Published April 4, 2020
Wittenberg Alumni and Friends,
As we continue to adjust to the ever-evolving situation regarding the COVID-19 global health crisis, I again want to thank all our alumni and friends for your ongoing support. Our alumni participation rate now stands at 17%, which is a considerable leap and one that testifies to your concern and compassion for Wittenberg as we navigate these uncharted waters together.
While we must maintain social distancing right now, we most certainly are doing all we can to socialize distantly and maintain community during this challenging time. Yesterday, on what would have been our annual Celebration of Learning and Honors Convocation, we took time to recognize virtually the first of many students, faculty, and staff for their academic and leadership excellence. Expect to see more such recognitions in the coming weeks on our social media channels and our website. We are also finding creative ways virtually to engage prospective students and donors, highlight seniors, celebrate athletics accomplishments, and deliver virtual alumni programming.
Additionally, I am proud of how our Wittenberg community is living out our service-driven mission during this pandemic. From collecting and donating needed supplies to assisting the local food bank, to checking in on one another from a distance, Wittenberg faculty, staff, students, and alumni are shining lights right now, and it is joy to witness firsthand. They are also giving back as evidenced by Bob ’65 and Bonnie Cindrich ’66. Grateful for our honest communication regarding our financial challenges, Bob and Bonnie have offered a challenge gift to support our newly established COVID-19 Crisis Fund. More information is below, but I want to thank Bob and Bonnie for their generosity.
While we all work to flatten the curve, I also must commend our alumni who are working in the health care field and others providing essential services in your communities. Your bravery and selflessness personify what it means to pass light on to others, and we offer our deepest thanks.
The campus is physically empty right now, and we miss our students terribly, but the Wittenberg spirit remains alive and well.
Best regards,
Michael L. Frandsen, Ph.D.
President
#WittServes
Amid the COVID-19 global health crisis, members of the Wittenberg community are still embracing the call to serve while maintaining social distancing. The University’s nursing program recently collected and donated hand sanitizer, gowns, and masks to the Mercy Health Springfield Regional Medical Center. The campus community is also assisting in providing food and supplies to those in need through the Campus Cupboard and Second Harvest Food Bank. Moreover, Wittenberg has offered the use of some of its residence halls and other facilities should the state of Ohio need them. Read more about the ways Wittenberg is helping by clicking here.
Witt Gram & LinkedIn
While Wittenberg students are displaced from campus due to COVD-19, alumni have a chance to send messages of encouragement through a Witt Gram. Complete this form, and we will handle the rest. Wittenberg also has an extensive network of students and alumni. To aid in creating important professional connections, we have a LinkedIn Group titled "Wittenberg University Student/Alumni Networking Group." If you’re an alumnus/a looking for a current student to coach or a current student looking for an alumnus/a to connect with, please join the group and post your requests there.
COVID-19 Crisis Fund
Wittenberg has launched the COVID-19 Crisis Fund to provide support for emergency student needs, unforeseen expenses resulting from remote teaching and learning, and virtual meetings with key constituents, including prospective students and their families. To help lead this effort, Bob '65 and Bonnie Cindrich '66 have issued a challenge gift to match dollar for dollar up to $20,000 to inspire other alumni and friends to help students and their alma mater at this critical time.
Alumni College on the Road
On Wednesday, April 22, from 3:30-4:30 p.m., join us as we bring Alumni College on the Road to you virtually. Alumni College events provide alumni with a lifelong learning opportunity and the ability to engage with faculty and fellow alumni. This Earth Day, connect on Zoom for a special Alumni College experience as Sarah Fortner, associate professor of geology and director of environmental science, discusses flattening the curve and how COVID-19 might inform climate action. She will look at parallels between curves and how science informs decisions. Our virtual Alumni College presentation is designed to be streamed live and can be viewed on a computer, tablet, or mobile device. Please RSVP by April 20 here. There are limited seats, so early registration is suggested.
Environmental Justice
A $5,000 Celebrate 100 Grant from the American Geophysical Union is enabling Wittenberg professors and students to explore issues related to environmental justice across a variety of disciplines, from science to art. The grant was awarded for a lead testing empowerment and art advocacy event and also provides funding for collaborations with the community to engage in environmental justice research.
CABLE Success
Ryan Probst '20, from Cincinnati, Ohio, recently shared his experiences in Wittenberg’s Communication and Business Leadership Experience (CABLE), which included a trip to New York City to present a case study to Google.
Teacher Education Leader
Brian Yontz, chair and associate professor education, was recently elected to the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (OACTE). His service on the Advocacy Committee will help increase Wittenberg’s presence in Columbus with both the state legislature and the Governor’s Office.
Fulbright Scholar
For an impressive fourth time, Professor of Sociology Keith Doubt has been selected by the U.S. Fulbright Program to receive one of its highly competitive awards. This time, he has earned a Fulbright Specialist Award, which will allow him to teach a short course, engage with scholars, or conduct research in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
Sports Recap
A trio of student-athletes with the same first name provided perhaps the highlight of the University's 2019-20 sports calendar when they swept the top awards at the NCAC Indoor Championships. Alexis Walker '22 was named Sprint/Hurdles Athlete of the Year, Alexis Johnson '21 was named Field Athlete of the Year, and Alexis Gray '20 was named Distance/Middle Distance Athlete of the Year after each turned in multiple all-league performances at the championship meet. All three, along with Stevie Pilkerd '22, qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships, and Head Coach Paris Hilliard was named Great Lakes Coach of the Year. The NCAA meet was canceled the same week as the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. In that competition, the Tigers had advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2012 after defeating La Roche and Susquehanna on their home floor in the first two rounds. Athletics Home Page
#LifeAfterWitt
A medical examiner, leading forensic pathologist, and author of two books, Joye Carter ’79 “speaks for the dead.” As a professional speaker, she lectures on the many threats against all communities – from drugs and alcohol to gun violence and suicide – and is particularly concerned about the death rate among African Americans.