1918 Legacy Circle

The 1918 Legacy Circle was established to acknowledge, in a special way, the alumni and friends who have included a gift for Seton Hill University in their estate plans. These gifts take many forms including bequests by will, beneficiary designations, qualified charitable distributions, donor-advised funds, or other testamentary documents. All are greatly appreciated and help to ensure the tradition of excellence at Seton Hill University for future generations of Setonians.

In the summer of 1882, Mother Aloysia Lowe, Mother Superior of the Pennsylvania Sisters of Charity, purchased the land in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where Seton Hill University's main hilltop campus now stands. The Sisters named the site, which consisted primarily of farmland, Seton Hill, in honor of Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, the founder of the Sisters of Charity and the first American-born saint.

After creating the Saint Joseph Academy for Girls in 1883 (which operated until 1947), the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill founded what came to be known as the Seton Hill Schools (which included the Seton Hill Conservatory of Music and Seton Hill Conservatory of Art) in 1887. In 1914 the Sisters opened the doors to Seton Hill Junior College. Four years later, in 1918, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania approved Seton Hill's charter for a four-year institution of higher learning and Seton Hill College was established.

To honor the Sisters of Charity and their founding of what is now Seton Hill University and the Sisters’ dedication to the continued advancement of the mission, charism, academics, and facilities of Seton Hill University, we invite you to join the 1918 Legacy Circle. Alumni and friends who have made provisions for Seton Hill University in their estate plans, but have not informed the Office of Gift Planning, or those who wish to update their plans to include Seton Hill University, please contact us. We look forward to working with you to perpetuate your legacy for future generations of Setonians.