Senior named for Wren Building has lifelong ties to W&M

Wren connection Wren Satterley '12 was named after the College's Wren Building. She has been connected to W&M throughout her life. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Wren connection Wren Satterley was baptized as a baby in the Wren Chapel at William & Mary, the same place that her parents -- both W&M alumni -- were married. Courtesy photo

Wren connection Wren Satterley, around age 3 or 4, poses in front of her namesake, the Wren Building. Courtesy photo

Wren connection A school-age Wren Satterly poses in front of the Wren Building. Courtesy photo

Wren connection Wren Satterley (middle row, second from the right) poses for a photo with her high school soccer team, which came to W&M for John Daly's soccer camp. Courtesy photo

Wren connection Wren Satterley's mother, Virginia, (second from the right) poses for a photo with some friends at William & Mary, including now-famous Jon Stewart (third from left). Courtesy photo

Wren connection Wren Satterley's father, James, ran track while he was at William & Mary. He won the track state championships his sophomore year. Courtesy photo

by Ameya Jammi '12 | May 11, 2012

Senior Wren Satterley often introduces herself to new people she meets on campus as “Wren, like the building.”

“Everyone I’ve met here so far does a double-take when I say my name is Wren,” Satterley said. “It was always a topic of conversation for the first two years.”

William & Mary has always been a part of Satterley’s life.

“[There was a picture of me when] I was here at age 3, sitting on the steps of the Wren Building,” Satterley said. “Some of my early memories were going to some of the William & Mary homecoming games, when my parents would come back as alumni.”

Satterley’s parents, who graduated with the Class of 1983, met at William & Mary and were married in the Wren Chapel.

“My mom told me when they were looking through baby names one day, just flipping through the baby names, they stumbled upon Wren and just decided on that because it had meaning and ever since then, I’ve grown up with William & Mary,” Satterley said. “Williamsburg and William & Mary have been running through my veins since I was born.”

Satterley has fond memories of spending her summers at William & Mary for soccer camps and Christmases with her grandparents, who also live in Williamsburg.

“I used to give girls on my team tours of Williamsburg because I said I knew it so well,” Satterley said.

When it came time to apply to colleges, Satterley applied early decision to William & Mary.

“I was truly obsessed with the school and the campus,” she said.

During her four years at William & Mary, Satterley has often found herself walking in her parents’ footsteps.

Like her father, she lived in Yates as a freshman and joined the campus Greek life. They even had the same professor: Government Professor George Grayson, who is retiring this year.

Homecoming weekend has been another longstanding tradition for Satterley.

“Homecoming is a shared tradition that we’ve done for years,” Satterley said. “They see the band because it’s all their best friends, and William & Mary gets them to come back every year. The Dimeslots (an alumni band) are all my parents’ age, and they all have kids my age, so I have memories of just dancing in the background of the Dimeslots.”

Satterley says she has no regrets looking back on her four years at William & Mary.

“The one thing that I did at school was get really, really involved,” she said. “I was an RA (resident assistant), I had an internship at the HR (human resources) office. I worked, I reffed soccer, I did research for psychology professors, [I was in a] sorority. So I got really involved and I think that’s the one thing I’m really happy I did that. I think my experience was the most optimal it could be.”

But, she does admit that “to physically leave the campus forever - it’s sad.”

“The only thing that gives me hope is staying connected through alumni events or, maybe if one day my children want to come here,” Satterley said.