Wittenberg University

Traveling Abroad

Holbrookc — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 17:59:39 +0000

Traveling Abroad

Sports And Study Abroad Were A Perfect Match For Tiger Women's Basketball

Holbrookc Thu, 08/23/2018 - 13:59

For 10 days following the conclusion of the 2017-18 school year, the Wittenberg women's basketball team spent time in Australia, competing against other teams, bonding, exploring history, traveling new paths, and serving others.

“We got to experience things we will never get to experience again in our lives, and we got to do it with our teammates/best friends," said senior guard Alexandra L. Kiess, from Edon, Ohio. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it was so worth it."

The Tigers were able to get a jump start on the season, playing three games against the Casey Cavaliers, the Ringwood Hawks, and Sydney University, while also exploring Melbourne and Sydney during two legs of the trip.

“My favorite part was the Sydney Opera House and the beaches we went to,” Kiess added. “I’ve seen the opera house on TV and in movies, and I was in awe getting to see it in real life! The beaches were also so beautiful and clean, and hiking five miles around endless beaches with your best friends in Australia isn’t something everyone gets to experience. I’ve never been out of the country before, so I was really nervous, but oddly enough, this is the only place I’ve ever wanted to visit. It’s amazing seeing what else is out there in this world. Playing basketball in a different country was awesome, as well, because we got to experience a new type of play and meet the other teams. Overall, it was one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop talking about the trip.”

Per NCAA rules, teams are allowed to take an international trip every three years. Not only did the Tigers play some tough competition, but they also gave back to the community, holding a basketball clinic for underprivileged youth in the area prior to tip-off before the first game against the Casey Cavaliers. There was also time for touring, so the team visited Eureka Tower, Healesville Sanctuary, took in an Australian rules football game, and walked on historic Coogee and Bondi Beach.

“Our coaching staff is committed to providing our players with a ‘trip of a lifetime’ during their four years at Wittenberg,” said head coach Kelly Mahlum, who led the Tigers to a 16-12 finish in the 2017-18 season, capped off by a run to the NCAC Tournament Championship after upsetting the No. 5 team in the nation in the conference semifinals.

Italy and Greece were the two countries the coaches previously toured with earlier teams.

“One of the great moments for me as a coach is to offer an opportunity to our players to experience a place they have never been before. For many, it is their first international trip anywhere. We have even had players who have never flown before. A trip like this is invaluable to a team. There are very few college student-athletes that get to say they played against international competition with their college teammates. A trip like this only helps to solidify lifelong friendships and improve our current team's appreciation for their teammates," Mahlum said.

As for basketball in Australia, the Tigers played against mid-level professional clubs, and the style of play in Australia was “different and very fast-paced,” according to Mahlum. Americans use a 30-second shot clock, while Australians play with a 24-second shot clock. Americans have a 10-second back court rule, while Australians have an eight-second back court rule. Both these rules push an up-tempo game.

“There were a few other rules that were different that we had to experience, as well,” Mahlum said. “We knew that we would face a full-court press a lot, and we did. Our first game we struggled to adjust as we were dealing with jet lag, but by our third game we had adjusted and played at a faster tempo. Our defense improved a lot once we adjusted to the speed.”

“This trip was important for our team because it brought us together, and we got to learn a lot about each other,” said senior Amanda Raber, a point guard from Mechanicsburg, Ohio. “For me this trip was important because I got to learn about a different culture and way of life. My favorite part was being able to bond with my teammates and really learn more about everyone. I loved everything about it! Australia was beautiful and so clean. I loved how after the basketball games we got to meet and talk to the other players. The food was also very good and fresh everywhere we went. The people of Australia were also very nice. I want to go back to Australia again someday.”

- By Cindy Holbrook, University Communications

Additional Reflections

The trip to Australia was a dream come true for team manager Stephanie Durbin '19:

Traveling to Australia fulfilled a dream I’ve had since I was a kid. If someone had told me at the beginning of the year I would have the opportunity to visit Australia with my best friends and my sister, I would not have believed them. When the women’s basketball team announced our team trip was to Australia, I knew I had to find a way to go. When it was opened up to families, my sister had the same thought. Being able to travel to a foreign country was a scary thought. It was my first time out of North America, and my parents were not there to help me along the way. It helped having my sister there along with my teammates who are also some of my closest friends at Wittenberg. However, I was still terrified being so far from home.

Traveling to a different country forces you to learn how to have a higher level of independence. Even though we were travelling in a group of 23, we had a lot of time on our own to split up and explore. Getting lost in a big city without cellular data forced us to use maps on the streets and try to communicate with the locals. Growing up having GPS and cell service constantly made it difficult to get around without it. Even though Australians also speak English, the accents and the way we talk can sometimes create a barrier. For example, they use the metric system, so if they told us to walk a certain number of meters we had to figure out how far that actually was.

The team started out in the city of Melbourne. This was the younger more upbeat city. Some alleys have little garage doors that open to sell coffee, pastries, or art. We were also able to tour the Rod Laver Arena, which is home to the Australian Open and major concert venues in the area.

Another exciting place we went was the Healesville Sanctuary. It was interesting to see the animals closer to their natural habitat and not sleeping all day like they do in many of the zoos in the United States. At the sanctuary, we split into two groups. One group got to feed and pet kangaroos native to Kangaroo Island in Australia. The other group was able to get close to koalas. This was one of my favorite things that we did because it was unique and exciting to be up close to these native animals.

After Melbourne we flew to Sydney. We were able to travel to the main beaches, which were gorgeous. We did a walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach. It took almost four hours to walk three miles because we took the scenic route. We walked along the rocks and went down by the water where we were able to see dolphins, an octopus, sea urchins, parrots, and more. It was beautiful and worth every second.

Part of going as our basketball team trip allowed the team to play three Australian teams. We played a junior team and two semi-pro teams. It was hard adjusting to some of the rules such as the shorter shot clock. The team also played the day after we arrived, so jet lag provided a major obstacle. However, it was a unique experience and brought the team together. We were able to have ‘little socials’ after the first two games where we had the opportunity to ask questions and talk to Australians close in age to us.

Going to Australia was all about stepping out of my comfort zone. A 17-hour flight, trying new food (including kangaroo), exploring on my own and communicating with Australians for help with directions or to learn more all helped me grow as a person.

