Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here 4 Denison Big Red baseball team hosted the Tigers from Wittenberg University for their final in-conference action before the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe next weekend the Denison baseball class of 2025 was honored for their hard work and dedication to the program over their careers in Granville Denison held onto a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning before a severe thunderstorm rolled into Granville the two head coaches met at home plate and agreed to call the end of game one and cancel game two Denison secures the top seed in the NCAC with a 14-1 record in conference play Wittenberg awaits the final games to finish to determine their seeding in the tournament Up Next: The Big Red will await weather to see if any games are rescheduled in the final days before the conference tournament The tournament will be hosted from Thursday to Saturday at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe forcing Wittenberg batters into a 2-26 performance at the plate In the box, the Big Red were able to get up early with an RBI off the bat of Cade Nowik. Jack Steel, Jack Lutte, Eric Colaco and Nowik all tacked on more runs in the second inning to bring the Big Red to a 5-0 lead Steel and Vasquez added the final two runs As the top of the eighth inning came to a close stopping play with just a few outs left to go in game one the two coaches agreed to finalize game one and axe game two Denison moved their all-time series lead to 46-12 over the Tigers Thanks for visiting Ohio- Due to inclement weather on Saturday (May 3) the Denison Baseball team's doubleheader against Wittenberg has been moved to Sunday The Big Red's single game against Baldwin Wallace scheduled for Sunday has been postponed Thanks for visiting Wittenberg University is thrilled to see several 4 Paws dogs being handled by students once again Wittenberg students have played a critical role in preparing dogs for service to others in partnership with Xenia the dogs provide happiness and therapeutic experiences to the campus community thanks to members of the Residence Life staff and Essence Wyse Wittenberg class of 2027 from Lewis Center who also serves as the current president of Witt 4 Paws a biology major pursuing a minor in sociology is a member of both the women’s lacrosse and field hockey teams She is also the philanthropy chair for Gamma Phi Beta and marketing manager for Sip’s Coffee Bar She chose Wittenberg because she wanted to focus on her academics as well as continue to play sports at the collegiate level “I loved the positive atmosphere on campus and the sense of community I was introduced to the Witt 4 Paws program and it was definitely something that I became very interested in and wanted to get involved with when I had a chance,” Wyse said the focus was to build the number of primary handlers on campus  - since having more dogs on campus helps us be seen We started the school year with only two dogs We are also working on having monthly meetings and occasional trips to 4 Paws for volunteering and puppy play collaborating with different organizations on campus and places service dogs with children and veterans who have disabilities the organization has grown from a one-bedroom apartment to a purpose-built campus in Xenia with more than 60 staff members and thousands of volunteers and has placed more than 120 service dogs annually all trained with specific tasks and skills to mitigate the impacts of their partner’s disabilities more than 2,000 service dog teams have been created thanks to the dedication of staff “Witt 4 Paws does not exist without the Xenia program as Wittenberg doesn't have anything to do with the training The club exists to provide a space for the handlers to come together and for other students to interact with the pups and raise awareness about the 4 Paws organization,” said Cat Ramirez director of residence life who oversees the program at Wittenberg has done such a great job at communicating the policies that it has been an easy process to get the program moving in the right direction She is aware of anyone who is considering working with the pups and immediately sends them my way This collaboration between the club and Residence Life has allowed for more visibility and interest in the group which I believe has given the program a second wind.” 4 Paws for Ability specializes in training and placing task-trained dogs as service dogs and hearing ear dogs as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act The organization matches children who have disabilities with a trained service dog to enrich and assist in their daily lives students can apply in pairs to foster a dog on campus focusing on socialization training by including the dog in day-to-day college activities such as going to classes and around town Wittenberg students have fostered more than 100 dogs Wyse said that students that want to become a handler must attend two classes at 4 Paws headquarters and many other different things that help you learn more about what it is like caring for a service dog in training (SDiT),” she said “Other students on campus who are not handlers are still able to interact with the pups There are two types of handlers - primary in which they are the main handlers and secondary in which they act as babysitters for when the primary cannot look after the pup.” This portion of the dog’s training at Wittenberg usually lasts about a year or so with the majority of this time spent socializing the dog Students may also attend training with the dogs at 4 Paws headquarters the dog then goes to more specific service training Wittenberg pups have been a variety of breeds over the years but mainly Witt 4 Paws dogs have been golden doodles “If a student is interested in becoming a handler they would go through training with the 4 Paws organization,” Ramirez said “I will communicate to the organization that the student is approved to be a handler if they live in the ‘Burbs or to be a puppy sitter if they are in the residence halls they are approved to be a puppy sitter or handler The students work with the dogs to socialize them and get them used to being around people by taking them to class (with professor permission) The club will also host events where students can come interact with the dogs.”  Wittenberg's curriculum has centered on the liberal arts as an education that develops the individual's capacity to think engaged learning in the core disciplines of the arts and sciences and in pre-professional education grounded in the liberal arts Known for the quality of our faculty and their teaching Wittenberg has more Ohio Professors of the Year than any four-year institution in the state The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in community service Located among the beautiful rolling hills and hollows of Springfield enviable student-faculty research opportunities service and study options close to home and abroad Make a gift today and support the impact that comes from Wittenberg Make a Gift Thanks for visiting OH – There hasn’t been much – if any – wrestling action at Wittenberg since the University’s intercollegiate program was discontinued on campus in 1989 Leave it to the one and only All-American in Wittenberg Wrestling history to bring it back Wendel Donathan (left)and Wittenberg Directorof Athletics Brian Agler Thanks to Wendel Donathan, Wittenberg class of 1989, Wittenberg hosted the Southwest Ohio Freestyle/Greco-Roman Qualifier for USA Wrestling in the Health, Wellness & Athletics (HWA) Complex on Saturday Hundreds of young wrestlers descended upon Springfield for weight-ins on Friday and they returned to campus with hundreds more family members in tow the next morning Wrestling action for both boys and girls took place across eight mats in Pam Evans Smith Arena for more than 12 hours. Similar to other large-scale events Wittenberg has hosted in recent years, such as the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) boys’ basketball concessions and event merchandise were sold in the 1929 Fieldhouse with Wittenberg administrators and student-athletes working closely with Donathan “There were a couple of reasons for us to bring the event here,” said Donathan, who was inducted into Wittenberg’s Athletics Hall of Honor in 2008 I talked to a lot of people who had never been to Wittenberg before and they were all saying this place is gorgeous and they were impressed by the great facilities “A lot of this was to be able to show what Wittenberg has to offer and it was also a way to get this type of wrestling event to a part of the state where this style of wrestling isn’t as well known.” Donathan compiled an overall record of 106-28-4 at Wittenberg and he capped his collegiate career with Ohio Athletic Conference MVP honors and a third-place finish at the 1989 NCAA Division III Championships A three-time captain and four-time team MVP Donathan has gone on to an incredible coaching career in the sport A longtime teacher in the Franklin City School District in Southwestern Ohio Donathan has coached dozens of high school state qualifiers and mentored numerous wrestlers who went on to compete in college He also coached the Cadet Ohio National Teams Donathan said he was thrilled to bring the event to Wittenberg “Everybody has been so helpful,” Donathan said the people running the tournament for Wittenberg have been great and the facilities are fantastic for this type of event.” OHIO – Joining together to recognize the many accomplishments of Wittenberg students and faculty members the campus community gathered in historic Weaver Chapel for the annual Honors Convocation During the ceremony, the 2025 Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching was presented to Associate Professor of English D. Scot Hinson 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 Professor of Practice in Business & Economics Emily West was recognized for her work during the Honors Convocation with the Omicron Delta Kappa Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award West also received the Academic Advisor of the Year Award.Additionally an honor bestowed upon a junior student who possesses qualities of leadership 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 earned Ohio Campus Compact’s Newman Civic Fellowship Campus Compact is a statewide membership organization that serves to promote community service initiatives at colleges and universities Alice Geiger Award was presented to Victoria (Pip) Pipinich 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 or through special representation at any time during her college career honoring the senior man who best represents the liberal arts tradition at Wittenberg The award goes to a top student who is a positive force in academic created in 1990 by the Springfield Alumnae Association and Chi Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi sorority who best exemplify the characteristics consistent with the ideals and goals of