early years at Scripps. She wanted future generations of students to experience that same serenity and creativity.”
Transforming Scripps’ campus for the next century
When complete, the Centennial Plaza Project will link the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, Garrison Theater, and the Performing Arts Center into a vibrant hub for creativity and connection at Scripps. Phase 1 of the project includes construction of the long-awaited Carolyn Lake Dance Center and reimagined academic and gathering spaces on 10th Street.
President Amy Marcus-Newhall notes that the gift exemplifies how donor generosity and institutional mission intersect at a pivotal moment for Scripps.
“I am excited beyond measure to initiate this ambitious project, which is scheduled for completion when we celebrate Scripps College’s centennial anniversary,” Marcus-Newhall says. “We are deeply grateful to the Carolyn Lake Claremont Foundation for this extraordinary gift, which will bring our vision to life.”
The Centennial Plaza Project is also central to the College’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary learning, leadership, creativity, and community, says Enrique Gonzalez-Salgado, associate vice president for philanthropy.
“This generous commitment recognizes the arts as an essential part of the liberal arts experience,” Gonzalez-Salgado adds. “As we continue to invest in other strategic priorities, Carolyn’s legacy ensures that Scripps’ vibrant arts community—especially dance—has the dedicated space it deserves.”
Advancing Scripps’ legacy in the arts
Dance has deep roots at Scripps, emerging as a popular medium as a dual or double major that students combine with both STEM and humanities fields. Students from all disciplines participate in the dance curriculum and drive signature arts programming at the College, including student-choreographed performances for Scripps’ In the Works, Fast Forward, and Scripps Dances annual showcases.
For recent alum Isabella Melsheimer ’23, who majored in anthropology and minored in dance and earned and their master’s in dance education from NYU, the new dance center represents continuity between Scripps’ legacy and its future.
Isabella Melsheimer ’22 at Scripps College
“Scripps shaped the way I think about dance and culture as interconnected, human practices,” Melsheimer says. “It’s become really important to me to embed my dance practice and my teaching in historical and cultural context, and to represent dance as an interdisciplinary, holistic practice that everyone should have access to.”
Studying dance at a women’s liberal arts college, Melsheimer reflects, also brings unique advantages.
“I was encouraged as a femme and queer person to take up space in the studio, not only as a dancer but also as a creator and academic,” they say. “At Scripps, some of the gendered competitiveness that pervades a lot of dance spaces was replaced by community and a shared pursuit of artistry.”
Kevin Williamson, chair of Scripps’ Department of Dance, sees the Carolyn Lake Claremont Foundation’s gift as a transformative investment in the College’s academic and creative future.
“Dance at Scripps is about more than movement—it’s about inquiry, expression, and empathy,” Williamson says. “The new Carolyn Lake Dance Center will give our students a professional home to train, experiment, and collaborate across disciplines. It’s an incredible moment for the arts at Scripps.”
The Carolyn Lake Claremont Foundation’s enduring generosity honors Lake’s lifelong dedication to beauty, the arts, and education. Her vision will forever shape the Scripps experience—cultivating community, creativity, and inspiration for the next century and beyond.
To support the arts and students at Scripps, please consider making a gift today.