On the surface, at least, the cheerful gathering of Sweet Briar College graduates had all the trappings of an alumnae happy hour: name tags, hugs, introductions and bubbly recollections about the school that shaped who they have become. But this fundraiser had a grim purpose: to save their beloved school from closure, one dollar at a time. And immediately beneath the smiles, many of the women grappled with the prospect that they would lose the place forever. Just thinking about it made them choke up.