magazine FALL 2022 THE STimpErTS AN AU LEGACY FAmiLY 2022 HOMECOMING INFORMATION INSIDE
FEATURESDEPARTMENTS 3 Message from the President 4 Stimperts stick-to-itiveness leads to unprecedented legacy at AU 6 Passion & Persistence Meet –The McConnell Family 8 Athletes Bring AU to the World Stage 10 Homecoming 2022 Schedule 16 Academic & Campus News 4 Major Renovation to Clayton Hall, Several Beautification Projects in the Works 4 Three New Deans Appointed, Plus Leader of DEI 4 Ashland a Member of First Class of Collegiate Purple Star Campuses 4 Ashland Alumna, Faculty Member Each Honored by Ohio Arts Council 20 Athletic News 4 Kruger Answers the Call, Returns to AU as Head Track and Field Coach 4 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Ends 2022 5th in the Nation 4 Spring Sports Wrap-up 22 Class Notes 4 Alumni News, Weddings and Anniversaries, Births and In Memoriams Accent Magazine is published for alumni, parents, friends and donors of Ashland University. Compiled by the Marketing & Communications Department of Ashlandwww.ashland.eduUniversity. Hugh Howard Managing Editor Media Relations and Social Media Managerr Mike Ruhe Art Director Director of Graphic Design Services Allison Waltz Photography | EagleEye Photography Contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at 419-289-5082 or alumni@ashland.edu. Alumni interested in submitting articles can send information to pr@ashland.edu. On the Cover The Stimpert Family Front Row Left to Right: Recent graduate Renee Stimpert, Mary and Fred Stimpert (parents) and recent graduate Anna Stimpert Back Row Left to Right: Jake Stimpert, Patty Stimpert, Kate (Stimpert) Chaffins, Troy Stimpert Not photographed Kelvin Stimpert Ashland University admits students with disabilities and those of any sex, race, age, religion, color and national or ethnic origin. 48 6 FALL 22 10HOMECOMING2022
C
harles Dickens was looking back in time about 75 years when he wrote these immortal lines in A Tale of Two Cities:
As you review this latest version of Accent Magazine, you may be prompted to repeat the opening lines to the famous Dickens novel. The “worst of times” surely comes to mind when we think of the passing of Ashland legends like Dr. Ray Jacobs and Olympian standout/track and field coach Jud Logan. The coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath has definitely hit higher education with a serious blow, and Ashland University continues to feel its negative effects with enrollment challenges, higher inflation, the “great resignation” and other difficult aspects.
Yet, our university community once again chooses to focus on all of the “best” things to celebrate around us – and they are plentiful. Read about the remarkable story of the Stimpert family, a group that defines what is best about AU: a hardworking, supportive, always positive group that lives out the power of a transformative education. You will also be left with a smile when you consider Jen McConnell’s rollercoaster story and blessing of others. If you have not been on campus lately, the campus beautification project will absolutely be another factor to celebrate as walkways, signs and bridges all get huge upgrades that will look great and be more accessible to all. Even the grand old Clayton Hall has received a major overhaul, with air conditioning among its many renovations.
Today, we look back 163 years to Dickens’ day, and many of us understand why every generation is likely to find his quote relevant to their time and place.
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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”
The fall begins with the hope we have known for decades at Ashland University, hope engendered by our welcome for a new class of students, our celebration of recent world championship gold medals for pole vaulter Katie Nageotte and hurdler Trevor Bassitt, our honoring the first-ever class of Physician Assistant students completing year one, three new college deans leading us forward, all on a campus sparkling with improvements to the college “on the hill so blue.” Yes, we will remember the best of times in the fall of 2022 here at Ashland University. We know that challenges will always come, yet we will overcome them as we rely on our belief that every student was created for a purpose—and that “Accent on the Individual” will carry us on well into the future.