Being the women’s basketball manager has given me opportunities and helped me form relationships that could help me accomplish my goals. My goals include becoming a physical therapist and working full-time with athletes. Being with the team, being there firsthand to witness injuries and the whole recovery process, has pushed me to realize these goals. The opportunity to travel and meet new people is another opportunity I've gotten through being the team manager. Going to Australia made me want to continue to travel. The independence and organization I have gained from helping this team and traveling will stay with me. If I never became the manager, I do not think I would have left the country during college. I would have been too scared to travel abroad. Now, I do not have as much of a fear and would love to continue traveling the world.

Stephanie Durbin '19
Major: Exercise Science
Minors: Biology
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Women's Basketball Team in Australia

University Communications Staff

Staff Report

Welcoming the region's top student researchers

Holbrookc — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:34:32 +0000

Welcoming the region's top student researchers

Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) biological honor society hosts regional convention on campus, April 18

Holbrookc Thu, 04/16/2026 - 17:34

The Xi Chapter of the Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) biological honor society will be hosting the Northeast 4 District Convention at Wittenberg University on Saturday, April 18, at the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center.

The convention welcomes students and faculty from across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio to present research. The event features oral and poster categories, awards for the best molecular/cellular and ecological/organismal presentations, and a keynote address.

“We look forward to welcoming participating universities and their representatives,” said Kunal Chatterjee, assistant professor of biology at the University. “Wittenberg students have a strong history of excellence at TriBeta, previously taking top prizes in oral and poster categories in both cellular/organismal biology, as well as ecological fields. This is a premier opportunity to showcase our undergraduate research.”

The Xi Chapter of TriBeta at Wittenberg is one of the oldest in the nation, established in 1923. Any student who is a member of TriBeta is eligible to present.

This year’s keynote address will take place at 2:30 p.m. in Bayley Auditorium and be given by John Ritter, retired Wittenberg professor of geology. Ritter taught courses in environmental science, environmental geology, geomorphology and hydrology, and geographic information systems (GIS) from 1990 to 2025 at Wittenberg. He also helped establish the environmental studies and environmental science programs and directed both for many years. The title of his address is “Groundwater Variation at Cedar Bog: Monitoring the Most Critical Variable in Sensitive Wetland Systems.”

Most recently, his research with students focused on maximizing ecosystem services public green and blue spaces provide. A longtime member of the Board of Supervisors of Clark Soil and Water Conservation District, Ritter also serves on the Board of Directors of the Springfield Conservancy District (SCD). He continues to partner with each, as well as with local environmental organizations, including Clark County Park District, Tecumseh Land Trust, and B-W Greenway. He is currently the secretary-treasurer of the SCD.

During his time at Wittenberg, he was the recipient of several awards, including the Omicron Delta Kappa Excellence in Teaching Award, CASE Ohio Professor of the Year, Excellence in Community Service Award, and the Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching. Additionally, as a Fulbright Scholar, he served the University of West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, where he worked on developing a geohazards GIS for northern Trinidad.

The Xi Chapter of TriBeta recently partnered with NDMP, a global non-profit formerly known as Be The Match, on a tabling and swabbing event. NDMP’s mission is to find cures and save lives by helping patients with blood cancers find an unrelated blood stem cell donor. Every year, 18,000 patients are diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancers or other diseases for which a blood stem cell transplant may be their best or only hope for a cure. Many of these patients will use an unrelated donor from a global database. As present, there are more than 9 million total potential U.S. donors on the NMDP Registry, yet many struggle to find a match.

The two groups came together on campus on April 7 to host the event in the Hobson Atrium inside the Kuss Science Center. At this event, members of TriBeta offered an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to join the NMDP registry of potential donation matches. Simply swabbing one’s cheek and filling out a short questionnaire allowed participants to join the registry.

Cindy Holbrook

Senior Communications Assistant

Learn Each Other’s Stories Now

Holbrookc — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:07:08 +0000

Learn Each Other’s Stories Now

Jeff Hobbs, New York Times bestselling author, shared a moving, thought-provoking address about loss and learning as the 2026 Wittenberg Series’ Fred R. Leventhal Family Lecture keynote speaker, April 14

Holbrookc Wed, 04/15/2026 - 15:07

SPRINGFIELD, OH. – Jeff Hobbs, New York Times bestselling author, Guggenheim Fellow, and last night’s Wittenberg Series’ Fred R. Leventhal Family Lecture keynote speaker, presented a moving, thought-provoking address around race, class, and identity in American universities, as he shared his own journey of loss following the tragic death of his Yale University roommate and friend, Robert Peace.

What started out as a 1,000-word letter about his roommate became something much more as Hobbs recounted the experience in his book, The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace (2014), which the Los Angeles Times hails as “an honest, insightful, and empathetic account.” The book, in addition to being a New York Times bestseller, an LA Times Book Award winner, and a finalist for the Carnegie Medal and PEN Award in biography, was adapted into the 2024 film ROB PEACE.

In his evening remarks, Hobbs took those in attendance back to his student days at Yale University, from which he graduated in 2002 with a B.A. in English language and literature and where he currently teaches nonfiction writing. He recalled his friend’s ability to make a difference simply by showing up in a room.

Following Peace’s death, and after speaking with so many of those who knew Peace well, Hobbs affirmed that Rob Peace was indeed “The Man,” and that was “definitely how he projected himself—strong and self-assured.

“That’s how I thought of him always,” Hobbs relayed to the audience gathered at Weaver Chapel. He also shared how he realized through this commonality that people can get so accustomed to looking at someone, even someone they know deeply, through a single lens.

“We were so habitual in seeing Rob as ‘The Man’ that we all forgot that he was also ‘a man.’ A man with insecurity, fears, shame, needs. About his mother, his father, his potential, his dreams, reality. And we just never asked and so we never knew. And that’s really what the book is about: knowing each other, allowing ourselves to be known. Asking and answering.”

Hobbs invited the audience, and especially students at the event and those he met earlier in the day, not to wait to learn the stories of others, noting that he learned so much about his best friend 10 years after college, after he was gone, when it was too late to ask him. To drive this point home, Hobbs asked several questions of audience members to show those present that the person sitting right next to them may have a fear, a different upbringing, or a similar reflection on family, finances, education, and more.

“Institutions do so much now. Young people in college and university settings like Wittenberg are surrounded by adults whose life purpose is to help them and support them and promote belonging and safety across differences,” he said. “That really matters, and I hope everyone here feels that and can attest to that.”

Hobbs also shared how he hopes these efforts percolate across the spaces that are not overseen or structured by adults in the same way—sports fields, dining hall tables, dorm rooms. Because in this precious passage, he explained, the potential to be fulfilled and connected in life really does hinge on how people treat each other.

