Published October 18, 2018
Wittenberg Alumni & Friends,
What a weekend! Sharon and I wish to thank everyone who was able to travel back to campus, October 4-7, for our Homecoming & Reunion Weekend. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing your inspiring stories about the faculty and staff who impacted your lives, the events during college that shaped you, and the lifelong friendships you still maintain. The strong attendance at events, milestone reunions, and alumni recognitions, along with our various athletic contests and celebrations, also made the weekend a huge success. Thank you for continuing to remind us about the power of this place. Photos from the event can be found at the link above.
Wittenberg has changed many lives, and we are continuing to do so through our integrated learning environment, personalized approach to education, and desire to ensure each and every student's success. This would not be possible without your support. Thank you.
I look forward to sharing more stories with you as the holidays near. Please enjoy this latest issue of our alumni newsletter.
Best Regards,
Michael Frandsen, Ph.D.
President
Wittenberg University
Honoring Alumni
The second annual Legacies & Leadership: A Celebration of Philanthropy recognized all alumni award winners, members of the Benjamin Prince Society and other giving societies, as well as Karin ’64 and Roy Allen ’63, and the late William Allen Harris ’46, whose names were among the latest to be added to the $1M donor wall at the campus Seal.
Newest Inductees
Six Wittenberg greats were inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Honor during the 2018 Homecoming festivities. They included Casey Donaldson ’01, Jonas Osterberg ’94, Kenny Pope ’99, Sarah Yuskewich ’05, David Richardson ’68, and Antone Strothers '75. Ron Sortman '72 also became the fourth recipient of the Athletics Hall of Honor Lifetime Achievement Award.
Beam Signing
On October 4, members of the Board of Directors, including Wes Bates '70, lead donor for the HWA initiative, participated in an official beam signing at the Wittenberg Stadium. The beam will be visible after construction is complete to remind passers-by about the power of philanthropy in the life of the University.
Power of Internships
Haley Jackson, class of 2019, spent the summer doing her part to help conserve the sea turtle population, gaining valuable skills and experience that will lead her to success in her chosen field.
Faculty Excellence
Kent Dixon, professor emeritus of English, has collaborated with his artist son, Kevin H. Dixon, to publish a new translation of The Epic of Gilgamesh in the form of a graphic novel. He was recently interviewed on WYSO 93.1 and KPFA 94.1.
Alumni In The News / #LifeAfterWitt
Melinda Sopher ’79, an award-winning lecturer at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, teaches a communication course that requires an immersive service experience. Over the years, nearly 275 of her students have helped 50 local community partner agencies to raise more than $600,000 and have given at least 12,000 hours in service learning to the community.
Just seven years after graduating from Wittenberg, where he enjoyed a record-breaking career as a member of the Tiger men’s basketball team, Chris Sullivan ’11 is making a name for himself as an up-and-coming young coach in men’s collegiate basketball.
A member of Delta Gamma at Wittenberg, Mallory Roth ’14 lived out her sorority’s motto of “Do Good” during her college days by serving in leadership positions with the chapter. In the four years since graduation, she has also put that same motto into practice in her professional life pursuing jobs that have focused on helping others.
Tiger Teams
Heading into the home stretch of the 2018 fall season, the Tigers continue to excel with four teams ranked in the top 25 nationally. Wittenberg football stands 6-0, including a thrilling 4-overtime win at Denison, while Wittenberg women’s volleyball is in the top 5 nationally with a 16-2 record as the Tigers look for a third national championship match appearance in the last four years.
Both golf teams are ranked in the top 25, highlighted by victories by the women in the Pat Clouse Invitational at historic Springfield Country Club and the men in a dramatic playoff at Carnegie Mellon. Also of note, the Tiger men’s soccer team has matched its best win total for a season since 2008.
In Memoriam
Friends and family of the late Jenna Weitkamp Maddux '05, along with faculty from the department of art, gathered on Saturday, Oct. 6, to unveil a special plaque in her memory in the Koch Hall Thompson Gallery. Jenna was an avid artist who worked at The Speed Art Museum and RedTree Albums in Louisville, Kentucky. She passed away on March 14, 2017, after a two-year battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, Blake, and daughter, Anna Claire.