PRESIDENTDr.CarlosCampo
MESSAGE FROM THE
Celebrating the Best Things Around us
– Mary Stimpert ’84
“Kate started the ball rolling and the others just fell in line. They saw Kate had a great experience. They all had good experiences, great teachers, great coaches. Many professors took a personal interest in them, offered constant encouragement. AU really opened doors for each of them.”
STimpErTS STiCk-To-iTivENESS
LEAdS To UNprECEdENTEd LEGACY AT AU
The remarkable stretch was never intended. It started with first-born Kate (Stimpert ’12) Chaffins, who did not feel any pressure from Fred or Mary – a 1984 AU alum herself – to choose the school that was just a 15-minute drive from their countryside farm. A basketball recruit, Kate had received interest from a few Ohio schools, but none of the others had the mix of the college experience she was seeking, “community focused, educationally driven (with) moral integrity and respect, while focusing on spirituality and faith.”
From a young age, Fred and Mary Stimpert drilled the family motto into their seven children – Kate, Jake, Kelvin, Troy, Patty, Renee and Anna. It was more than a saying, though. It was a maxim to support, love and protect each other, to hold one another to the highest standards and to always work hard, whether it be on the family farm, in the classroom or on an extracurricular activity.
Through the good times and the bad, “Stimperts stick together.” No matter the circumstance, “Stimperts stick together.” Through the triumphs and trials of life, “Stimperts stick together.”
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The Stimpert children also stuck together when it came to furthering their education. All seven attended and graduated from Ashland University, four with multiple degrees, over the last 10 years.
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Kate’s time at AU included a detour her senior year. Initially set on following mom’s footsteps in becoming a teacher (Mary recently retired after 32 years at Amherst Exempted Village Schools), she decided to change career plans and explore a new-found passion combining her love for science and concern for the geriatric population, the latter of which she gained through an AU volunteer experience. With a key assist from professors Robert Bergosh, Perry Corbin and Curt Ickes who helped her complete the prerequisites for therapy school, today she is a physical therapist at University Hospitals and working to start her own therapy company.
Troy Stimpert ’16 followed big brother Jake’s footsteps into AU’s renowned education program and now serves as a fifth-grade teacher at the Madison Local School District, as well as an assistant varsity basketball coach at Crestview. Despite their busy schedules, both Jake and Troy still find time to regularly help out on the family farm, where Fred continues to raise livestock and grow corn, soybeans and wheat.
Patty Stimpert ’18, on the other hand, was more similar to Kelvin in opting for a different career calling than their siblings. She studied business management, marketing and supply chain management as an undergrad, then added an MBA with a specialization in finance. Patty is quick to credit her Ashland degrees in getting her career off to a successful start, as a financial analyst with PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, in the Dayton area. “Not to sound biased, but I do believe that the business school at AU is the absolute best educational selection. The professors always went the extra mile to ensure that you received the most out of your experience,” she
Thesaid.Stimpert’s sixth child, Renee (Stimpert ’20) Holt, developed into a local celebrity for her exploits on the basketball court. Her skills were first honed on “The Concrete” court at the family farm, where battles with her older siblings resulted in a little blood, some tears and a lot of sweat. Renee eventually received the recruiting interest she was hoping for from AU and starred for the Eagles—a four-year run that included a national championship, a national runner-up finish and an undefeated senior season cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as an individual record for career assists and more than 1,200 points.
Family friends Bob and Jan Archer congratulated Anna Stimpert (center) and Renee Stimpert (left), and greeted Kate Stimpert Chaffins (right), following May’s commencement ceremony.
Just a year behind Kate, Jake Stimpert ’13 joined his sister on campus for a number of reasons, including the ability to “help dad on the farm if needed.” He credits “an awesome experience at Ashland,” from the professors to the staff at Convo and the maintenance department to his classmates, for inspiring him to be the teacher he is today. As a seventh-grade teacher at Ontario Middle School in Mansfield and the head varsity boys golf coach, Jake always brings energy, enthusiasm and a smile to his classes, traits he first picked up on from AU faculty members Patricia Saunders and Michael Schwarz. “Even if their own day wasn’t the best, they made sure their students’ day was going to be,” he recalled. “That’s how I teach today in my classroom.”