the sorority recognizes seniors who contribute to greater global awareness within the Wittenberg University community This year's recipients are Allyson Gardner were the recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr Award for positive examples to members of the African American community and to the University Six seniors were recognized for having a 4.0 grade point average: Erin E are the junior students having the top 14 grade point averages of their class 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 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 Debbie McCullough Wittenberg takes time to celebrate the achievements of students and staff at its annual Honors Convocation the event begins with processional with faculty in full academic regalia Wittenberg University is celebrating a record-breaking Commit to Witt and students gave like Tigers and passed their light yesterday demonstrating how much they believe in Wittenberg’s mission and life-changing education The Wittenberg community raised a total of $1,104,818 surpassing the previous record by more than $400,000 The event included more than $450,000 in challenges and matches established by alumni and the totals are expected to grow slightly over the coming days as mail is processed A lead challenge by the Board of Directors and surprise leadership-level gift from graphic design major Meg Frost, class of 1994, who served as keynote speaker for the Class of 2024 Commencement Frost believes strongly that the liberal arts and technology make the best combination for success in Silicon Valley and across the tech sector “I made the donation to honor my Wittenberg graphic design professor who helped pioneer computer graphics in the Wittenberg art department laying a strong foundation for my career," Frost said “We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the alumni and friends who supported Commit to Witt this year,” said Melanie Norton Wittenberg’s interim vice president for advancement “The stellar response to Thursday’s outreach reflects the impact of the Wittenberg experience." “We also want to thank the team in Advancement and Alumni Relations as well as the Alumni Board and their leadership for their remarkable work and resilience,” added Dana Cummings Wittenberg’s interim vice president for annual giving participants competed for ambassador bragging rights and raced each other to the top of several leaderboards Alumni attended regional events in Columbus as well as a pre-Commit to Witt event hosted by the Seattle Alumni Chapter in Bellevue the basketball Shoot-a-Thon and Where’s Ezry the Tiger “Wittenberg is thankful for alumni and friends who served as Commit to Witt ambassadors,” said Holly Gersbacher “Our ambassadors shared social media content generated more engagement both on and off campus Their efforts were rewarded with an impressive response.” “The response to this year’s Commit to Witt testifies to the strength of the Wittenberg community,” President Mike Frandsen said “Every gift makes a difference in the lives of our students and reaffirms our legacy of passing our light for decades to come What a wonderful tribute in honor of our University.” Although Commit to Witt 2025 has ended, those interested in participating can still make an impact on current and future Tigers by making a gift at wittenberg.edu/commit2witt or events that have impacted the campus community in a positive way Wittenberg’s Office of Student Development hosted the 13th annual Student Leadership Awards on Wednesday From honoring student organizations and advisors highlighting contributions to spiritual life and recognizing the University’s unsung heroes the event proved a time of community building around leadership excellence Nominations for awards were gathered from across campus and winners were determined through an outsourced selection committee of judges elected by Student Involvement staff to ensure impartial results The following is a list of this year’s 2025 Student Leadership Award Winners: This year’s judges brought a variety of backgrounds and experiences as they volunteered to read more than 50 student leadership award nominations all while managing full-time jobs as higher education professionals Presenters of the awards included Peyton Archer interim dean of student engagement and director of the McClain Center for Diversity.   Inspiring change through community-building and business transformation Wittenberg class of 1993 and founder of 13 ACE Hardware stores has agreed to present the keynote address at the 175th Commencement exercises scheduled for Saturday The announcement came during the Class of 2025’s annual “100 Days ‘Til Graduation” event Thursday evening “On behalf of the entire Wittenberg University I am excited to welcome Gina back to her alma mater,” said President Michael L and passion for revitalizing communities have literally changed lives Gina has shown all of us what it means to pass one’s light and I am confident that her remarks will inspire the Class of 2025 to be catalysts for change in all their future pursuits.” Schaefer is a visionary entrepreneur and dynamic keynote speaker best known as the founder of a chain of highly successful Ace Hardware stores Over the course of her 22 years in business she transformed a single hardware store in a neglected neighborhood into a thriving enterprise with 13 locations across Washington Her business not only provides essential services by fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace Schaefer’s passion for business ownership as a tool to combat inequality recently led her to sell her business to her employees Her incredible journey is chronicled in her book Recovery Hardware which highlights the power of second chances and community revitalization Schaefer captivates audiences with her compelling stories and practical insights Her talks focus on key areas such as creating positive corporate cultures Each presentation is designed to inspire and equip her audience with actionable strategies to drive change and achieve success Honored by several organizations for her leadership and contributions to business and community development Schaefer has routinely delivered a message that resonates strongly with those who defy the odds in the pursuit of entrepreneurial endeavors Schaefer has also served her alma mater repeatedly including as a member of the steering committee for the successful $100-million Having Light: The Campaign for Wittenberg and as a guest speaker for a special business-focused Tiger Talk on campus in 2023 Along with welcoming Gina, senior class co-presidents Grace Hehman and Victoria Pipinich are excited for Commencement overall “The class of 2025 is a very tight-knit group which inhibited us from fully experiencing each other and Wittenberg as things became more 'normal,' everyone slowly began to branch out from their original smaller friend groups Now I can confidently say that the senior class is one of the most tight-knit classes at the University I cannot walk to class without seeing someone I know or talking to a classmate and that is truly what makes Wittenberg and the Class of 2025 special,” said Hehman Hehman has been involved in Welcome Week and first-year orientation and served as a peer mentor She has also been a member of Wittenberg’s lacrosse team for three years served as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for two years where she currently serves as its president She is most proud of her efforts to reinstate blood drives after COVID The University now hosts blood drives multiple times a year a chemistry major minoring in math from Fort Worth and I believe we are ready for the next step I am beyond thrilled to see where everyone ends up and a member of both the field hockey and women’s track and field teams “We have had to have been resilient these last four years and I would say that we hold a lot of future successes I am very proud to be a part of this class at Witt.” Wittenberg is planning for traditional Commencement Exercises beginning at 11:30 a.m the program will be held in the Health Wellness & Athletics Complex’s Pam Evans Smith Arena. Tickets are required for an indoor ceremony On Thursday, Feb. 20, Wittenberg will host a Countdown to Commencement event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Geil Lounge on the lower level of the Benham-Pence Student Center. During this event, graduates will have the opportunity to place orders for caps and gowns, announcements, diploma frames, and other Commencement-related items. For additional information on Wittenberg’s 2025 Commencement Exercises, click here Wittenberg Tigers nationwide will come together on Thursday and students will have an opportunity to make a long-lasting impact you are leaving a legacy and helping to ensure that Wittenberg University will stand resilient for years to come,” said Melanie Norton co-interim vice president of Advancement & Alumni Relations at Wittenberg University we encourage you to pass your light and give like a Tiger!” Throughout the day, participants can join fellow Tigers as they compete for ambassador bragging rights, race to the top of several leaderboards, and attend regional events in Columbus, Ohio; Phoenix, Arizona; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and New York, New York. In addition, the Seattle Alumni Chapter will host a pre-Commit to Witt event in Bellevue “Wittenberg is grateful for alumni and friends who have already agreed to serve as Commit to Witt ambassadors throughout the day,” said Holly Gersbacher executive director of Alumni Relations at Wittenberg University “Our Commit to Witt ambassadors are sharing social media content generating more engagement both on and off campus and encouraging giving among their peers.” There is still time to help spread the word about Commit to Witt. To become a Commit to Witt ambassador, sign up here and students can help spread the word by promoting 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 “We encourage you to share Wittenberg’s social media posts on your social media pages.” During Commit to Witt on March 20 participants can unlock more than $400,000 in special challenges and matches for the departments “Through these special challenges and matches you can double your impact by making a gift during Commit to Witt,” said Dana Cummings “Every gift makes a difference in the lives of our students and strengthens our legacy of passing our light for decades to come.” Commit to Witt offers several options to match the various philanthropic interests of those participating Areas for support include immediate University priorities such as The Wittenberg Fund; student access and scholarships through the Wittenberg Opportunity Scholarship; department and program support; experiential learning and study away; campus stewardship and facilities; William A McClain Center; faculty and staff excellence; athletics through the Tiger Club; and campus life “We’re grateful to the Advancement team at Wittenberg University