“You’re here. It’s a small campus, and a beautiful campus, populated by smart and caring people who are here for each other,” he continued. “I’ve had the privilege of visiting some of these spaces today. You’re here for a few years. Take this time to know each other in the small moments—to say this is my story, tell me yours. And just talk a little bit and just listen a little bit. It matters so much. Real conversations in safe spaces, learning about who we really are and how we really feel—that was the power of the experience I had telling Rob Peace’s story. And that was the most personally close and connected story I’ll probably ever tell. But all my work since then has in some way been based on that quiet enchantment of just listening and learning how different people experience the same moments in different ways.”

Since 2014, Hobbs has visited more than a hundred schools – from high schools and juvenile halls to colleges and universities – to facilitate conversations about access, entitlement, racism, classism, justice, and identity in modern-day America.

“In that book and the books I’ve written since, I’ve had conversations with so many people who share some of those threads—a fractured family, poverty, imprisonment—and worked hard to be accepted to a dream school and then carried their own experiences, their own influences and formation, silently through school because they felt that not being silent about their differences somehow signaled not belonging. These are people who now have jobs they are fulfilled by, families and homes, and full lives, but a lot of them, grown men, cried openly in front of me because that feeling of isolation still trailed them a decade or more later. These feelings, these kinds of big feelings, have a lot to do with race and class, gender, orientations. Forming your identity, projecting it in your community, establishing it in the world—it’s big, existential stuff.”

Hobbs went on to note that these are the kinds of stories he is drawn to tell—for the most part decent people trying to lead decent lives while living and working in difficult systems and cycles. There are people moving through their days, day by day, and making decisions, sometimes seismic decisions but often very innocuous decisions, trying to make sense of the world as it unfolds before them and trying to form and then sustain some vision for how they want to inhabit that world, he explained.

Hobbs has written five books to date with his latest work, Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and the Story of Homelessness in America, being published in 2025. The book won the Lukas Book Prize earlier this month and has been named a best book of the year by Amazon and The New Yorker. Seeking Shelter follows the story of a single mother of six in Los Angeles facing homelessness and poverty. Hobbs is also the author of The Tourists (2007), Show Them You’re Good (2020), and Children of the State (2023).

During his time on campus, Hobbs attended a fireside chat hosted by Senior Professor of Practice Erin Hill in the University’s Department of Education, met with students in Professor Emerita of English D’Arcy Fallon’s journalism class, and joined the Leventhal family, Wittenberg President Christian M. M. Brady, and several students, faculty, and staff for ��AV prior to his address.

This Wittenberg Series event is made possible annually through a gift to Wittenberg University from the Fred R. Leventhal family. Free and open to the public, yesterday’s lecture served as the final event of the 2025-2026 Wittenberg Series, now in its 41st season.

Created in 1982 during President Emeritus’ William A. Kinnison’s tenure, the Wittenberg Series has brought Nobel Laureates, scientists, significant literary figures, most of America’s foremost modern dance companies, as well as hundreds of prominent psychologists, educators, economists, writers, theologians, urban planners, and historians to campus.

For more information on the Wittenberg Series, click here. To make special arrangements or become a friend of the Wittenberg Series, contact the Wittenberg Series planning committee at wittseries@wittenberg.edu.

University Communications Staff

Staff Report

Junior Earns Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Holbrookc — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:29:36 +0000

Junior Earns Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Hailey Mulvilhill receives the nation’s preeminent undergraduate research award in the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics

Holbrookc Tue, 04/14/2026 - 10:29

Supporting talented college sophomores and juniors who aspire to become the nation’s next generation of researchers in science, engineering, and mathematics, the Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation has awarded Hailey Mulvilhill, Wittenberg class of 2027 from Florence, Kentucky, its prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Mulvihill joins only 454 students across the country in earning the distinction for the 2026-2027 academic year.

A biochemistry and molecular biology and mathematics double major, Mulvihill began her Wittenberg journey in the lab as First Year Research Award (FYRA) recipient under the direction of Kunal Chatterjee, assistant professor of biology.

“Hailey is the definition of what it means to be a Wittenberg student,” Chatterjee said. “From her start as a FYRA scholar, to securing a summer research grant, to her work as a faculty aide in microbiology, she has navigated a path defined by hands-on discovery. While many small colleges struggle to provide high-level lab access, Wittenberg prides itself on giving students first-hand research opportunities. Hailey didn't just participate; she excelled. Her work at the Rustbelt RNA meeting (October of 2024) and TriBeta (Beta Beta Beta) conferences caught the attention of the bigger R1 institutes and paved the way for her most impressive milestone yet: winning the Goldwater Scholarship. Hailey doesn't just represent our departments and programs, she represents the very best of the liberal arts at Wittenberg.”

Mulvihill also conducted summer research with Chatterjee and was awarded first place for her presentation at the TriBeta Biological Honor Society’s Northeast District Meeting that took place at Thomas More University in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, last year. A competitive event bringing together students from multiple universities across Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky, the opportunity allowed Mulvihill to present the work she conducted during her summer research on tRNA in Chatterjee’s lab. As the first-place winner, she has been invited to present her research at the TriBeta National Conference at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, with all expenses fully covered, in May 2026. Adding to this achievement, Mulvihill was also selected to conduct research this past summer at the RNA Institute at the State University of New York in Albany. Out of more than 430 applicants, she was one of only 17 students accepted into this prestigious program.

“I was astounded to learn that I was named a 2026 Goldwater Scholar,” said Mulvihill, who is active at Wittenberg as chapter president of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Student Senate, a chemistry and math tutor, an organic chemistry teaching assistant, and vice president of the TriBeta Biological Honor Society.

“To me, this scholarship not only validates the hard work I have put in toward my degree in biochemistry/molecular biology but also recognizes the importance of the research I have done both at Wittenberg and at the RNA Institute,” she continued. “I am proud to represent a small liberal arts university amongst the large research-oriented institutions in the 2026 scholar pool.”

From an estimated pool of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors, 1,485 students majoring in science, engineering, and mathematics were nominated by 482 academic institutions to compete for the 2026 Goldwater Scholarships. In conjunction with UWorld, the Goldwater Board awarded a total of 454 scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. This, combined with continued support for 59 sophomores from the 2026 competition, marks the highest total number of scholars the foundation has ever supported in a single year. With the 2026 awards, the Goldwater Foundation will have awarded a total of 11,616 scholarships.

Among the students who reported, 226 are men, 217 are women, and nearly all intend to pursue a Ph.D. as their highest degree. Of the awardees, 54 scholars plan to pursue research careers in mathematics and computer science, 237 in the sciences, 98 in medicine, and 65 in engineering and materials research.

