Andre Gardner ’95 was drawn to UVM for its top-notch environmental studies program and still reflects fondly on influential faculty. In particular, Bill Eddy’s environmental philosophy class made a lasting impression. Gardner has held onto the worn three-ring binder with Eddy’s eye-opening reading list.  

It was through another environmental studies class that Gardner first came into contact with Jon Trafton ’95, lead guitarist and founding member of the popular folk-jam band Strangefolk. Gardner remembers the acoustic concerts that Trafton and fellow founding member, Reid Genauer ’94 played at Slade Hall. A love of Strangefolk’s music eventually led him to a six-year stint as tour manager for the band.

Those two UVM experiences come together with Gardner’s recent gift to the UVM Foundation to create The Strangefolk Scholarship, benefitting students in the Rubenstein School for Environment and Natural Resources. “I am so grateful for the time I spent at UVM,” Gardner says. “It just made sense to me to do a small part in helping someone else experience the same outstanding education.”

Gardner fronted the initial $25,000 to establish the scholarship and is hoping that Strangefolk fans and friends will rally to help the fund reach $50,000, the minimum for an endowed scholarship.

“I recall a mild bout of the chills,” says band member Genauer about hearing news of the scholarship for the first time. “It's kinda weighty to think that our junky School Street band could be a permanent part of higher education.” Since then, the band has helped to promote the scholarship and even donated a portion of the proceeds from their October show at Burlington’s Flynn Center to the cause — and they’re not stopping there. “I sent out an email to 30,000 people on our mailing list and went nuts on Facebook. I'm hoping to continue to help by reaching out personally to a few kindred spirits who hold a place in their hearts, if not their pocketbooks, for Strangefolk and UVM.”

There is precedent, in fact, for Strangefolk fans — or “Strange Rangers” as they are known to insiders — to give back. In 1997, fans touring with the band formed a small, non-profit organization that mobilized volunteers to collect food items at concert sites and donate them to local food banks. In 2012, Strangers Helping Strangers hosted close to 500 food drives at concerts nationwide. Gardner attests: “The Strangefolk community is all about philanthropy and giving back to people.”

To date, the Strange Rangers have not disappointed on the UVM scholarship front. Gardner’s initial donation has been almost doubled, bringing the current total to more than $44,000 and he is optimistic that number will keep growing. “I'm lighting the fire and I hope the Strangefolk community will turn this into a raging inferno.”

Donate to the Strangefolk Scholarship (select "Other" and enter "Strangefolk Scholarship" in the box provided).

PUBLISHED

12-01-2014
Kathleen W. Laramee