for organizing and supporting Commit to Witt,” Norton said “Dana and I also want to express appreciation for the efforts of Chris Lilley A sampling of our challenges for this year’s effort is included below. To see the full listing of challenge opportunities for Commit to Witt, visit the Challenges section on the Commit to Witt website  Athletics Leaderboard: Athletic Director Brian Agler ’80 and his wife and student-athletes to pass their light and give like a Tiger during Commit to Witt they will unlock $3,000 in Tiger Club Leaderboard challenge rewards to celebrate the top three teams that receive the most gifts during #Commit2Witt The funds will be shared as follows: $1,500 for 1st place Frandsen Presidency Class Years Challenge: President Frandsen and his wife joined the Wittenberg community in July 2017 they have made a lasting impact on Wittenberg students in the classes of 2018 through 2025 they’re challenging alumni from those classes to do the same When 100 alumni from the classes of 2018 through 2025 make a gift of any size during Commit to Witt the Frandsens will unlock an additional $2,018.25 for Wittenberg in honor of our founding year helps unlock this generous donation and strengthens the future of Wittenberg Give Like a Tiger - Immediate University Priorities: In celebration of #Commit2Witt Merzweiler ’76 is ready to pass his light and inspire others to give like a Tiger When we reach 200 gifts in support of Immediate University Priorities he will release $5,000 to make an even greater impact West Coast Late Night Challenge: Our annual day of giving is still ticking so Board of Director and California alumnus Bill Boggs ’68 is issuing a late-night challenge He will donate $10,000 to the Wittenberg Fund when 50 gifts are made in the late hours of #Commit2Witt Witt Opportunity Scholarship: Laurie ’79 and Dave '79 Griffin know the value of a Witt education and the impact a scholarship can make any gifts made in support of the Witt Opportunity Scholarship Fund 50 States Challenge: Let's put all 50 states on the map anonymous alumni couple from Arkansas will donate $22,500 to The Wittenberg Fund when we receive gifts from all 50 states To learn more, make a gift, or sign up to be an ambassador, visit wittenberg.edu/commit2witt Thanks to donors like you, Wittenberg celebrated a record-breaking Commit to Witt and students passed their light on March 20 The Wittenberg community raised more than $1.1 million surpassing the previous record by more than $400,000 We're grateful for the generosity of the alumni and friends who supported Commit to Witt Thank you for passing your light and giving like a Tiger We're pleased to share more statistics below The committee continues to make great progress in the search for Wittenberg's 16th president. All updates from Board members Doug Kentfield '78, search committee chair, and John Shumate '99, search committee vice chair, are housed on a special website, including the latest update, which can be accessed here Wittenberg celebrated the achievements of students and faculty during the annual Honors Convocation in Weaver Chapel The 2025 Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching was presented to Associate Professor of English D professor of practice in business and economics received the Omicron Delta Kappa Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award and the Academic Advisor of the Year Award Designed as an opportunity for students to share everything from their FIRE Week experiences, senior theses, research, and study abroad journeys, to their internships, life in the arts, or any other academic pursuit, the third annual Connections Symposium again put the focus on student success Approximately 110 students participated in 91 events Robert Samuels Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Washington Post journalist will serve as the keynote speaker for the Fred R the final event of the 2024-2025 Wittenberg Series Samuel’s address is titled “His Name is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice.” The 31st annual Empty Bowls fundraising event was held last month in the University’s Center Dining Room In the 30 years Wittenberg has hosted this highly popular event which equates to nearly 3.8 million meals for those in need in Clark Wittenberg has been named a Voter Friendly Campus one of 272 campuses in 39 states and the District of Columbia by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encourage their students to register and vote Avery Livingston ’25 has taken full advantage of everything Wittenberg has to offer while also giving back The psychology and neuroscience double major has served on Student Senate and as a Study Abroad Ambassador and resident advisor and has volunteered with the Department of Theatre and Dance Lilly James '26 is her name and saves is her game A right-handed relief pitcher on the Tigers’ softball team she is racking up saves on the mound while also preparing to save lives with her personal care by helping those in need in the nursing field Read more #LifeAtWitt stories here Video: From student to leader, Lo Hauser’s #WittJourney is a testament to the lasting impact of Wittenberg Hauser found more than an education—she found a home in Springfield where she now empowers youth and families through creativity Read more #LifeAfterWitt stories here The Office of Admission thanks all who participated in this year’s Alumni Postcard Project For those who have not yet sent their postcards there’s still time to tell accepted students your Wittenberg story and what makes the University special Please write and mail your postcards as soon as possible Your efforts can make the difference in a student choosing to enroll Are you interested in being involved with FIRE Week the program offers students the chance to engage in-depth with faculty and other students on a wide range of topics outside the traditional classroom Alumni have the opportunity to engage with potential FIRE Week programs for March 2-6 The program's leadership team will attempt to connect alumni and staff who have intersecting interests in the hopes of enriching our offerings to students DEI Resources two universities have announced the reinstatement of college tennis on their campuses as Wittenberg University has reinstated men’s and women’s tennis and Northeastern State University has reinstated men’s tennis As two universities with a rich history at both the NCAA Division II (Northeastern State) and the NCAA Division III (Wittenberg) levels the two programs had very different paths to reinstatement but each relied on the support and excitement of their alumni bases to showcase the need for the return of these programs to each campus “The decision to continue the tennis program is great for the University said in a statement released by the Wittenberg athletics department “Without their assistance and continuous support the decision to continue Men’s and Women’s Tennis at Wittenberg would have never happened.” I’ve had the privilege of meeting several men’s tennis alumni and I’m sure they’re just as excited as we are to see this program return,” Tim McLane added in a statement from the Northeastern State athletics department “We welcome their involvement and support as we move forward.” These two programs join a host of other colleges and universities who have brought back tennis to their campuses over the past few years They join the University of Mount Saint Vincent (M&W) and Centenary College (M&W) to name a few Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | 4/26/2025 7:51:00 PM 22 Denison women's lacrosse team cruised to a dominant 22-3 victory over their opponent on Saturday afternoon improving to 12-4 overall and maintaining a perfect 6-0 record in North Coast Athletic Conference play Wittenberg falls to 0-7 in NCAC action and 4-12 for the season The second quarter saw Denison continue to roll adding six more goals in the third quarter Wittenberg managed to score two more goals in the second half along with key contributions from the offense maintained the large lead through to the final whistle The Big Red were also in control of possession winning 22 draw controls to their opponent's 7 and they scooped up 19 ground balls compared to 11 causing 16 turnovers and limiting the Tigers to just three goals Thanks for visiting Thanks for visiting Match Recap: Tennis | 4/19/2025 5:29:00 PM Thanks for visiting Wittenberg’s B.S. in exercise science with a concentration in strength and conditioning recently received a big boost becoming a nationally accredited program that demonstrates the University’s commitment to preparing students who wish to obtain certification as a strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) in this ever-evolving field Wittenberg began the accreditation process with the Council on Accreditation of the Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CASCE) in 2022 Now the program has become the first CASCE-accredited program in Ohio 22 programs nationally have received CASCE accreditation with Wittenberg’s program becoming the 23rd overall program in the United States “Our Exercise Science program has a proven record of CSCS exam success,” said Hung-Sheng Hsu, associate professor of exercise science and director of the exercise science program in Wittenberg’s Department of Health and Sport Studies “With our new CASCE-accredited Strength and Conditioning concentration Wittenberg is committed to preparing students for excellence and to meeting the 2030 CSCS certification requirements in the evolving strength and conditioning field This degree will have specific requirements tailored to the field of strength and conditioning emphasizing its importance in professional practice “CASCE is a nonprofit accrediting agency dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning profession by providing accreditation to collegiate-level education programs,” Hsu added “CASCE employs peer reviews by academic and industry professionals to ensure programs meet rigorous educational and practical standards.” individuals pursuing the CSCS credential must hold a degree from a CASCE-accredited program highlighting the importance of this accreditation CASCE accreditation confirms that Wittenberg's Strength and Conditioning Concentration program meets high educational and practical standards ensuring graduates are well-prepared to design effective training programs while prioritizing athlete health and safety which all provide a multi-disciplinary approach to the science of health and sport performance within a liberal arts curriculum the University is home to 56 exercise science majors with 41 students enrolled in the B.S in exercise science and 15 students in the B.A several students have expressed interest in the strength and conditioning concentration The concentration allows students to pursue a career as a strength and conditioning coach fitness professional or other similar careers “This will give Wittenberg students a major advantage of coming from an accredited