Rita McGinnis Spencer Honored with Bay Path College Lifetime Achievement Award
05.07.2007
Author: Jane Entrepreneur
LONGMEADOW, MA— Rita McGinnis Spencer, Bay Path class of 1942, was recently awarded the College's Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented at the 12th annual Women’s Professional Development Conference on April 27, 2007, and recognizes women who have devoted their lives and resources for the public good, particularly in support of education.
Rita McGinnis Spencer is a lifelong resident of Springfield, and, as a valuable member of the community, she has donated much of her time to social service and healthcare organizations. Mrs. McGinnis Spencer has a deep concern for the poor and homeless, demonstrating this through her generous support of Gray House, Open Pantry Community Services, and Brightside, to name just a few. This past winter, Mrs. McGinnis Spencer provided total funding for extended hours and breakfasts for the homeless finding shelter through "The Warming Place" in Springfield. For her many charitable activities through the years, Mrs. McGinnis Spencer was recognized in 2003 as the Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year of Hampden County.
For decades, Mrs. McGinnis Spencer has been a generous supporter of education at Bay Path. Just this year, she established, in partnership with the College, the Rita McInnis Spencer endowed scholarship for One-Day-A-Week Saturday students.
After graduating from Bay Path, Mrs. McGinnis Spencer held a variety of positions, including high school teacher, U.S. Commerce Department employee in Washington D.C., and private secretary to the commanding officer of Westover Air Force Base. Later, Mrs. McGinnis Spencer founded and ran a very successful real estate agency, believed to be the first woman-owned and operated agency in the city of Springfield.
For over a century, Bay Path, a four-year private College with a main campus in Longmeadow, MA, has prepared graduates for successful career and professional advancement. Enrolling over 1,400 students in its undergraduate college for women, One-Day Program for adult women, and the Graduate School for men and women, Bay Path College is consistently known and nationally recognized for its innovative and dynamic academic programs.
