CHESTERTOWN -- Washington College launched the biggest fund-raising campaign in its history Saturday by announcing that it is already more than halfway to its $72 million goal with $41 million in gifts and pledges.

"The most important part of this five-year drive is to fund scholarships for our students," said John S. Toll, president of the college which, with a founding date of 1782, is the oldest college in Maryland. "About 85 percent of our students currently receive some sort of financial aid."

Toll said the largest gift received so far is $5 million over five years from the C. D. Starr Foundation to create the Center for the Study of the American Experience. He said the center will study how the ideas of the country's founders have affected history.

Pub Date: 9/22/98