program by one of the largest certifying constituencies in the United States, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA),” said John Thistlethwaite associate professor of health and sport studies at Wittenberg “Students will have the advantage of a curriculum that aligns with requirements to become a certified strength and conditioning specialist.” Exercise science deals with the study of acute and chronic effects of physical activity on the human body focusing on how and why the body responds to a range of stimuli in a non-resting state Wittenberg's program provides students with academic preparation and practical training required to be successful in various careers in the growing field and includes courses in gross human anatomy students whose interests vary from nutrition to biomechanics to strength and conditioning find the flexibility to choose courses and internships/research that match their personal interests with their academic and professional goals Wittenberg’s program collaborates with the Bates Strength Center and other NCAA strength and conditioning programs to provide hands-on internship experiences Each student in the strength and conditioning concentration must complete over 300 internship hours under the supervision of two or more CSCS-certified coaches across at least two semesters Students will gain hands-on experience from these internships which gives practical experience prior to obtaining a permanent position or entry into a graduate program. These internship sites will also include different areas of strength and conditioning and fitness ranging from other colleges and universities to commercial fitness industries “Students will be mentored by CSCS-certified strength coaches and gain practical experience training NCAA sports teams Both Coach Seth Warren and Coach Nathan Phillips are CSCS-certified professionals who have been instrumental in mentoring student interns pursuing careers in strength and conditioning here at Wittenberg,” Hsu said “They will provide valuable hands-on experience bridging classroom knowledge with practical applications in the weight room Their mentorship ensures students are well-equipped to support athletes in achieving their performance goals safely and effectively We are actively seeking additional internship opportunities to further enhance student experiences.” Wittenberg’s program will require a student to obtain 66 to 68 credits to complete the degree we are known for having faculty who help students succeed through mentorship and strong academic programs,” said Jen Parsons associate professor of health and sport studies and chair of the department “This accreditation is just one more example of our faculty meeting the needs of our students.” To learn more about Wittenberg’s program click here Additional information on the certification process can be found on the official website of the NSCA This resource provides comprehensive guidance on the requirements and application procedures necessary to pursue this prestigious certification in the field of strength and conditioning 2024-25 OnFocus Central Wisconsin Area Conferences: Conference and Team Links, Schedules Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area ********************************************** We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected] David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected] bestselling author and racial and social justice advocate will present this year’s Martin Luther King Jr Hosted by the President’s Council for Diversity and Inclusion (PCDEI) and the Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC) the event is part of the 2024-2025 Wittenberg Series Stone’s address is titled “Legacy of a Leader.” 1 New York Times bestselling novel Dear Martin the first book in a trilogy for young adults that includes Dear Justyce and the forthcoming Dear Manny Stone was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta and is a graduate of Spelman College. Dear Martin chronicles the story of a 17-year-old Black high school student after a violent run-in with the police places him squarely in the crosshairs of media fallout Seeking meaning in the events that follow and grappling with racism – and what it means for his future – Justyce writes a series of letters to Dr Stone introduces readers to incarcerated 16-year-old Quan who writes letters to Justyce about his experiences in the American juvenile justice system Drawing once again on conversations about systemic racism this powerful sequel explores how marginalization is rooted in the subconscious dehumanizing of other people Stone is also the author of blockbusters Fast Pitch In her continual pursuit to tackle the United States’ troubled history with race relations Kendi with the idea to adapt his book How to Be an Antiracist for teens In  How to Be a (Young) Antiracist, Kendi and Stone present a guide for teens seeking a way forward in acknowledging who find love while navigating mental health challenges in suburban Georgia is the final installment of her Dear Martin series and is expected in March 2025 Stone draws from the themes in her books while stressing the need for equity Her presentations speak to the importance of human connection through a lens of storytelling and the necessary work of racial and social justice A fierce advocate for reading freedoms in public education Stone has had her books banned in various parts of the country she champions the rights of readers to pick up any book they choose and for authors to tell their authentic stories without fear of censorship. While on campus Stone will participate in a special lunch at the Bayley Alumni House Presenting the invocation for the convocation will be The Rev and Carol Matevia Endowed University Pastor Tracy Paschke-Johannes Reading the history and importance of the MLK Jr and introducing the speaker will be Darryl ‘Bailey’ Smith Pennsylvania. Banners will be carried by Avery Livingston The Wittenberg torch will be carried by Naevon Boykin Established prior to the 1989-90 school year Convocation features an academic procession with faculty in full regalia The event is free and open to the public as are all Wittenberg Series events Copies of Dear Martin are available for purchase in the Wittenberg University Bookstore located in the Benham-Pence Student Center Visit Thomas Library to check out copies of Stone’s books The Wittenberg Series was created in 1982 during President William A most of America’s foremost modern dance companies as well as hundreds of prominent psychologists and historians have visited campus to participate Doors open 30 minutes prior to the beginning of each lecture or performance will be a day of service event focusing on the legacy of Dr in partnership with the Springfield Promise Neighborhood and the Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Civic & Urban Engagement at Wittenberg University this annual tradition provides students and community members the opportunity to volunteer to complete projects benefiting local partner Springfield Promise Neighborhood Projects will include painting panels to beautify abandoned homes within the southside creating murals for local schools celebrating MLK’s legacy planting seed starts for local community gardens that benefit local families and crafting stained-glass crafts that allow volunteers to reflect on the legacy of MLK Jr Volunteers will also serve alongside students from Springfield Promise programs providing a chance for connections with people of all ages For more information on the Wittenberg Series, click here. To make special arrangements or become a friend of the Wittenberg Series, contact the Office of University Communications at ucomm@wittenberg.edu Author and award-winning podcaster Susan Burton will be the keynote speaker for the Allen J Koppenhaver Literary Lecture as part of the 2024-2025 Wittenberg Series Burton’s address is titled “The Stories We Tell About Pain.” and co-producer of the Peabody Award-winning podcast series The Retrievals which recounts the pain experienced by dozens of women undergoing fertility treatment at the Yale Fertility Center Named the #1 podcast of 2023 by Vulture and Time the series was selected for numerous “best podcasts of the year” lists and earned an award from the Association of Health Care Journalists Burton is also the author of the memoir Empty (Random House 2020) which tells the story of the eating disorders she kept secret for most of her life The book was selected for Booklist’s Top 10 Memoirs of 2020 Newsweek’s 20 Must-Read Books of the Summer she has produced many episodes including “Secrets,” “Ten Sessions,” “Five Women,” “The Thing I’m Getting Over,” and “Tell Me I’m Fat.” Her writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine The recipient of a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to do stories about teenagers Burton has earned numerous awards for her radio documentaries The 2006 Christmas comedy Unaccompanied Minors is based on one of her personal essays she lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their two sons (one of whom she wrote about in Labor Day: True Birth Stories by America’s Best Women Writers) Burton will meet with students in Literary Form & Interpretation taught by Associate Professor of English Scot Hinson taught by Professor of Communication & Digital Media Cathy Waggoner and will participate in a Lunch & Learn for invited students and staff to be held in Room 105 of the Joseph C A book signing will follow the evening lecture with copies of Empty available for purchase Koppenhaver Literary Lecture is presented with appreciation for the life and inspiration of Dr Koppenhaver through the generous support of private donors Koppenhaver joined the Wittenberg family in 1961 as a member of the English department faculty Koppenhaver displayed consummate skill in the classroom encouraging students to think outside the box as they discovered what is possible within the pages of a book Recipient of Wittenberg’s top faculty prize the Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching Koppenhaver earned an international reputation as a librettist following numerous collaborations with composer Robert “Jim” Haskins Together the two partnered on such critically acclaimed musical and dramatic projects as The Masque of the Red Death Upcoming 2024-2025 Wittenberg Series Events: For more information on the Wittenberg Series, click here. To make special arrangements or become a friend of the Wittenberg Series, contact the Office of University Communications at ucomm@wittenberg.edu DAYTON - University of Dayton track and field will compete on Saturday at the Wittenberg Tiger Opener in Springfield Sprinters and jumpers will be in action for the first time this season UD is one of nine teams from Ohio competing in the event Multiple Flyers are expected to compete at the Wittenberg Tiger Opener In the field events Dayton will be represented in the long jump For live results and to watch the meet on Saturday Thanks for visiting earned the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice a book he co-authored with Toluse Olorunnipa as “a chronicle of the racial awakening sparked by [Floyd’s] brutal and untimely death,” the book received the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Nonfiction and was named a 2022 finalist for the National Book Award for nonfiction Samuels’ work for The Washington Post focuses on politics as well as social issues in the District of Columbia He also serves as the newsroom’s analyst for figure skating He previously worked for The New Yorker and the Miami Herald and his features have earned the George Polk Award for justice reporting the Peabody Award for “The Life of George Floyd” podcast and the National Association of Black Journalists Award for Investigative Reporting Samuels was born and raised in New York City He earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University where he is the only student to have served as editor-in-chief at both the school newspaper and the Black student magazine An adjunct faculty member at Wake Forest University he teaches a seminar on the history of race reporting and its impact on democracy He will also participate in a Lunch & Learn event with students and staff and attend the Communication & Digital Media Senior Seminar: Communication Ethics This Wittenberg Series event is made possible by a gift to Wittenberg University from the Fred R Doors open 30 minutes prior to the beginning of each lecture or performance.  