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Kelvin Stimpert ’14 took a different path than most of his siblings, who either are teachers or intended to work in education. He went the pre-med route, majoring in biology at AU with minors in chemistry and philosophy, then added an MBA while specializing in finance. Currently, he is in his fourth year of medical school at the American University of the Caribbean and expects to complete an M.D. in Kelvin’s2023.varied
encounters include “walking the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, sailing the waters of the Caribbean, and experiencing some of the greatest hospitals in America,” but he remains true to his Midwest roots and is thankful for the education he received. “I can truly say I am proud of where I come from. My family has been seeded in Ohio for generations, we are at our roots, but humble farmers that value a hard day’s work and the grace of God. Ashland has given us the opportunity to pursue all of our dreams beyond anything we thought possible,” he stated.
Jake, who complemented his bachelor’s degree with a master’s in educational administration (M.Ed.) from AU in 2020, also noted that his undergraduate experience opened up his eyes to different worldviews even though he was still close to home. “People of the world attend Ashland, and I was fortunate enough to create friendships with these people. They gave me an understanding of what it’s like out there and helped create a person who is able to see different perspectives of all walks of life,” he explained. That has not only helped him as a teacher, but in his role as a township trustee the past eight years for Weller Township.
Fast forward to McConnell’s junior year at AU, when as a marketing major with a minor in finance she needed an internship to help fulfill her bachelor’s degree requirements. On a whim, she made the short drive to Schumacher Homes’ model homes sales center on State Route 30. They were in the process of hiring; however, the position had just been filled. McConnell’s persistence—there’s that word again—paid off, though, as she asked to be interviewed anyway and wound up with a sales assistant position.
For as far back as she can remember, McConnell always had an interest in real estate, even tuning into those real estate listings on the community access channel from the 1990s. “I watched those type of shows before church. Looking back, that’s kind of weird. What sixyear-old likes that kind of stuff?” she recalled with a laugh. “It was just natural for me.”
“It was luck that I was able to get that internship. It was luck that I was able to be with a builder who has that type of business model (and) doesn’t just stick with the cookie-cutter model. And, the luck of the opportunity to get to Charleston, which is now where I reside and will forever.”
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Luck is when opportunity meets persistence.” That oft-referenced saying from Ashland University marketing professor Paul Lewis inspired Jen (Hempfield ’06) McConnell as a student and still resonates with her today as the co-owner of McConnell Real Estate Partners, a highly successful agency that focuses on luxury real estate and custom home building in Charleston, S.C.
Passion&Persistence Meet The McConnell Family
“I didn’t even know if the builder was hiring, just showed up with a résumé, and I forced my way in,” she said.
“
After impressing the higher-ups at Schumacher Homes, the expanding company presented an offer to her to become a new homes consultant in South Carolina shortly after completing
– Jen (Hempfield ’06) McConnell
As if she didn’t have enough on her plate with two young children, McConnell was in the process of transitioning to general brokerage. With 11 years of new construction experience, it was time to create her own real estate firm – McConnell Real Estate Partners.
As one would expect, McConnell said they experienced some “rough” days, but each treatment was followed by “best-case scenario” updates from the healthcare providers at MUSC, where one of the nation’s leading oncologists for neuroblastoma resides, Dr. Jacqueline Kraveka, who is Bodhi’s oncologist. Bodhi ended up going through four rounds of chemo there and was declared cancerfree after five months of treatment. He continues to receive regular checkups to this day.
her degree at AU. Having been born in Mansfield and raised in Ashland with a close set of family and friends, the decision wasn’t easy, but McConnell accepted and suddenly found herself in the charming city of Charleston designing and selling seven-figure
As her career was thriving, her personal life also perked up. Through mutual friends, she met a graduate student at Clemson University named Josh McConnell, who also grew up in Ashland. The two discovered they had much more in common—beach life, faith and real estate—than just their hometown and were married on Isle of Palms, a barrier island of South Carolina, in 2010.
