Published June 12, 2021
Wittenberg Alumni and Friends,
In less than a week, we will kick off our New Student Orientation program, Destination Wittenberg. Every year, we provide several opportunities for our incoming students to engage with faculty and staff, see where they will live, make social connections with peers, and get a better sense of our academic experience and the resources we offer. These sessions are among my favorite because of the cross-campus participation of so many in our community, as well as the opportunity to celebrate the best of Wittenberg.
Moving into the summer, we have much to celebrate again, including reaching the $80-million-mark of our $100-million Having Light: The Campaign for Wittenberg University and our plans for nearly normal in-person learning this fall. We also recently joined the White House-led COVID-19 Vaccination Challenge and are now offering incentives to students to get vaccinated, both of which you can read more about below.
We are also excited about our incoming class and remain confident that the students we are recruiting will retain well and will go on to pass their light as so many have before them. I am proud of our efforts during this time of COVID-19, and I look forward to greeting our newest students and their families soon.
As always, and as you have heard me say repeatedly, I want to thank you all again for your generosity in contributing to our campaign and our University. Your gifts matter and make difference, and I ask that you continue to support all that defines us: the people, who inquire, create, inspire, and compete here; the place, where we come together as a community and welcome others to learn and grow; and the present, when the next generation of Wittenberg graduates learns to pass on its light. Our Wittenberg light has shone brightly since 1845. Together, we can keep it lit for generations.
Enjoy your summer.
Sincerely,
Mike Frandsen, Ph.D.
President
COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
In an effort to have at least 75 percent of the student population vaccinated before the start of classes on Aug. 30, 2021, Wittenberg has announced a new incentive program to encourage students to report their vaccination status to the University. Each week, from June 7 through Aug. 9, three financial aid grants will be awarded – one in the amount of $2,500, a second of $1,000, and a third of $500.
National Challenge
Wittenberg has joined the COVID-19 College Vaccination Challenge announced recently by President Joe Biden and the White House in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education in an effort to vaccinate as many Americans as possible. More than 350 other colleges are currently participating in this initiative. #WeCanDoThis #COVID19Challenge
Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend
Save the date, Oct. 8-10, for Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend. We are working to offer a robust in-person experience, while adhering to health and safety guidelines. If you are in the classes of 1960/61, 1970/71, 1980/81, 1990/91, 2000/01, 2010/11, or 2020/2021 you can help to plan your class party. All alumni and friends are invited to participate in the many weekend activities. Check back for more information about reunions, tailgate, athletics games, alumni honors, and more here.
Surprise Line Up for 2021 Tailgate
A cherished tradition, Tiger Tailgate will continue to reinvigorate Homecoming with a live stage, featuring a diverse range of campus performers, top-tier artists, and entertainment that reflects the Wittenberg diaspora. Tailgate attendees will also have access to a variety of food trucks and alumni vendors. Email alumni@wittenberg.edu for more information on securing your tailgate pass.
New Witt Wednesday Podcast
The Office of Career & Professional Development in the COMPASS: Sweet Success Center at Thomas Library has launched an exciting new podcast series this summer and beyond. Titled “Witt Wednesday Pod,” the series features short interviews by accomplished alumni, professionals from all fields, and some faculty members.
#WhereAreTheyNow
Still inspired by the love of learning her mother instilled in her, Pam Schindler, professor emeritus of business and recipient of the 2003 Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching, is busy in retirement, publishing the 14th edition of her textbook, consulting with nonprofit organizations, helping family and alumni with job searches, and pursuing her interests in photography and quilting.
Guiding Your Estate Planning Conversation
Nationally, through 2020 and the first half of 2021, there has been an increase in estate planning activity. A well-thought-through legacy plan is important for several reasons; it not only ensures that loved ones and causes that are important to you are taken care of, but it also permits you to take advantage of a variety of tax-minimizing techniques that can protect assets and increase your family’s security now and in the future. Because so many people are reviewing their plans, we are pleased to offer our alumni and friends a complimentary estate planning guide. This resource will assist you with identifying who and what is important to you prior to a consultation with an estate planning attorney or financial advisor. Request a complimentary copy of this guide either via email or postal mail. If you have already considered Wittenberg as a priority in your estate plan, thank you – we would love to recognize you and ensure that your intentions can be met in the future. If you have questions or would like to request an online visit to discuss an area of impact that is important to you, contact Chris Nelson, director of planned giving, at nelsonc20@wittenberg.edu.
#LifeAfterWitt
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Nicki Herd-Walker ’00 and her family chose to experience life in a different way – on the road in their newly renovated recreational vehicle city by city, state by state. Read more #LifeAfterWitt stories here. Read more #LifeAfterWitt stories here.