To raise awareness and funds for local and global hunger initiatives a group of Wittenberg students in the Weaver Chapel Association are partnering with local community members and Church World Services to host the CROP Hunger Walk on Saturday A 2.7-mile walk through downtown Springfield the effort will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank and the Church World Services global hunger fund with financial support through the dollars raised “The CROP Walk is a student-run event started by students involved with Weaver Chapel,” said education major Claire Patton who is the team captain for the CROP Walk and who serves as president of the Weaver Chapel Association “The walk has been a longstanding tradition at Weaver Chapel; however this is the first year it is entirely student-led CROP Walks are designed to be community-based fundraising and awareness-building events to raise funds and awareness for hunger relief Very few CROP Walks are run on university campuses and even fewer are planned entirely by students.” Patton mentioned that over 2,000 communities across the United States join in more than 1,300 CROP Hunger Walks each year More than five million CROP hunger walkers have participated in more than 36,000 CROP Hunger Walks in the last two decades alone Other students helping to organize the event include Jess Neuerer who is a psychology and sociology double major pursuing a data science minor serving as promotion leader; Avery Livingston who is a psychology and neuroscience major pursuing a minor in data science serving as the logistics leader; Abigail Anderson who is majoring in Spanish education and pursuing a minor in music as the publicity leader; Allyson Gardner serving as a recruitment leader; Aicha-Simone Clark who is a pre-engineering major and serving as the education and recruitment leader; and Ava Schiff who is an accounting major and serving as treasurer “Our goal is to raise over $1,500 in funds Twenty-five percent of donated funds stay local in Springfield at the Second Harvest Food Bank and the other 75% goes to fighting global hunger through Church World Services,” said Patton the Wittenberg University Student Education Association and the faculty student coordinator for Student Senate "I love being a leader of the CROP Walk because it blends my passion for service and engaging with the community," Patton added we are excited to partner with the Hagen Center for Civic Engagement and with Covenant Presbyterian Church who are helping us amplify our hunger-fighting message on campus and in the Springfield community We walk because we know we are helping make a difference." Everyone in the Springfield Community is invited to be a CROP Hunger Walk participant. Individuals can donate or register to walk online by clicking here Participants should meet in the parking lot in front of the Hagen Center located at 734 Woodlawn Ave The Greater Springfield Association of Fundraisers recently presented Professor of Philosophy Julius Bailey with its National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Philanthropist award for his work as the founder of Dance Stomp Shake which first began in 2019 when members of Concerned Black Students (CBS) approached Bailey about putting on a dance show Wittenberg’s Health, Wellness & Athletics Complex continues to be a sought-after location for outside athletics teams the 265,000-square-foot facility was bursting with energy once again as more than 75 cheerleading squads competed for state titles during the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Spirit State Championship More events are filling the calendar as the new semester begins In collaboration with Wittenberg's Diversity Advisory Committee and the President's Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the 2024-2025 Wittenberg Series will continue with the Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation featuring Nic Stone social justice advocate and bestselling author of Dear Martin Stone's address is titled "Legacy of a Leader." The event #WittWed couple Kelly Maguire Sumption ’01 and Jeff Sumption ’01 developed relationships with their professors and forged friendships that were an important part of their Wittenberg experience they support Wittenberg because someone once supported them and provided them with opportunities to learn and lead With the start of the spring semester, planning is in full swing for Commencement exercises, which will take place at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 17, in Commencement Hollow. This year’s speaker will be announced at the “100 Days to Graduation” event on Thursday, Feb. 6. For more information about Commencement 2025, click here Courtesy of the Wittenberg Alumni Association, we are once again celebrating Valentine’s Day with specially designed graphics and printables created by Claudia Rieth '20. Click here to download images for printing or sharing on social media It's never too early to start thinking about Commit to Witt, which will take place on Thursday, March 20, 2025. We want you to be an ambassador! As an ambassador, you can help spread the word and engage others by texting, calling, and posting on your social networks. Commit to Witt ambassadors create awareness and inspire others to make gifts to Wittenberg. Sign up today before official registration starts Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | 4/19/2025 6:42:00 PM 13 Denison University men's lacrosse team exploded for 10 first-quarter goals and never looked back en route to a dominant 21-6 win over Wittenberg University on senior day Denison improves to 11-4 overall and remains perfect at 6-0 in NCAC play Denison wasted no time asserting control, as Tommy Quinson got the Big Red on the board just over 30 seconds into the game Quinson responded with two more goals — including a man-up tally — to ignite a stretch of nine unanswered goals by the Big Red to close the quarter making it a 10-1 game after the opening 15 minutes The offensive pressure continued in the second quarter as Denison extended its lead with six more goals while Quinson added another assist and Peck scored twice more to cap off a first-half hat trick of his own Wittenberg managed to score four times in the third quarter, but Denison kept pace with three more goals — including Quinson's fourth of the day — to maintain a comfortable 19-5 lead heading into the final frame. Lawton Corrigan and Peter Tyack added fourth-quarter goals to seal the 21-6 victory and eleven different players tallied at least one point in the win The Big Red dominated possession thanks to another strong performance at the faceoff from Grant Larson, who went 11-for-15 with seven ground balls. Colin MacLean added nine faceoff wins of his own helping Denison finish 24-for-31 as a team Denison also controlled the ground ball battle 45-12 and went a near-perfect 17-for-20 on clears while holding Wittenberg to just 55.6% (15-for-27) Denison stifled Wittenberg's offense in the first half allowing just one goal through the opening 30 minutes The Big Red also killed off all eight of Wittenberg's extra-man opportunities while converting all four of their own In goal, Andrew Albert earned the win with four saves and one goal allowed in the first half. Brant Satterly made three saves in the third quarter, and Thomas Hancock added four more in the fourth to help close out the game Denison goalies combined for 11 saves and a .647 save percentage Thanks for visiting Wittenberg-Birnamwood Golfers Battle at Amherst Invite We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected] David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected] The Ohio-based nonprofit is eliminating staff and faculty roles as it tries to balance its budget by fiscal 2027 Frandsen described the employee cuts as necessary to eliminate Wittenberg’s estimated operating losses by fiscal 2027 a target that was part of the board’s resolution “I am saddened by the loss of these people and programs from our community,” Frandsen said in his message Wittenberg said students will have pathways to completing their majors in some cases through an as yet unspecified partner institution Frandsen said officials expect to have more information on those arrangements before the university’s fall break Wittenberg is taking other cost-cutting actions as it looks to balance its budget The university is also putting its international business and international studies undergraduate programs on hold until the faculty and the provost’s office “work to see if and how they can be reimagined,” the president said Cuts at the university spurred protests by students and faculty members last week Wittenberg posted a $13.7 million total operating deficit for the fiscal year ending June 2023, more than double the previous year’s $5.7 million shortfall, per its latest financials The university carries $38.2 million in debt stemming bonds issued in 2016 Wittenberg saw its tuition and fees revenue decline to $15.3 million down by about $1.7 million compared to the year before its total operating expenses increased by $2.8 million That drop in tuition revenue follows a long-running decline in enrollment the university’s fall headcount fell about 31% to 1,299 students Wittenberg’s history stretches back to 1845 It was originally set up to train Lutheran ministers and it included a divinity school until the 1970s It went on to integrate sciences and other areas into its curriculum in part with help from a donation by industrialist Andrew Carnegie in the early 20th century Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts The three-judge panel lifted a lower court’s preliminary injunction that had blocked major portions of two executive orders.  