Mulvihill learned about the scholarship opportunity while completing her 10-week summer research experience for undergraduates (REU) at the RNA Institute at the University at Albany in the summer of 2025, where she worked in Hannah Shorrock's lab investigating inducible cell lines that mimic CAG expansion diseases, such as Huntington's disease, spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy, and spinocerebellar ataxias.

“Prior REU students at the RNA Institute have gone on to become Goldwater Scholars, and my Principal Investigator (PI), Hannah Shorrock, encouraged me to apply because of my extensive research experience,” Mulvihill explained. “I decided to follow through with the application process after learning that the Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate research award in the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics. Because I was named a Goldwater Scholar as a junior, I am entitled to one year of funding in my senior year up to a maximum of $7,500. I will put this award toward my tuition, room, and board, which will relieve most, if not all, of the financial burden for my senior year.”

“While Hailey was encouraged to apply by a mentor that she had this summer, her research journey began as a participant in the FYRA program during her first year at Wittenberg, working with Dr. Chatterjee," added Jeremiah Williams, professor of physics at Wittenberg and the Goldwater representative on campus. "It was a joy working with her as she put her materials together.”

Mulvihill has received numerous awards and scholarship money during her time at Wittenberg, including for her research in New York, when she received the Dean’s Award for the best undergraduate poster at the annual RNA Institute retreat that took place at Schroon Lake, New York. The retreat encompassed two days of scientific talks, networking, poster presentations, and fun activities on the lakefront. In addition to the $2,000 grant she received through Wittenberg’s FYRA program when she arrived at the University in 2023, Mulvihill also earned the Department of Chemistry’s Franta Chemistry Award, which provides $14,000 a year toward her tuition as she continues pursuing chemistry courses. In summer 2024, she also received a $5,000 grant through Wittenberg’s Virginia Ellis Franta Fund to continue her research with Chatterjee.

Mulvihill plans to pursue graduate school after Wittenberg with her sights set on a Ph.D. in molecular biology.

“I want to continue investigating the dysfunction and regulation of RNAs in disease through both my coursework and bench research,” Mulvihill said. “After obtaining my Ph.D., I strive for a post-doctoral fellowship at an R1 university where I will further develop my confidence and independence as a research scientist. Additionally, I hope to enhance my mentorship skills, which I will use as a PI and professor when teaching undergraduate courses. I want to empower students to find their passion in research and offer a supportive environment for all future scientists.”

A legacy student at Wittenberg, Mulvihill followed in the footsteps of her father, Jon Mulvihill, class of 2003, who earned his physics degree from Wittenberg and was a member of the football team. He continued his post-graduation education, earning a master’s in computer science from the University of Louisville and is now a business intelligence consultant at CBRE.

This summer, Mulvihill will be returning to her research in Shorrock's lab at the RNA Institute, where she will lead the REU cohort as the student liaison. Additionally, she will be participating in the Institute's Summer Bioinformatics Program.

“I am excited for both of these experiences and the contributions they will make to furthering my skills in critical analysis, experimental methodology, and scientific inquiry,” she said. “I would like to thank my recommenders and mentors, Dr. Kunal Chatterjee, Dr. Margaret Goodman (professor of biology at Wittenberg), and Dr. Hannah Shorrock, for their encouragement and support in my research career thus far. I would also like to thank Dr. Jeremiah Williams, our campus Goldwater representative, for guiding me through the application process. I encourage future Wittenberg students invested in science, engineering, or mathematics research to consider applying to be a Goldwater Scholar.”

About Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation: The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, established by Congress in 1986, serves as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman. The Goldwater Scholarship Program seeks to identify, encourage, and financially support college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming this nation’s next generation of research leaders in these fields. Today, Goldwater alumni working in academic, corporate, defense, and national laboratories are finding cures for catastrophic diseases, defending the Nation, and teaching future generations of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. The Goldwater Scholarship Foundation celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and has supported more than 11,000 undergraduates through scholarships. Scholars are selected through a competitive national process that evaluates essays, faculty recommendations, and their dedication to advancing scientific inquiry. To learn more, visit goldwaterscholarship.gov.

Hailey Mulvilhill ‘27

Cindy Holbrook

Senior Communications Assistant

Honors Convocation 2026

Holbrookc — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:16:41 +0000

Honors Convocation 2026

Wittenberg Recognizes Academic Achievement During Annual Celebratory Event

Holbrookc Fri, 04/10/2026 - 18:16

SPRINGFIELD, OH. – Gathering together once again to recognize the many accomplishments of students and faculty members, the campus community witnessed the University’s mission in action during its annual Honors Convocation on Friday, April 10, in historic Weaver Chapel.

During the ceremony, the 2026 Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching was presented to Associate Professor of Biology Richard Phillips. Established in 1960, this award is the highest recognition Wittenberg bestows on its faculty. Candidates must have taught at Wittenberg for more than five years and are nominated by students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

Assistant Professor of Biology Kunal Chatterjee was recognized for his work during the Honors Convocation with the Omicron Delta Kappa Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. Matt Collier, professor and chair of biology, received the Academic Advisor of the Year Award.

Additionally, two students were named Alma Lux, an honor bestowed upon a junior student who possesses qualities of leadership, scholarship, and service. Recipients include Rebekah Lebold, Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Hailey Mulvihill, Florence, Kentucky.

Claire Patton, Mason, Ohio, received the Heimtraut Dietrich Award, which was established in 1981 to recognize the student who best emulates the spirit of the late associate dean of students' devotion to Wittenberg through faith and service.

The M. Alice Geiger Award was presented to Abby Lanhart, Wellston, Ohio. The award, named for Wittenberg's first woman graduate, recognizes a senior woman for outstanding contributions to the campus in the areas of performing or literary arts, athletics, co-curricular leadership, new programming, special academic pursuit, or through special representation at any time during her college career.

The John F. Mitchell Award, honoring the senior man who best represents the liberal arts tradition at Wittenberg, was presented to Quentin Rudolph, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The award goes to a top student who is a positive force in academic, cultural, and social aspects of the campus.

The Alpha Delta Pi Scholarship Award, created in 1990 by the Springfield Alumnae Association and Chi Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, recognizes two junior women, one Greek and one non-Greek, who best exemplify the characteristics consistent with the ideals and goals of the sorority. This year's recipients are Alexandra Couch, Howard, Ohio, (non-Greek) and Sydney Werner, Granville, Ohio (Greek).

The E. Charles Chatfield Global Awareness Award, instituted in 1992, recognizes seniors who contribute to greater global awareness within the Wittenberg University community. This year's recipients are Taylor Insyxiengmay, Loveland, Ohio, and Emmalee Do, Lancaster, Ohio.