The couple initially settled near Columbia, S.C. Josh worked in corporate finance, while Jen diversified her experience in new construction, working exclusively for custom home builders from 2010-16. After welcoming their first child, daughter Bennett, they moved back to Charleston where they wanted to raise their family, and shortly thereafter, along came son Bodhi.
The good news was that Bodhi’s diagnosis of neuroblastoma is a treatable and common form of pediatric cancer. On the other hand, the tumor was big enough that it wrapped around the major organs, so surgery to remove it was not an option. He was diagnosed with stage three neuroblastoma, meaning they had up to eight rounds of chemotherapy ahead of them.
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Thehomes.chance
(contined on page 9)
The McConnell’s fairy tale story came to a grinding halt though. At a doctor’s appointment to find out why five-month-old Bodhi’s lingering cough wouldn’t go away, the pediatrician who had worked at the oncology unit at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) pressed hard on his abdomen and was concerned. A few hours later, their worst fears were realized as an ultrasound confirmed there was a tumor in Bodhi’s belly.
Jen (Hempfield ’06) McConnell came back to AU this July with her son Bodhi, who overcame neuroblastoma. In his honor, the family has established the McConnell Foundation, which raises money for pediatric cancer research.
In addition to the expert doctors at MUSC, McConnell credits
Never hesitant to meet a challenge head on, McConnell eagerly poured herself into the work. “Literally, I had a whiteboard and I started with a floor plan, but I could redline and change anything I wanted to, which was amazing. I was 20-21 (years old) and designed these multi-million-dollar, waterfront homes from scratch. You just don’t get that opportunity very often,” she said.
Behind McConnell’s efforts and leadership over three years, Schumacher’s first center in South Carolina became a success. The builder became a known commodity and now has three model homes sales centers in The Palmetto State and about a dozen scattered throughout the southeastern United States.
Looking back, McConnell feels incredibly fortunate about how her first few postgraduation years played out, but her newly-formed persistence had a lot to do with it too. “It was luck that I was able to get that internship. It was luck that I was able to be with a builder who has that type of business model (and) doesn’t just stick with the cookie-cutter model. And, the luck of the opportunity to get to Charleston, which is now where I reside and will forever,” she said.
to design allowed her to explore a true passion, something she couldn’t pass up, but it came with significant challenges. “(Schumacher is) a semi-custom home builder. We were an Ohio builder coming to build Ohio homes in Charleston, and that didn’t fly,” she explained. “Right off the bat, we needed new plans and they left that up to me to send them floor plans with Southern architecture that would work in our market.”
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Bassitt qualified for the 400 hurdles finals in impressive fashion and then turned in an epic performance. He entered the home stretch (last 100 meters) in sixth-place and kicked it into high gear, passing three of his competitors, including France’s Wilfried Happio, at the
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“I knew it was close. When I finally saw my name pop up, it was unbelievable,” he said. “I mean, obviously, I got third, but I feel like in an event like the 400-meters hurdles in the World Championships, if you get on the podium, there’s no losing. It’s a special thing.”
2022 WORLD GOLD & BRONZE MEDALIST Men’s 4x400 Relay | Men’s 400M Hurdles
“This year has been a struggle to say the least,” Nageotte told reporters referencing a tight Achilles tendon on her take-off leg among other setbacks. “To come out on top … is really special.”
Atmedal.theindoor
worlds in Serbia in March, Nageotte took silver in the pole vault at 4.75 meters (15 feet, 7 inches) and Bassitt matched her with a silver in the 400 meters (45.05). Those five combined world medals were as many or more than Australia (five), Belgium (five), Canada (five), Brazil (four), Japan (four), Italy (four), Norway (four), Nigeria (three), Germany (two) and Peru (two), among others.