The university said previously it faced an $800 million funding shortfall from the hollowed-out aid agency and would have to wind down programs The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines It is once again time to fill the empty bowls and feed the hungry Wittenberg will host its 31st annual Empty Bowls fundraising event in the University’s Center Dining Room inside the Benham-Pence Student Center Aimed at combating food insecurity at the local level Empty Bowls events are hosted across the country each year In collaboration with the Second Harvest Food Bank 90 percent of which are made on Empty Bowls Throwing Days which take place on Saturday/Sunday afternoons The Second Harvest Food Bank lines up sponsors to donate soup and bread for the event Sponsors include Parkhurst Dining Services and several area restaurants patrons choose a bowl to purchase at a cost of $20 each and enjoy an all-you-can-eat soup dinner with fellow community members Patrons then take the bowl home with them as a reminder of the many people who are hungry throughout the community Proceeds from the event benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank to help address food insecurity in Springfield and Clark County  The event raised more than $40,000 in 2024 and had a record high of $50,187 in 2019 Every dollar raised provides five meals to hungry families in the community The purchase of one bowl will provide 100 meals 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 consists of sourcing and gathering 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 the safe handling of all food products adhering to state and federal guidelines including providing member oversight to pantries For additional information or to become a sponsor of this year’s Empty Bowls event, please contact either Dooley at sdooley@wittenberg.edu or Allie Godfrey, marketing and events associate, Second Harvest Food Bank, at (937) 325-8715 ext. 102 or agodfrey@theshfb.org Match Recap: Men's Tennis | 4/12/2025 6:26:00 PM Thanks for visiting Thanks for visiting This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Representing more than 26,000 alumni living in every state across the United States the Wittenberg University Alumni Association is excited to recognize excellence as it honors six individuals with special distinctions during a ceremony from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The annual event is one of the many special traditions during Homecoming Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching First to be honored during the Alumni Achievement Awards banquet will be longtime educational leader Amy R. Bok McGuffey class of 1995 and the 2024 recipient of the Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching The award recognizes the superior classroom teaching that takes place at Wittenberg McGuffey learned that she was the recipient during Wittenberg’s annual Honors Convocation last spring McGuffey joined the Department of Education at Wittenberg University in the fall of 2014. She considers herself fortunate to have had the opportunity to share her passion for education with students through numerous undergraduate and graduate courses she served as chair of the education department director of the Graduate Program in Education McGuffey has experience at all grade levels but spent most of her time teaching middle school history and language arts She served as an adjunct professor at Wright State University where she taught graduate-level professional development courses for practicing teachers She also worked as a research assistant at the University of Dayton where she had the opportunity to research and present on topics such as school vouchers and Catholic private schools McGuffey recently took a new position as director of special education for Midwest Regional Educational Service Center (ESC) in elementary education from Wittenberg University in 1995 and her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Dayton In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and exercising. McGuffey and husband They have three children and one grandchild “Pass It On” Wittenberg Volunteer Service Award The “Pass It On” Wittenberg Volunteer Service Award given in recognition of exceptional demonstration of the University motto “Having Light We Pass It On To Others,” will be presented to David G Baker attended Columbus Public Indianola Elementary and Ohio State’s experimental K-12 University School before his family moved to Worthington where he was elected student body president and graduated from Worthington High School in 1965 Upon a wintry visit to Wittenberg his senior year in the freezing rain which was both treacherous and serendipitous he found his ideal fit for his collegiate adventure Baker announced he planned to become a lawyer he headed to what Buckeyes fans call “The School Up North,” graduating in 1972 before returning to Columbus to begin a 46-year career as a commercial real estate attorney eventually chairing the Real Estate Practice Group at Bricker & Eckler Law Firm he served as chair of the Downtown Council of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce chair and member of several committees at Trinity United Methodist Church general counsel to Ohio State’s Student Loan Foundation vice president of Columbus Ensemble Theatre chair of the Real Property Committee of the Columbus Bar Association board member at Stanley Steemer International and trustee of the Foundation for Preservation of the Harrison House he was recognized as “Best Lawyers” Central Ohio Real Estate Lawyer of the Year Believing strongly that everyone should give back to their community and “pass it on to others,” Baker began his modest but consistent philanthropic endeavors in earnest in 1970 when he and fellow classmates and Phi Psi brothers Rob Rose and John Kurtz established the John C and treasures over the years to many charities and charitable fundraising campaigns including encouraging alumni participation in the annual Commit to Witt participating in the Central Ohio Committee to solicit contributions to the Health Wellness & Athletics (HWA) Complex Restoration and Expansion Initiative Lobach Memorial Fund that aids students with financial need He has observed over and over again that together he and others could accomplish amazing things far beyond what any one of them could accomplish alone Humbled and appreciative to receive this award he recognizes that his efforts being honored would not have been possible without other proud alumni bestowed upon alumni who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service is president & CEO of Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) Licking County’s primary health care provider with over 2,400 employees He joined LMHS on a full-time basis in 1993 and served in several senior and executive positions prior to assuming his current position in 2006 the Health Systems expanded the main hospital campus with new medical areas and the acquisition of the Licking Memorial Hospital – Tamarack location LMHS incorporated numerous cutting-edge technologies to benefit patients including the installation of the Epic Electronic Health Record System and the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Wittenberg and a Master of Healthcare Administration from The Ohio State University he is a certified public accountant and member of the Ohio Society of CPAs and the Healthcare Financial Management Association He currently serves as chairman of the Central Ohio Technical College Board of Trustees He is treasurer and past president of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Foundation Board past president and Lifetime Honorary Member of the BBBS Board chairman of the Newark Campus Development Fund emeritus member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and a board member for First Federal Savings Montagnese also serves as a member of the Newark Rotary Club and the Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board He previously served as a member of the Ohio Medical Quality Foundation Board Montagnese received local recognition by the American Red Cross of Licking County and Newark Rotary Club He also received state and national acclaim as Columbus CEO Executive of the Year and Columbus Business First C-Suite Award and Forty Under 40 list honoree and as a top 10 national finalist for the Modern Healthcare Community Leadership Award He was also named on Becker’s Nonprofit Hospital & Health System CEOs to Know list for three consecutive years He has coached sports teams for many years in the Central Ohio area This year’s Professional Achievement Awards presented to Wittenberg University alumni who have achieved outstanding distinction in their professional field Ebie is an associate teaching professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU) where she also serves as director of the ASU Online Master of Science in Biology Program and vice president of the ASU Career Faculty Association in biology and psychology from Wittenberg in 2004 in biology from the University of Cincinnati in 2012 Ebie’s professional journey has been shaped by a broad range of experiences in both research and education In addition to her six years as a teaching professor and lab manager in a behavioral health psychology lab Her diverse background has enabled her to approach teaching with a unique perspective blending rigorous scientific training with a deep commitment to mentorship and student engagement Ebie has taught as many as 800 students in a semester yet she remains dedicated to providing personalized support and guidance Drawing from her own experiences as a first-generation college student Ebie understands the importance of building strong connections with students and credits the close relationships she formed with faculty during her undergraduate years with inspiring her own approach to teaching she strives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment in her classes mirroring the sense of community that was so meaningful to her at Wittenberg Ebie taught smaller classes and served a diverse student population The contrast between the large university setting and the community college environment has enriched her understanding of different educational needs and she brings this insight into her teaching at ASU Ebie has been recognized with multiple awards for excellence in teaching and mentoring both as a graduate student and faculty member She has mentored undergraduate and graduate students in experiences ranging from classroom instruction to hands-on laboratory and field research She actively works on improving her teaching practices by incorporating evidence-based methods ensuring that her students receive a high-quality education that equips them for