Antwan Terrell, Springfield, Ohio, and Ty Harris, Cincinnati, Ohio, were the recipients of the ��AV Luther King Jr. Award for positive examples to members of the African American community and to the University.

Five seniors were recognized for having a 4.0 grade point average: Andrew Inks, Norton, Ohio; Jackson Miller, Westerville, Ohio; Jessica Neuerer, Lorain, Ohio; Joshua Putka, Avon, Ohio; and Caitlyn Shelton, Powell, Ohio.

Presidential Scholars, named for former presidents of Wittenberg, are the junior students having the top 15 grade point averages of their class. Those students are Hailey Mulvihill, Florence, Kentucky; Jillian Paskvan, Galloway, Ohio; Dominick Keefe, Carroll, Ohio; Morgan A. Long, Englewood, Ohio; Peyton Williams, Louisville, Kentucky; Kailey Scharer, Beavercreek, Ohio; Daniel Patel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Jenna van der Biezen, Broadlands, Virginia; Lilyan Winkle, Cynthiana, Kentucky; Ava Golem, Kirkland, Ohio; Alexandra Couch, Howard, Ohio; Kristen Sallee, Jackson, Michigan; Kyleigh Bartlett, Beavercreek, Ohio; Tyler Galluch, Springfield, Ohio; and Joslin Mefford, Springfield, Ohio.

Mefford was awarded her certificate by Michael L. Frandsen, Wittenberg’s 15th president, who presented the award personally. In honor of his eight years of service to the University, Frandsen was celebrated in an earlier reception before the Honors Convocation in Thomas Library, where his official presidential portrait was unveiled. The portrait was later installed in Recitation Hall’s presidential gallery alongside other past presidents.

Introduced in 2009, the Lillian C. Franklin Diversity Award is presented each year to honor a student and a faculty/staff member who have made outstanding contributions in promoting and furthering the goal of diversity in the Wittenberg community. Candidates must uphold the tradition of diversity embodied by the award's namesake, demonstrate high standards of personal integrity, commitment to the education of the whole person, global vision, and leadership. The 2026 student recipient is Mary Osiwoga, Indianapolis, Indiana; and the faculty/staff recipient is Scott Rosenberg, professor of history.

The Champion Award for Community Impact recognizes an individual’s commitment to service, the quality of that service, and its positive impact on the City of Springfield and Clark County. It is not merely the hours of service, but the impact on the quality of life in the Springfield community that is most important. This year’s student recipient is Abby Lanhart, Wellston, Ohio, along with staff member, Joi Garrett-Scales, vice president and dean of student engagement.

The Rose Award for Excellence in Community Partnership recognizes a member of the Greater Springfield community who serves as an exceptional co-educator for students. Recipients help students bloom into well-informed, engaged, and productive citizens, and they make a significant difference in the community. The recipient is selected based on their level of investment in the development of students as well as their sustained commitment and innovative approach of connecting with the University. This year’s award goes to Lauren (Lo) Houser, Wittenberg class of 2013 and director of Project Jericho in Springfield.

As part of a long-standing tradition, the Honors Convocation begins with a processional with faculty in full academic regalia. The faculty are joined by campus leaders, student banner-carriers, and the University’s president. Wittenberg continues to offer a hybrid format that combines a traditional in-person gathering and a live video stream accessible via YouTube.

Cindy Holbrook

Senior Communications Assistant

Trio of Students Selected for the Peace Corps

Holbrookc — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:12:19 +0000

Trio of Students Selected for the Peace Corps

Three seniors prepare to serve in the Kyrgyz Republic and Lesotho

Holbrookc Wed, 04/08/2026 - 16:12

Since its founding, Wittenberg University has fostered in its students a desire to advance the common good as local citizens and as members of the global community. The University's Peace Corps-endorsed preparation program, one of only a select few such programs in the country, is one example of how Wittenberg has continued to achieve that goal.

For a school of its size, Wittenberg has historically sent a high number of graduates to the Peace Corps, and this year is no exception, as three members of the class of 2026, Emmalee Do, Jack Miller, and Lexie Minard, have been chosen to serve abroad.

Scott Rosenberg, professor of history and chair of Wittenberg's Peace Corps Preparation program, worked meticulously to create Wittenberg's program because, in his words, "it reflects both the school's value as well as the kind of student that attends Wittenberg." His two years of Peace Corps service in the southern African Kingdom of Lesotho from 1989-91 has continued to inspire hundreds of Wittenberg students to travel there with him during special summer sessions.

All three of the students selected for service in the Peace Corps this year previously participated in the Lesotho service-learning trip with Rosenberg in summer 2024 and fell in love with serving. Each of them knew they had to find a way to continue the work.

Do, from Lancaster, Ohio, and a graduate of Lancaster High School, has been assigned to serve in the Kyrgyz Republic (often known as Kyrgyzstan) in the Middle East. She is an education major pursuing a dual licensure with P-5 education and K-12 intervention specialist with a minor in African & Diaspora Studies. Heavily involved with the Lesotho Nutrition Initiative (LNI) during her time at Wittenberg, she currently serves as the organization’s president and is also a member of Alpha Xi Delta, works as a math workshop tutor, and serves as an Admission Student Ambassador.

“I choose this location, as I wanted an assignment involving co-teaching so that I can follow my passion and skills to teach while also working with other teachers to collaborate and trade strategies,” said Do, who is part of the Peace Corps Prep program at Wittenberg. “I also wanted to go somewhere new. My career goal is to become a teacher, and being a Peace Corps volunteer will allow me to start this career and still serve. It will give me new perspectives on teaching, new strategies, and experiences in different types of classrooms that I will be able to use in my future classroom.”

Do, who applied to the Peace Corps because she is extremely passionate about everyone having access to education, will leave on June 4 for her assignment, just two and a half weeks after graduation. She will serve there for a little over two years, completing her time at the end of August 2028. Her assignment is to co-teach English.

“This gives me the opportunity to expand my teaching skills, while also learning about the world and teaching,” Do said. “The Lesotho trip really opened my eyes to how much I could learn by providing service in a new place. To be accepted to the Peace Corps is absolutely amazing, and it makes me feel like following this passion is exactly what I am meant to be doing. Right now, I am preparing just by completing all of my Peace Corps requirements, graduation requirements, and licensure exams so that there are no issues with me leaving on time.”

Do chose Wittenberg because she loved the faculty-to-student ratio, making it easier to connect with professors and the curriculum.
“I also could tell from just a visit that it was going to do more for me than just giving me a degree, which it has,” she said. “Witt has provided me with opportunities and experiences that I never imagined myself getting. It has completely reshaped my life and continues doing so with experiences like this one.”