ATHLETES BriNG AU To THE WorLd STAGE
Turns out Bassitt was not done. He stuck around the meet and the coaches called him to be part of the 4x400 team. He anchored the prelims race and ran a 45.29 leg in helping Team USA to the top qualifying time of 2:58.96. While Bassitt wasn’t part of the finals team, which won by finishing in 2:56.17, he was still awarded a gold
2022 WORLD CHAMPIONWomen’s Pole Vault
Nageotte matched her 2021 Summer Olympics gold medal by again finishing first among the world’s best in the pole vault. She rose to the occasion again, clearing 4.85 meters (15 feet, 11 inches) for her best mark of the year and equaling the best vault in the world this season. Using a short approach, she cleared the height on her first attempt with ease to edge Team USA teammate and training partner Sandi Morris, who needed two tries, for top honors.
line by two-hundredths of a second, for the bronze medal. His time of 47.39 was a personal best.
Behind incredible performances from Trevor Bassitt ’21 and Katie Nageotte ’13, Ashland University out-medaled entire countries at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
At July’s outdoor worlds meet, held in Eugene, Ore., the Ashland alumni duo combined for three medals, with Bassitt collecting two in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4x400-meter relay and Nageotte earning one in the pole vault.
“Even with my business, the phones stopped ringing the day Bodhi got the diagnosis and the phones started ringing again the week he went back to school,” she continued. “That is not me, that is God. I had my best year in real estate that year, the year I only worked for six Withmonths.”lifehaving returned to normal, Josh and Jen became co-owners of McConnell Real Estate Partners. They offer concierge real estate services to buyers, sellers and investors, with properties ranging from multi-family investments to multi-million-dollar homes on some of the most beautiful beaches throughout the Charleston area. Jen is the broker-in-charge, overseeing all the agents while continuing to work with clients as well, and Josh’s expertise lies on the finance and real estate investment side.
school, along with my six siblings. Ashland will forever be home and it will always hold a special place in (our) hearts,” she said.
persistence, something she first embraced under Dr. Lewis at AU, has not only led her to an impressive career, but down a path to become a budding philanthropist.
While there are many families who share a legacy story at Ashland University, nothing quite compares to the seven Stimperts sticking together for a decade at AU.
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The motivation for their business changed, though. It wasn’t simply an opportunity to combine and explore their passions anymore, but a calling. With Bodhi and those nerve-racking five long months of appointments and trips back and forth to MUSC forever etched in their minds, now a portion of every commission their agency
LUCK AND PERSISTENCE – THE McCONNELL FAMILY (continued)
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It wasn’t always easy to manage the high expectations Renee shouldered as she went after her academic and athletic pursuits. Like her siblings, though, she attributes the ability to balance everything to the many mentors at AU. “Thanks to … (professors) Dee Gregory, Bob Cyders, (coaches) Robyn Fralick and Kari Pickens, I was able to be successful both in the classroom and on the basketball court. These individuals saw the good, bad and the ugly as a young collegiate athlete that was juggling learning to be an educator during the day to leading the best team in the nation in the evenings. I learned that communication, collaboration, respect and trust are key areas that have set me up for success,” she said.
makes goes toward pediatric cancer research that is being done by his oncologist. Over the past two years, their brokerage has donated just over $75,000 to pediatric cancer research. As a way to raise additional funding for Dr. Kraveka’s research lab, the McConnell’s also formed a nonprofit—the McConnell Foundation. Quite simply, they want to help find cures to fight pediatric cancer, so other families can experience the same miracle they did.
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“Kate started the ball rolling and the others just fell in line. They saw Kate had a great experience,” said Mary. “They all had good experiences, great teachers, great coaches. Many professors took a personal interest in them, offered constant encouragement. AU really opened doors for each of them.”
The McConnell Foundation hosted its first event, a black-tie gala in June of this year and raised $44,000 that night. That brings the McConnell’s total donation to pediatric cancer research to about $120,000 in a short two-and-a-half-year span. “We are excited about the momentum we have with the foundation and will continue to donate to pediatric cancer research through the brokerage as well,” she McConnell’ssaid.
