Connections: The Campaign for Bridgewater College raised more than $8.1 million for the Eagle Fund, Bridgewater’s current-use scholarship fund that provides immediate financial aid to students. All donations to the fund go directly to students, and donors can give any amount to make an immediate and lasting impact.
Dr. Cory Adamson ’91, BC Trustee, was one of the many contributors to the Eagle Fund. Adamson, a dual major in biology and chemistry, said he was able to attend Bridgewater thanks to financial aid support. He went on to medical school and is now a successful neurosurgeon in Macon, Ga.
“I came to BC already planning to major in the sciences and go to medical school,” Adamson said. “I visited for scholarship day, where I made friendships that are still going strong today. Financial aid was a necessary and motivating reason for me. It is a major reason that I want to pay it forward for future students.”
Adamson also established a premed scholarship in honor of his mother, Lucy Ashmore Adamson, and helped establish a Class of 1991 Scholarship. He said these contributions and his service as a trustee are how he gives back to the school that means so much to him.
“I hope my contributions will help those students that require assistance in order to attend BC,” Adamson said. “And I hope they will someday share a similar joy as they find ways to pay it forward.”
Ryan Linn ’26, a senior business administration major and financial planning minor, is one of the students who has benefitted from Adamson’s dedication to “paying it forward.” The lacrosse player from Smithsburg, Md., said he first heard about BC from College alumni.
“I had a few high school teachers who went to Bridgewater. One played soccer and the other played basketball, and they really recommended Bridgewater to me,” Linn said.
Beyond Bridgewater’s extensive alumni connections, Linn’s access to BC financial aid made attending the College financially possible.
“As I was looking around at colleges, the sticker price was kind of intimidating,” he said. “But I knew I would receive an academic scholarship from Bridgewater, and when I got my financial aid package, it was a pretty competitive price.”
In his time at Bridgewater, Linn has participated in the Investment Club and served as captain of the men’s lacrosse team. He also leveraged the support of the BC Center for Career Development to obtain an internship and job with a company not far from his hometown.
“I had an internship this summer with NVR Mortgage, and they offered me a job to begin in 2026,” Linn said. “I landed that internship through the Career Fair here.”
Linn said he is grateful for the financial support from donors that has allowed him to attend BC and plan for his future without lots of money concerns.
“Financial aid will help alleviate some of the financial burden after school,” Linn said. “I’m taking on some student loans, but it’s not as much as it would be if I went to a different school.”
– Olivia DeWan
12/1/25