Miller, from Rocky River, Ohio, and a graduate of Rocky River High School, has been assigned to serve in the African nation of Lesotho. He is a history major pursuing a minor in education. A part of the Peace Corps Prep program at Witt, Miller leaves for his assignment on Sept. 21 and will be there for two years and three months.

“I did have a choice of where I wanted to serve, and Lesotho was number one on that list,” said Miller, who initially came to Wittenberg to run cross country and track and field. “Joining the Peace Corps comes from a life-changing trip I had in the summer of 2024 to Lesotho through Wittenberg's summer service trip run by Dr. Rosenberg. Being accepted means so much and is a dream come true because I have been thinking about serving since the fall of my junior year. I am so excited to have the opportunity to serve there. Having the privilege to go to Lesotho in 2024 made a huge impact on me for so many reasons, and I could not be happier that I get to go back to a place that means so much to me.”

Miller will serve as a primary education teacher during his time in Lesotho.

“I will be teaching three to-four classes a day over a variety of topics, as well as co-teaching and leading extracurricular activities,” he said. “I could not be more excited for this rare opportunity that I have been granted. I cannot wait to see what comes out of it and see what experiences I have and lessons I end up learning.”

“Peace Corps aligns very well with my career goals,” Miller added. “Before the idea of joining the Peace Corps came up, I wanted to be a history teacher for middle school students, so being able to apply everything I have learned and teaching something completely different is super awesome and exciting, and it will help with applying for jobs down the road. Being able to bring the skills I will learn abroad into the classroom will be amazing.”

Miller is preparing for the assignment by enjoying his last few months in the United States, and just mentally preparing for the change in scenery.

“I will miss out on a ton of things, but it is worth it without a doubt,” he said. “I have enjoyed my time here at Wittenberg so much and could not have asked for a better four years of college. The friends I have made and experiences I have had will be with me forever, and I could not be happier about that.”

Minard, from Dayton, Ohio, and a graduate of Oakwood High School, has been assigned to serve in the African nation of Lesotho as well. She is pursuing a degree in education focused on primary education, P-5, and an intervention specialist, K-12, with a minor in religion. Involved with the Peace Corps Prep program at Witt, Minard leaves for her assignment on Sept. 21 and will be there until Dec. 7, 2028.

“While we were in Lesotho, we had the pleasure of meeting a Peace Corps volunteer, and I immediately knew that I wanted this to be my path,” Minard said. “As an education major at the time, I was not feeling very called to a ‘traditional classroom setting’ and was feeling rather lost in my major. But from this trip, I learned that no path is linear, and you can always find your way to doing what you love. To be accepted meant everything to me; the process is a long one with lots of time between applying and finding out you were accepted. Even after being accepted, there are still even more hoops to jump through. However, being accepted meant that my life is headed in the direction I have now dreamed of for nearly two years of doing something more with my education degree and offering my knowledge to those around the world.”

Minard will be teaching approximately three-to-four classes a day and co-teaching literacy, numeracy, and life skills for children in grades one through seven. She will also help align lessons with Lesotho’s integrated basic education curriculum, lead extracurricular activities including English, math clubs, and sports, as well as collaborate with teachers’ communities of practice.

“Peace Corps aligns with my career goals in the future of wanting to work beyond a public-school setting,” Minard said. “This can be hard to phrase and is not at all to say I do not love public traditional school settings. Any capacity of an educator is what makes the world go round in an elementary classroom. I have just fallen in love with many different educational philosophies, from Montessori to outdoor education. Therefore, having this experience of working/volunteering in these positions allows me to explore so many avenues and connect with so many people out there in the world. To learn and grow with others, all the while making an impact on each other's worlds.”

And speaking of outdoor education, Minard has also dabbled a bit in that area, attending a FIRE (Focused, Integrated, Reflective, Experience) Week adventure at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (GSMIT). Following graduation, she will be going back to Tennessee as an intern at GSMIT for eight weeks beginning on May 26 through July 17 to serve as a front-line counselor and educator for a variety of Tremont programs. She will teach and lead outside, rain or shine, prepare activities, develop naturalist skills, and help others make connections in nature.

“I am one busy person, but this is how I thrive,” she said. “This internship and the Peace Corps all work out since Tremont is only for eight weeks. With my Peace Corps volunteer departure date being in September, this was a great opportunity, and it is most certainly something I want to do in the future. I deeply loved and appreciated my field experiences here at Witt. One semester, I got to have a field experience at a local Montessori school and fell in love immediately. Shortly after that, I went to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, where I fell even more in love with different ways to educate children through outdoor education and exposure.

“I really enjoy and thrive outside and love to be creative and explore new techniques and philosophies on my educational path,” Minard continued. “I am a firm believer that for a child to learn, they must first be cared for and loved in the classroom before any material can be taught.”

When it came time to choose a college, Minard struggled, as she was unsure of her path in life.

“At the time, it was the most stressful thing that overtook my world, and it was during a weird phase in my life where I really wasn't sure where I was headed,” she said. “However, my brother went to Witt, and so my family was very familiar and had spent time here due to my brother. At that point in my life, Witt felt like a great option and choice for me, and I can confidently say now it was a great decision and fit for me.”

Wittenberg signed an agreement in 2010 with the Peace Corps, becoming only the second liberal arts school in the United States at the time to carry the prep program, which provides students with a unique combination of undergraduate coursework and community service. Today, 64 universities are holding the distinction, as schools are selected for the program based on their demonstrated interest in promoting international learning and service opportunities to their students.

Wittenberg’s prep program is the second oldest in the United States, and more than 25 students have gone through the program over the years. Several have gone on to serve in the Peace Corps or conducted work overseas.

“Since I arrived in 2000, I would say about 45 students have gone on to the Peace Corps,” Rosenberg said. “We were presented with a Peace Corps bell that students ring when entering the Peace Corps. It was sent to us in recognition of 10 years as a partner.

“For these students, I can say that the Peace Corps will be a challenge,” Rosenberg continued. “They will have some of the hardest days of their lives, but they will also have some of the best. I think they will grow as people, learn more about themselves and what they are capable of (often more than they realized), and I think they will learn about another culture and gain new perspectives on life.”