Today, Renee is a sixth-grade social studies teacher at Ashland City Schools who already added an M.Ed. to her résumé and looks forward to continue giving back to the community that has supported her so much.
STIMPERTS STICK-TO-ITIVENESS LEADS TO UNPRECEDENTED LEGACY AT AU (continued)
Anna Stimpert ’22, like Jake, Troy and Renee, earned a bachelor’s degree in education and already has started her teaching career in seventh-grade science at Crestview Middle School. The youngest of the family joked they “saved the best for last,” but on a more serious note succinctly summed up being the last of an amazing legacy at AU. “I just feel very proud and thankful to have (gone) to such a great her family’s unflinching faith for Bodhi’s successful outcome. “Everything was 100% God. How (Bodhi) had the original diagnosis when the pediatrician just happened to check his abdomen when he was in for a cough and how we kept getting good news after the initial diagnosis. We know that it wasn’t just us,” she said.
When Anna and Renee crossed the commencement stage this May to receive their degrees, it marked the near end of an amazing run (Anna is working toward an M.Ed. still). A run that saw at least one member of the Stimpert family, and most of the time two and sometimes even three, enrolled at AU. The Stimpert children explored their personal academic and career interests and grew as individuals culturally and spiritually, all while still being close enough to home to reconnect with family whenever they desired.
AU HOMECOMING 2022 EVENT DETAILS
9:30 a.m. Walkers/Runners
FRIDAY, OCT. 21
8 - 10:30 Hawkins-Conarda.m Student Center
5 WELCOME STATION
Can’t make it to campus? A virtual 5K option is available and registration is required.
5 5K FUN RUN
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
A two-person painting exhibition featuring Ohio artists Emily Bartolone and Sarah Esposito.
5 COBURN ART GALLERY
Stop in the lobby of the Hawkins-Conard Student Center and grab a cup of coffee to kick-start your Homecoming celebration!
For more information, see our Facebook page – The Coburn Gallery, Ashland University
Registration required. Please visit www.ashland.edu/5k2022 to register.
Start off Homecoming with a 5K Fun Run! The first 100 registrants will receive a free t-shirt.
8:15 a.m. - Check-in begins in front of the Rec Center
SATURDAY, OCT. 22
A $75 AU Campus Store gift code will be awarded to the first male and female to finish the race and a $25 AU Cam pus Store gift code to the second male and female to finish. Official results will not be recorded. Please, no pets. The Rec Center will be open at 9 a.m. to change and shower before and after the race. For questions, call Rec Services at 419-289-5440.
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The Wedge Between Us
In lieu of an entrance fee, we ask that you bring a canned good to benefit the Ashland County Food Bank
5 PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA FAN FEST
3 Nick Bellanco ’09 – Football/track and field
Admission: Complimentary
3 Al Honaker and Dr. Dan Sullivan will be recognized with the Eagle Forever Award.
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Admission: Complimentary
The following individuals have distinguished themselves in the field of intercollegiate athletics at Ashland University, either by virtue of their performance on its athletic teams or by meritorious efforts on behalf of the athletic program. In return, the university will bestow on them induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame, Class of 2021.
2020-21 STUDENT ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Parking Lot E
5 LEGACY VISIT DAY
3 Trevor Bassitt ’21 – Track and field
Noon | Pizza, Pizza, Pizza Fan Fest: Parking Lot E
3 Rachel Miller ’21 – Track and field
3 Joe Horn ’10 – Football/track and field
Eagles’ Nest, Hawkins-Conard Student Center
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Did you spend time back in the day at Clayton Hall? Come, reminisce and take a tour of this newly renovated residence hall! The subject of a multi-million dollar investment, it features air conditioning, bathroom updates and window replacements, just to name a few. Come by during this hour and check it out! See full details on the renovation on page 16.