success in their future careers Ebie focuses on the behavior and sensory ecology of polydomous ants in her lab particularly reproductive regulation and social organization in species such as the Australian weaver ant Her research has potential applications in agriculture particularly in the use of ants as natural biological pest control Lydy grew up the daughter of a coal miner in Athens to which she attributes her passion for geology This passion eventually led her to Wittenberg where she studied both geology and Japanese Her interest in Japanese was sparked by a visit to her older sister Inspired to pursue teaching as a profession after returning to Ohio she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Miami University Lydy has been teaching middle and high school science for over 20 years Lydy has worked at the Dayton Regional STEM School where she focuses on teaching science through a Project-Based Learning model including plate tectonics models and molecular models has been donated to underfunded schools around the country Department of Energy's Office of Legacy Management on a STEM sticker project with Fernald Preserve in Hamilton which celebrate diversity in STEM disciplines are utilized by Fernald Preserve for outreach purposes Lydy models lifelong learning to her students by seeking opportunities to further her own understanding of the world She has attended research workshops and seminars at world renowned locations including the National Radiation Center at Washington State University the National Weather Service Training Center in Kansas City and the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University Lydy has served as a teacher leader through her presentations on best STEM teaching practices at both regional and national conferences including the National Science Teachers Association She has received grants from the David Meade Massie Foundation and the Ohio Energy Project to help provide her students with materials and experiences that deepen their understanding of scientific concepts she was named the 2024 Big Hoopla STEM Teacher of the Year Lydy routinely has former students visit her to let her know that she is the reason they pursued a career in the STEM fields; most dear to her heart is the role she has played in several of her students choosing to study at Wittenberg The Alumna of the Year is the most prestigious recognition bestowed upon alumni The award celebrates alumni who have attained a significant level of achievement in their chosen field impacted their local communities with integrity and character and demonstrated a continued commitment to Wittenberg Gibbs currently serves as the CEO and superintendent of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Cuyahoga DD) in Cleveland Cuyahoga DD serves over 15,000 people each year offering services throughout the lifespan to support and empower people with developmental disabilities to live Gibbs joined Cuyahoga DD in 2008 and served in a variety of supervisory and leadership roles with notable accomplishments including leading a major effort to eliminate the waiting list in Cuyahoga County and finding ways to expand a program to support families caring for their loved ones with developmental disabilities the agency expanded innovative housing options for people with disabilities and assisted organizations throughout the community to install sensory areas and universal changing stations making Cuyahoga County a more welcoming and inclusive place for all residents A leader at the state level with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and other county boards Gibbs was recognized in 2018 with the Ohio Association of County Boards’ Partners in Excellence Award for her groundbreaking work to eliminate the statewide Medicaid waiting list As an adjunct professor at a local community college for almost 20 years Gibbs has enjoyed working with hundreds of college students in her psychology classes She tries to emulate what she learned from her caring and passionate professors at Wittenberg to help inspire her students to share their light with others After earning her bachelor's degree in psychology from Wittenberg Gibbs earned her master’s degree in social science and psychology from the University of Chicago and a doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of Dayton Gibbs volunteers with Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio and serves on the board of directors for Community Fund Ohio She is grateful and proud that her family often joins her at various community events to support people with disabilities and they each volunteer with organizations that are meaningful to them The Alumni Association Achievement Award program will be emceed by Kelly Sumption president of the Wittenberg Alumni Association Board and Carol Matevia Endowed Pastor to the University will give the blessing followed by dinner and the presentation of the awards added safety and security measures will be in place throughout the weekend and Family Weekend events will be allowed into the respective venues and IDs will need to be shown prior to entry To view this year’s Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend events or to register, click here Wittenberg University is celebrating A Week of Giving During Wittenberg’s first-ever giving week and friends nationwide will come together and show their Tiger pride for a weeklong celebration featuring Scholarship Support “A Week of Giving is an opportunity for Tigers to support what matters most to them and to reflect on their experience at Wittenberg,” said Rebecca Kocher vice president of Advancement and Alumni Engagement The online giving week offers several options to match the various philanthropic interests of those participating. Participants are encouraged to check back daily throughout A Week of Giving at: giving.wittenberg.edu/g/aweekofgiving “Though the challenges facing higher education Wittenberg and our Springfield community are real we are actively addressing them with determination We are seeking new and innovative ways forward that will ensure a vibrant and sustainable future for our university We’re grateful to alumni and friends who support Wittenberg Wittenberg UniversityOffice of Advancement and Alumni EngagementPost Office Box 720Springfield Tigers nationwide can help Wittenberg spread the word about A Week of Giving by encouraging their friends and fellow Tigers to join them during this special week You can show your #TigerPride through social media by using graphics specially designed to promote A Week of Giving A social media toolkit with images and sample social media posts Wittenberg University has inspired countless friendships and connections Some of those connections have blossomed into cherished relationships many couples have found love at Wittenberg Their time and experiences at Wittenberg are some of the most special moments of their lives One such #WittWed couple is Haley Mucha Domenick ’16 and Gus Domenick ’13 They are young alumni who serve as leaders of the Columbus chapter of the Wittenberg Alumni Association was inspired to attend Wittenberg because of the sense of community she felt on her college visit The opportunity to play in a volleyball program that had won the NCAA Division III championship in 2011 sealed the deal Gus wanted to attend college outside of his home state of Colorado He was drawn to Wittenberg by the beautiful campus While Haley and Gus crossed paths at the fitness center it wasn’t until a social hosted by Phi Gamma Delta they began to get to know each other They continued to date through college and recently became a #WittWed couple in Columbus Both Haley and Gus made lifelong friendships with students and staff members they met during their time at Wittenberg In addition to playing on the Wittenberg Women’s Volleyball team Haley was a member of Alpha Nu Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta “I loved the life experience I gained from holding leadership positions and participating in community service events,” Haley said After retiring from intercollegiate soccer started the Wittenberg Co-ed Futbol Club to stay in shape and play soccer for fun Gus is grateful for the students who have kept the club going all of these years Haley majored in biology and minored in Spanish She works as a nurse at The Ohio State University Medical Center and is a clinical instructor at Mount Carmel College of Nursing “My Wittenberg education has helped me to treat patients holistically I appreciate that a liberal arts education considers many different perspectives,” Haley said I have to consider many disciplines from communication with co-workers Gus majored in economics and minored in Spanish and geology Now he works in learning and development for IGS Energy creating training materials and learning experiences for customer-facing teams “Wittenberg teaches their students the ability to think critically so that they may find success in any career they pursue,” Gus said “The connections that I made at Wittenberg provided me with a robust professional network after graduation.” Many of the close friends they have today are those they met at Wittenberg One of Haley’s friends encouraged the couple to step into chapter leadership “2024 was our first year of being the leaders of the Columbus chapter,” Gus said “We look forward to our second year of hosting events and building community.” In addition to coordinating events with the Columbus Alumni Chapter Haley and Gus choose to support the University with financial contributions They especially love to give during Commit to Witt it’s worth giving back to the community that has given us so much we’re encouraging our fellow alumni to pass their light and Tiger Up “Commit to Witt is a great event because you can easily double your impact with the special challenges that give you the chance to unlock extra bonus funding for the departments The University is grateful to donors like Haley and Gus for the difference they are making through their annual gifts, especially during Commit to Witt. To learn more about Commit to Witt and to make a gift, visit the University’s website Game Recap: Baseball | 4/16/2025 8:52:00 PM Thanks for visiting Thanks for visiting Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | 11/2/2024 4:05:00 PM | Written by Aaron Thompson Thanks for visiting #WittWed couple Kelly Maguire Sumption ’01 and Jeff Sumption ’01 felt at home who serves as the president of the Wittenberg University Alumni Association Board the University felt like family with professors and staff who genuinely cared about the personal development of students “I wanted a school where I could grow and not get lost in the numbers,” she said what drew me to Wittenberg was the feeling I got when I walked on campus it gives me goosebumps when I drive onto campus.” Jeff found the relationships he formed with his professors meaningful and remarkable “My professors were deeply invested in my academic success and they genuinely cared for me as