Peace Corps Bound

Cindy Holbrook

Senior Communications Assistant

New York Times’ Bestselling Author Jeff Hobbs to Speak

Holbrookc — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:34:21 +0000

New York Times’ Bestselling Author Jeff Hobbs to Speak

The award-winning writer will discuss race, class, and identity in American universities during Leventhal Family Endowed Lecture, April 14

Holbrookc Thu, 03/26/2026 - 14:34

Jeff Hobbs, New York Times bestselling author, will serve as the keynote speaker for the Fred R. Leventhal Family Lecture, the final event of the 2025-2026 Wittenberg Series, now in its 41st season. Free and open to the public, the event will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, in Weaver Chapel, during which time Hobbs will discuss “Race, Class, and Identity in American Universities: How Students Experience School – And One Another.”

Hobbs’ interest in this topic stems from personal experience when the life of his friend and college roommate, Robert Peace, was cut short by violence. Hobbs recounts the experience in his book, The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace (2014), which the Los Angeles Times hails as “an honest, insightful, and empathetic account.” The book, in addition to being a New York Times bestseller, an LA Times Book Award winner, and a finalist for the Carnegie Medal and PEN Award in biography, was adapted into the 2024 film ROB PEACE.

Selected as a 2015 nonfiction finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace explores issues of class and race. Bloomberg Businessweek praised the book as “captivating… a smart meditation on the false promise of social mobility.”

Since 2014, Hobbs has visited more than a hundred schools – from high schools and juvenile halls to colleges and universities – to facilitate conversations about access, entitlement, racism, classism, justice, and identity in modern-day America.

A Guggenheim Fellow, Hobbs graduated from Yale University in 2002 with a B.A. in English language and literature and currently teaches nonfiction writing at his alma mater. While a student at Yale, he was awarded the Willets and Meeker prizes for his writing. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

Hobbs has written five books to date with his latest work, Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and the Story of Homelessness in America, being published in 2025. The book won the Lukas Book Prize earlier this month and has been named a best book of the year by Amazon and The New Yorker. Seeking Shelter follows the story of a single mother of six in Los Angeles facing homelessness and poverty. Hobbs is also the author of The Tourists (2007), Show Them You’re Good (2020), and Children of the State (2023).

His books will be available for purchase, and Hobbs will host a book signing following his Wittenberg Series’ address. Additionally, he plans to attend a Fireside Chat hosted by Senior Professor of Practice Erin Hill in the University’s Department of Education and join Wittenberg students, faculty, and staff for ��AV prior to his address.

This Wittenberg Series event is made possible by a gift to Wittenberg University from the Fred R. Leventhal family.

The Wittenberg Series was created in 1982 during President Emeritus’ William A. Kinnison’s tenure. Since its inception, Nobel Laureates, scientists, significant literary figures, most of America’s foremost modern dance companies, as well as hundreds of prominent psychologists, educators, economists, writers, theologians, urban planners, and historians have visited campus to participate.

Doors open 30 minutes prior to the beginning of each lecture or performance.
For more information on the Wittenberg Series, click here. To make special arrangements or become a friend of the Wittenberg Series, contact the Wittenberg Series planning committee at wittseries@wittenberg.edu.

University Communications Staff

Staff Report

Record-Breaking Commit to Witt

rmaurer — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:19:22 +0000

Record-Breaking Commit to Witt

2026 Day of Giving Surpasses $1 Million for Second Year in a Row

rmaurer Fri, 03/20/2026 - 14:19

Tigers came together once again to lead Wittenberg to a second-straight record-breaking Commit to Witt Day of Giving, Thursday, March 19. Alumni, faculty, staff, students, friends, and families demonstrated their firm belief in Wittenberg’s mission and life-changing liberal arts education through their gifts totaling $1,137,661 from 1,537 donors, surpassing last year’s total of $1,104,818. Participants were able to double their impact by taking advantage of special challenges and matches, unlocking more than $400,000 for the University they love. Gifts and the total are expected to grow slightly over the coming days as all the mail is processed.

"Thank you for making #Commit2Witt a huge success! We're grateful to everyone who stepped forward to support our students and our University,” said Michael McGreevey, vice president for philanthropy & alumni engagement. “You made an impact on the student experience by giving to the departments, programs, student organizations, athletic teams, and to everything that makes a Wittenberg education special. On behalf of the entire Wittenberg community, thank you for passing your light.”

As part of the day-long fundraising effort, participants competed for advocates’ bragging rights and raced each other to the top of several leaderboards. Back by popular demand, a special basketball free-throw competition in the 1929 Gymnasium produced $26,000 from 45 donors, and the Where’s Ezry the Tiger challenge unlocked $10,000 in support of student success. Alumni also attended a pre-Commit to Witt kick-off in Columbus, March 18.

“As President Brady has shared, ‘On the Wittenberg Way, our students discern their calling, develop the knowledge and skills needed for successful careers, and prepare for purposeful and fulfilling lives,’ McGreevey added. “Support for Commit to Witt helps ensure that the University continues to provide a purpose-driven, meaningful college experience for our current and future students.”

Leveraging an engaging, fun, new online giving platform, Commit to Witt offered several options to match the various philanthropic interests of those participating. Areas of support included The Wittenberg Fund; Scholarship Support; Strategic Presidential Initiatives; Department and Program Support; Student Organizations and Service; Campus Stewardship and Facilities; Wittenberg Athletics; and Career Exploration and Experiential Learning.

Among the many challenges issued were the following:

Members of the Wittenberg University Board of Directors led this year’s Commit to Witt with a $100,000 leadership challenge in support of The Wittenberg Fund. For each of the first 200 donors who made a gift to The Wittenberg Fund, $500 was unlocked.

An anonymous donor helped to power the momentum of Commit to Witt with a $100,000 challenge gift. When $500,000 was raised during Commit to Witt, this additional $100,000 gift was unlocked to take the fundraising effort even further.

Thomas ’75 and Elizabeth Maddocks Beattie ’76 committed $50,000 in support of Commit to Witt. When the campaign reached 250 donors, their challenge gift was unlocked to help advance the success of the day.

Michael Minnich ’84 committed $30,000 in support of the Witt Opportunity Scholarship. During Commit to Witt, $500 was unlocked for each gift made by alumni from the classes of 1980 through 1989, until the full $30,000 challenge gift was released.

Additionally, Wendell ‘66 and Nancy Lutz wanted to recognize the importance of supporting Wittenberg’s facilities with their challenge. They committed $25,000 in support of Campus Stewardship and Facilities. When 100 donors made a gift during Commit to Witt, their challenge gift was unlocked.

To see all the challenges and stats so far from this exciting day, visit wittenberg.edu/commit2witt. Although Commit to Witt 2026 has concluded, those interested in participating can still make an impact on current and future Tigers by making a gift here.

