The Daniel and Jane Carpenter Award was established in 2006 by Daniel M. Cain ’64 in honor of the late Daniel and Jane Carpenter and their commitment to, and support of, The Williston Northampton School, its students, parents and alumni. This award is given to an alumna or alumnus who through “effort and energy” as well as financial contribution, has had a substantial impact on the school.
Marcia Booth Drinkard attended Northampton School for Girls for four years as a boarding student. She participated in the Student Council, was a member of Glee Club, the Midtones and the Hampsters. She was elected the school’s social secretary for her senior year. Marcia was awarded the Headmaster’s Prize (shared) during 1970 graduation. Marcia has served as a class agent for the Williston Northampton Fund and a class rep for the Bulletin, and has attended every reunion since graduation, except one. For many of those, she tried to rally the class to attend and helped in the planning. She has led the planning committee for the 50th Reunion class of 1970 and has been instrumental in raising a class reunion gift of $20,000 for the Northampton School for Girls Instructorship. She is a member of The Elm Tree Society. Marcia’s brother, Chip Booth, was a member of the Williston class of 1968.
After graduating from Elmira College, Marcia spent 11 years in Human Resources, concentrating in employee benefits and compensation. It was the age of automating backroom office functions, so most of her jobs included initial computerization projects with budding new technologies and equipment. This evolved into a transfer to a 14-year Information Technology career, starting out testing software and evolving into Project Management, leading major software development projects.
Marcia was able to blend her project management and people skills with her interest in and knack for decorating and interior design in her next career. She opened a small, full-service decorating business, assisting clients for 16 years, until retirement in 2018.
Marcia and her husband, Dennis, relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina, in December 2019. While the coronavirus pandemic has cramped their travel intentions, they have enjoyed the down time while meeting new neighbors and creating a home environment in which to entertain and enjoy retirement.