By Kendra Pintor
Outside the classroom or laboratory, Amy Vanderloop 07’s greatest passion was to be in the Golden Trout Wilderness on horseback with a string of pack animals behind her. Resourceful, conscientious, and well-prepared, she was a strong and capable outdoorswoman.
“When I think about the things Amy enjoyed most—other than her nine summers of packing and leading burros, mules, and horses in the Sierra Nevada mountains—she enjoyed learning new things, on her own and through formal education,” reflects Amy’s father, Dirk Vanderloop P’07.
In 2009, the Vanderloop family suffered an unexpected blow when Amy passed away during her second year of doctoral studies in neuroscience at the University of Arizona. To honor her memory and connection to Scripps, Vanderloop recently included Scripps College as a beneficiary in his will.
Remembering Amy
As a transfer student to Scripps, Amy began to thrive after a difficult semester at University of California, Berkeley. “She put everything together for a mid-year transfer, informed her mother and me after all the pieces were in place, and began the spring semester in Claremont,” he says. “She loved her three-and-a-half years at Scripps.”
Amy earned her undergraduate degree in neuroscience at Scripps College where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated magna cum laude. During her time here as a neuroscience major, she was mentored by Molly Mason Jones Chair and Professor of Psychology Stacey Wood, who was instrumental in exposing her to the many paths available within her field.
“Amy’s major in neuroscience gave her an outlet to do something tangible with her inquisitive nature,” shares Vanderloop, noting her work on original research, which led her to present a poster at a national conference. “Ultimately, she decided to focus on cognitive aspects of neuroscience and was able to get multiple offers for full-ride scholarships for her graduate studies.”
Amy Vanderloop ’07 leading a mule and a string of horses out of the pack station in Horseshoe Meadow, fully laden with supplies for the backcountry of the Golden Trout Wilderness in the summer of 2006 just before her senior year at Scripps.
Including Scripps College in His Will
Scripps’ mission to educate women to develop their intellects and talents so that they may contribute to society through lives of leadership, service, integrity, and creativity, resonated with Vanderloop. It was a driving force behind his choice to support the College through a planned gift.
“When Amy died suddenly in 2009, it was an untold loss for our family and friends,” he says. “About the time I figured out how to live with the loss of her in my life, the realization hit that there was no longer a linear path for stories, keepsakes, and the other collected bits of a life to be passed along.”
Working with Casey Crosbie, director of gift planning at Scripps College, Vanderloop found a simple yet powerful way to honor Amy’s memory and make a lasting impact for future generations.
“Planned gifts play a crucial role in supporting the College’s long-term goals and help provide scholarships, enhance our academic programs, and maintain our beautiful campus,” explains Crosbie. “Making a bequest can be as simple as including a sentence in your will and can go toward any department that has special meaning for the donor.”
For Dirk, this honors both the legacy of his beloved daughter and the happiness she found on campus.
“Amy had a great sense of humor, a radiant glow, and an insatiable curiosity,” says Vanderloop. “She loved learning, and she loved Scripps.”
The Impact of Your Gift
If you’re interested in leaving a legacy with Scripps College, we encourage you to speak with your attorney or financial advisor to ensure that your wishes are properly documented. For more information or assistance, please contact the Office of Gift Planning.