Published October 12, 2024
A Weekend of Memories: Homecoming 2024
What a weekend! Picture-perfect weather, great friends, and wonderful memories made through class reunions, Tiger Tailgate, Alumni Achievement Awards, #WittWed vow renewal ceremony, athletic competitions, Wittmen Crew's 25th anniversary, and much more. Take a peek at some of the photos and the video below to see if you were captured.
Alumni Excellence
Celebrating alumni excellence is one of many traditions during Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend. This year, the Alumni Association honored Amy R. Bok McGuffey, Ph.D., ’95, David G. Baker ’69, Robert A. Montagnese ’92, Jessica D. Ebie, Ph.D., '04, and Brittnee Finnearty Lydy ’99. In addition, Amber C. Gibbs, Ph.D., ’98 was named Alumna of the Year.
2024 Alumna of the Year: Amber Gibbs '98
Embodying the Wittenberg spirit of integrity, leadership, and service, Amber Gibbs, Ph.D. '98, CEO and superintendent of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities has made a profound impact on the lives of over 15,000 people with developmental disabilities.
Marking Two Milestones
For Jeff and Ann Crihfield Burkam, both members of Wittenberg’s class of 1974, this year’s Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend offered the opportunity to celebrate two major milestones in their life together: their 50th Reunion and their 50th wedding anniversary.
Class of '79 Endowed Scholarship Fund
The class of 1979 had a lot to celebrate at its 45th reunion during Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend. At their 40th reunion, class leaders set out to raise $25,000 to endow a scholarship fund, and they accomplished that goal in just two years. The Class of ’79 Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to Wittenberg students, now stands at more than $40,000.
Wittenberg University is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Wittenberg Series, now celebrating its 40th season. The series offers a selection of cultural activities available to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community. All events are admission-free, and doors open 30 minutes prior to the beginning of each one. Join us for the upcoming Allen J. Koppenhaver Literary Lecture featuring Susan Burton, writer and host of the Peabody Award-winning podcast The Retrievals, at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28, in Weaver Chapel.
Wellness and Mental Health Programming
Committed to the wellness of all students, the Tiger Counseling Center has been leveraging outside funding to promote mental health and reduce the stigma associated with it. Thanks to the Campus-Community Collaborative Programming grant through the Northeast Ohio Medical University, Tiger Counseling has generated new programming and established a new Wellness Room located in the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning.
#LifeAfterWitt
Rebekah Hart Colletti ’14, who resides in Maui, Hawaii, has turned her love of flowers and floral design into a thriving business called Breach Co. A sustainable event services and decor company founded by Colletti, Breach has grown quickly with the addition of such clients as Verizon, Zoom, and Subaru.
Read more #LifeAfterWitt stories here.
Pass Your Light During A Week of Giving
Wittenberg will celebrate A Week of Giving, Oct. 14-18, 2024. Alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends nationwide will come together and show their Tiger pride for a weeklong celebration to support Scholarships, Experiential Learning, Life at Witt, Athletics, and the University’s Greatest Needs. The online giving week offers several options to match the various philanthropic interests of those participating. Check back daily throughout A Week of Giving at giving.wittenberg.edu/g/aweekofgiving. Thank you for passing your light on to others!
Wittenberg Oral History Project
The Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement created an opportunity for alumni to share their unique connections to the University through an oral history project. Now that the collection is complete, we are thrilled to share a few of these unique stories that were compiled into a book celebrating Wittenberg's remarkable history. To read these stories, click here.
For those who ordered the Wittenberg University 2024 Oral History Project publication, the book is expected to be shipped at the end of October. If you have questions about your order or would like to order a digital version, please contact the publisher at customerservice@publishingconcepts.com or 1-800-982-1590.
National Estate Planning Awareness Week: Oct. 21-27
As a cherished member of the Wittenberg community, we want to ensure that you have the tools to safeguard your legacy and build a bright future for you and your family. During National Estate Planning Awareness Week, Oct. 21-27, you can join our David Hawley Associates Legacy Society by providing for Wittenberg through your legacy plans.
Creating an estate plan is a crucial step in protecting your future and the institutions that have shaped your life. Through our partner FreeWill's user-friendly online platform, you can craft your will in just 20 minutes, at no cost. You'll gain peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be honored and your family will be provided for, no matter what.