University Communications Staff

Staff Report

Combating Community Hunger

Holbrookc — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:38:33 +0000

Combating Community Hunger

University’s 32nd annual Empty Bowls fundraiser set for Monday, March 23

Holbrookc Wed, 03/18/2026 - 16:38

One the most popular events in the Springfield community and on campus, Wittenberg is again excited to host the 32nd Empty Bowls event on Monday, March 23, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the University’s Center Dining Room inside the Benham-Pence Student Center.

A loosely run national fundraising campaign aimed at combating food insecurity in local communities, Empty Bowls events are hosted all over the country. Wittenberg has been running its event for 31 years with great success. The 31-year fund raising total for the event now exceeds $705,785, which equates to nearly 4 million meals for those in need in Clark, Champaign, and Logan counties.

In collaboration with the Second Harvest Food Bank, Wittenberg ceramic students, staff, faculty, Springfield High School’s Art Department, and community members throw, glaze, and fire approximately 1,000 bowls, 90 percent of which are made on Empty Bowls Throwing Days that take place on Saturday/Sunday afternoons.

The Second Harvest Food Bank helps to gather sponsors to donate soup and bread for the event. Sponsors include Parkhurst Dining Services and several local restaurants. Then, on the night of the event, patrons choose a bowl to purchase at a cost of $20 each and enjoy an all-you-can-eat soup ��AV and conversation with fellow community members. Patrons then take the bowl home with them as a reminder that many people in the community are hungry.

Proceeds from the event go to the Second Harvest Food Bank to help address food insecurity in Springfield and Clark County. The event raised more than $39,000 in 2025 and had a record high of $50,187 in 2019. This year’s goal is to raise more than $50,000.

Sarah Baker, class of 2019 and adjunct professor of art, from Springfield, Ohio, designed this year’s event T-shirts, which will be available for purchase.

As the only food bank in Clark, Champaign, and Logan Counties, Second Harvest distributes more than six million pounds of food annually, with more than four million pounds going directly to Clark County. Second Harvest Food Bank’s daily operation, which consists of sourcing and gathering food, sorting and cataloging the food, and then warehousing the inventory to be distributed to agency members throughout a three-county service area.

Second Harvest Food Bank is a member of Feeding America and the Ohio Association of Foodbanks and is responsible for safe handling of all food products, adhering to state and federal guidelines, including providing member oversight to pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.

For information or to become a sponsor of this year’s Empty Bowls event, please contact either Dooley at sdooley@wittenberg.edu or Aliyah Baker, development specialist, Second Harvest Food Bank, at (937) 325-8715 ext. 102 or abaker@theshfb.org.

Cindy Holbrook

Senior Communications Assistant

Commit to Witt 2026

rmaurer — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:23:23 +0000

Commit to Witt 2026

Wittenberg to Host Annual Day of Giving on March 19

rmaurer Thu, 03/12/2026 - 13:23

Wittenberg Tigers nationwide will come together on Thursday, March 19, for Commit to Witt, the University’s annual day of giving. Beginning at 12 a.m., alumni, friends, parents, students, faculty, and staff will have an opportunity to support the values, traditions, and excellence that define Wittenberg University.

“On the Wittenberg Way, our students discern their calling, develop the knowledge and skills needed for successful careers, and prepare for purposeful and fulfilling lives,” said Michael McGreevey, vice president for philanthropy & alumni engagement. “Support from alumni and friends helps ensure that Wittenberg continues to provide an exceptional education and meaningful college experience for our students.”

Leveraging a fun, online giving platform, Commit to Witt offers several options to match the various philanthropic interests of those participating. Areas of support include The Wittenberg Fund; Scholarship Support; Strategic Presidential Initiatives; Department and Program Support; Student Organizations and Service; Campus Stewardship and Facilities; Wittenberg Athletics; and Career Exploration and Experiential Learning.

“We're grateful for our alumni and friends who are serving as Commit to Witt advocates,” McGreevey said. “As advocates, they are spreading the word about Commit to Witt, and they are encouraging their peers to give on March 19.”

To become a Commit to Witt advocate, sign up here. Advocates help to promote Commit to Witt on social media before and during the event by using the hashtag #Commit2Witt or by following Wittenberg Alumni or Wittenberg University social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. An Advocate Toolkit also has been created, which includes social media graphics and sample emails, texts, and social media posts.

During Commit to Witt on March 19, participants can double their impact by taking advantage of special challenges and matches to unlock more than $400,000 for the departments, programs, student organizations, teams, and the University that they love.

“Through these special challenges and matches, donors can double their impact by making a gift during Commit to Witt,” McGreevey said. “Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference in the lives of our students.”

A sampling of challenges for this year’s effort is included below.

50 States Challenge: Let's put all 50 states and Washington, D.C., on the map! To celebrate #Commit2Witt, Steve Wake '74 will donate $50,000 when we receive gifts from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Make your gift now and encourage your friends in other states to make a gift.

100 Donor Challenge: Wendell ’66 and Nancy Lutz recognize the importance of supporting Wittenberg’s facilities. From classrooms and administrative buildings to residence halls and athletics facilities, maintaining and improving these spaces requires ongoing care and investment. In support of Campus Stewardship and Facilities, Wendell and Nancy have committed $25,000. Once 100 donors make a gift during Commit to Witt, their $25,000 gift will be unlocked to support the care and improvement of Wittenberg’s campus.

First-Time Donor Challenge: The Wittenberg University Alumni Association Board celebrates first-time donations of any amount from Tiger alumni and friends. During #Commit2Witt, Alumni Association Board members will unlock $1,845 in honor of all first-time donors. Mention your first-time gift as you make your donation, and we'll celebrate you! Be sure to use #1stGift4Witt.

Recurring Gift Challenge: When 26 alumni or friends commit to any recurring gift, monthly, quarterly, etc., the Wittenberg University Alumni Association Board will unlock $1,845 for The Wittenberg Fund.

Witt Opportunity Scholarship: Laurie ’79 and Dave Griffin ‘79 know the value of a Witt education and the impact a scholarship can make. They will match dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,845, any gifts made in support of the Witt Opportunity Scholarship Fund.

To learn more about Commit to Witt, make a gift, or sign up to be an advocate, visit wittenberg.edu/commit2witt.

Give to Wittenberg

When we pass our light on to others, Wittenberg shines. And now is our moment. Wittenberg depends on the continued support of ��AV and committed champions. The great work of safeguarding our future continues and is more important than ever. Please join us with your gift as we step forward.

Commit to Witt

Heather Maurer

Senior Director of Annual Giving and Constituent Communications