a person,” he said “Wittenberg’s small and intimate environment made these connections uniquely personal far surpassing the surface-level acquaintances one might find at a larger institution and grounded in a shared journey of growth and discovery.” In addition to relationships with their professors the friendships they developed were an important part of their Wittenberg experience “The friendships I forged during late-night conversations and even the quiet moments of everyday campus life remain some of the most meaningful bonds I’ve ever known,” Jeff said the most profound relationship I found at Wittenberg was with my wife That singular connection gave my life purpose met during their sophomore year at Wittenberg They like to say it was “chemistry.” Jeff came over to Tower Hall to study with Kelly’s roommate for a chemistry project “We just celebrated 20 years married and 26 years together,” Kelly said and we love spending time with them and cheering them on in their athletic and academic success.” Both Kelly and Jeff credit Wittenberg with providing them with a firm foundation as they began their careers Kelly is grateful for programs like WittCAM (Wittenberg Center for Applied Management) which allowed students like her to experience real-world business consulting Her work-study job was at the Clark County Literacy Coalition Warder Literacy Center where she helped the nonprofit organization with public relations Kelly stepped into a leadership role as tour director for the Wittenberg Choir “I was an English writing major and management marketing minor These areas of study allowed me to push my creativity and have a background in business and finance,” said Kelly who is a marketing professional with 24 years of experience leading marketing strategies and client engagement driving consumer acquisition and loyalty across a variety of industries in both retail and financial services “Wittenberg taught me how to be a critical thinker Jeff explained that Wittenberg shaped him not only as a thinker but also as someone who can critically engage with the world Through his professors and classes at Wittenberg he learned how to synthesize diverse perspectives and reflect on the processes that guide decision-making I solve complex problems through technology designing innovative solutions that challenge the status quo and create tools that address real-world challenges,” he said “The critical thinking skills I honed at Wittenberg are the foundation of this work They empower me to tackle issues thoughtfully and effectively ensuring my solutions make a tangible difference.” Kelly and Jeff are committed to supporting the University Kelly has served on the Alumni Board for the past four years in various roles including leader of the Regional Alumni Committee Kelly and Jeff support Wittenberg because someone once supported them “It’s incredibly important to us that Wittenberg continues to pass its light and we want to make sure that we can keep coming back to remember our days here fondly,” Kelly said it’s our turn to pass that light onto those who come after us.” Designed as an opportunity for students to share everything from their FIRE Week experiences the Connections Symposium will again put the focus on student success The event will utilize several locations across campus throughout the day “The Connections Symposium is both a celebration of students' success and a showcase of their commitment to hands-on experiential learning and creativity," said Alejandra Gimenez-Berger associate professor art and director of the University Honors program The symposium "also brings people together - students and visitors – to foster a sense of pride and community the symposium is both a recognition of students' hard work and a chance to engage with the vibrant life of the University," she added An extension of Wittenberg's Connections Curriculum the symposium encourages interactions across disciplines for both faculty and students as it honors the breadth and depth of the liberal arts and its impact on the Wittenberg student experience On display will also be the diverse student-faculty research opportunities and projects Wittenberg offers annually including to new students through the First-Year Research Award program Approximately 110 students will be participating in 91 events There will be a total of 13 presenters for the performance/art exhibition category hosted by the Wittenberg Honors Program and Wittenberg faculty is scheduled near the end of the spring semester to make it more feasible for students to present semester-long projects that are wrapping up in the final weeks of the academic year For additional information, go to the Connections Symposium website. serves as a testament to the quality of Wittenberg’s computer science/cybersecurity program A native of Springfield, Ohio, Pederson, who double majored in information systems and computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity quickly secured a high-paying job well before graduation after attending a career fair hosted by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base “This job opportunity was pure happenstance Information about the career fair was emailed to students in the math and computer science department,” she said I wouldn’t have gone to these types of events but Wittenberg had arranged transportation for anyone who signed up I managed to impress the Air Force Research Laboratory table with my resume I had an intent to hire letter in my hand.” While the opportunity required her to move to Florida Pederson welcomed the change and is now working at Eglin Air Force Base as an associate computer scientist with the Air Force Research Laboratory “My major in computer science helped me land both internships and jobs One of the best ways you can set yourself apart in such a competitive field is to get experience and get it early,” said Pederson who was involved in the Wittenberg Programming Club and Kappa Delta sorority during her time at Wittenberg She also studied abroad as part of the Witt in Wittenberg “My first tech job was actually at Wittenberg’s Information Technology Services as a student worker,” she continued “I gained valuable experience utilizing industry tools and procedures that helped expand my knowledge of the field That allowed me to apply for more competitive internships and eventually culminated in my earning a full-time job at Eglin AFB the field of cybersecurity is very competitive but there are also many opportunities for employment Our lives are intertwined with technology that will only expand in the future There will always be a need to protect digital assets and personal information.” That worldwide need to protect digital assets is part of the reason why Pederson chose computer science and cybersecurity and problem-solving skills she gained through Wittenberg’s program also helped her tackle real-world issues in the areas of computer programming and cybersecurity “I chose to major in computer science because of my love of computers,” she said “I’ve always been tech-savvy and curious about the way they worked I initially wanted to become an ethical hacker – a person hired by companies to hack into their systems to root out exploitable vulnerabilities so they can fix them before a malicious hacker exploits them The reason I like cybersecurity is that I feel like I’m making a difference I’m using my skills and knowledge to help protect data from people who would want to exploit it.” Her job at Eglin AFB has been amazing so far “I could not have asked for a better group of people to work with,” Pederson said “I’m learning a lot in my new role spanning a variety of topics I’m now helping with a few projects and signed up to be an intern mentor during the summer.” She was also able to attend a class about the Science of Test “One aspect included using statistics to help in debugging programs,” she said “The class was about applying statistical analysis software to simulate an experiment and its potential results decisions about running the actual experiment can be tailored to efficiency While Pederson was excited for a change in environment it was also scary because of her chronic illness “I have had Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or POTS since the age of 10 so the moving aspect was a bit daunting,” she said “I’m moving away from my home and family to a new place and new environment the biggest adjustment will be working full-time within my limitations while juggling basic tasks like grocery shopping or laundry I have an amazing support system from friends and family My mom played a big role in setting me up for success here Work also made it easier because it helped me set a routine.” Pederson is the daughter of the Elizabeth E Powelson Endowed Chair in Biology Cathy Pederson who has dedicated much of her research to the illness along with creating the Standing Up to Pots organization in 2014 to aid in research and help others in the fight against it “My POTS symptoms are more stable now than when I was in high school,” Lily said “This is due to medication changes and increased levels of activity as I tried to negotiate college life I’m able to do more (with accommodations) than I have in the past “I hope to feel better with this move to Florida and I am hoping that more stable weather patterns will release me from some of my symptoms,” she added but I have become better at managing my symptoms and stopping activities before I trigger a symptom flare.” Pederson often used the accessibility services that Wittenberg offers students which allowed her to experience college to the best of her ability “The main service I used was medical escort I cannot walk up the hill where classes are held,” she said I called Witt police to drive me to my classes I also used them if there was an evening event on campus This allowed me to attend classes and events without expending unnecessary energy I will admit that I was initially against using this service for fear of being different I desperately wanted to fit in as college was my fresh start my freshman self stubbornly decided to just walk to classes instead I realized that my desire to fit in wasn’t worth the toll it was taking on my health.” Pederson also used exam accommodations regularly and was impressed with how professors worked with all the campus services to make sure her needs were addressed “My accommodation included time and a half and a separate quiet testing room for any exams or quizzes because some of my symptoms include brain fog and noise sensitivity,” she said I could dedicate my all to the test/quiz without worrying that brain fog or sudden noise would break my train of thought All my professors were extremely accommodating and worked with the accessibility program to ensure I had all the tools I needed to succeed “The best advice I can give to future students is to use the accommodations to the fullest The accommodations are tools to allow you to succeed and they will work alongside you to figure out a solution.”