2021-22 STUDENT ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
The Wedge Between Us
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(Myers Convocation Center Parking Lot)
3 Paul Graham – Men’s and women’s swimming and diving
5 CLAYTON HALL TOUR
1 p.m. | Football Game (Optional)
$20 per person
9:30
3 Billy Cundiff ’09 – Football (Class of 2020)
Make plans to stop in the Eagles’ Nest for coffee and pas tries and an opportunity to talk to President Carlos Campo and his wife, Karen, in a casual setting. Dr. Campo will provide a campus update at 11 a.m.
Bring your family and join us at this free jam-packed tail gate! Ashland pizzerias are going head-to-head to serve you your favorite pizza. Along with this variety of pizza, there will be bounce houses for the kids (weather permitting), a free photo booth, face painting, give-a-ways and
3 Jacob Petkac ’10 – Baseball
Join us for our Legacy Visit Day! Exclusively for high school or transfer students who have parents or grandparents who graduated from Ashland, this event provides a university overview and campus tour. After the event, stay and enjoy the Homecoming activities throughout campus. Reserva tions required. Find more information about the Legacy Event at www.ashland.edu/visit or by contacting the Office of Admissions at www.enrollme@ashland.edu.
AU Raffle items – must be present to win!
3 Vickie Schmitz Brake ’90 – Women’s basketball
5 COBURN ART GALLERY
(Myers Convocation Center Parking Lot) – (Optional)
5 2021 AU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION AND STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR RECOGNITION
3 Simon West ’99 – Men’s soccer
3 Kibwe Johnson ’14 – Track and field
Reservations required at www.ashland.edu/hall-of-fame or contact Athletics at 419-289-5441
10 – 11 Claytona.m.Hall
3 Carrie Ritchie – Volleyball
5 PRESIDENT’S COFFEE
Uppera.m.Convocation Center
10:15 a.m. | Check-in on the second floor of the Hawkins-Conard Student Center
10:30 – 11:30 a.m
11 a.m. | Campus Tour
3 to be selected
10:30 a.m. | Admissions presentation
1 Jackp.m.Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field
AU Eagles vs. Tiffin University Dragons
Senior Citizens and School-Aged Children: $5
5 ALL OTHER EVENTS, CONTACT OFFICE OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT 419-289-5082alumni@ashland.eduor866-GoTuffy
Adult General Admission: $10
Admission: Complimentary
5K
The concert includes three choruses in a program of varied music. This event is free and open to the public.
5 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME BRUNCH
- Purchase in advance at the AU Campus Store Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
AU Students with ID: Free
5 5 STONES COMMUNITY CHURCH
Tickets: www.goashlandeagles.com or Campus Store (located in the Student Center - see hours below) Chris Kohuth 419-289-5449 | ckohuth@ashland.edu
5 FALL CHORAL CONCERT Jackp.m.& Deb Miller Chapel
4
INFORMATIONCONTACT
5 FOOTBALL GAME
5 FUN RUN Registration required To register, visit www.ashland.edu/5k2022 Rec Services 419-289-5440
Immediately following the football game until 6 p.m. Alumni Room, Upper Convocation Center
Reservations Required Make your reservation: www.ashland.edu/hall-of-fame Athletics: 419-289-5441
Office of Admissions | 419-289-5052
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10:30 a.m.
- Game-day tickets may also be purchased at the stadium ticket booth two hours prior to game time.
5 LEGACY VISIT DAY
Reserved Chair Back Seating: $15
Come and gather! Meet up with your fellow alumni, friends, faculty and staff. Celebrate your time at Ashland while en joying free food from Ashland’s award-winning catering, a DJ, cash bar, giveaways and a free photo booth!
AU HOMECOMING 2022 EVENT DETAILS
Jack & Deb Miller Chapel
EVENT
5 CLAYTON HALL TOUR
2 – 3 Claytonp.m.Hall
5 5TH QUARTER CELEBRATION
5 FOOTBALL GAME
THE
SUNDAY, OCT. 23
Tickets-Avoid the lines and order online at www.goashland eagles.com - click on “tickets” in the menu at the top of the page. Tickets can be purchased online through the start of the game.
Stop by and take a look at the fully renovated Clayton Hall.
The recently merged Department of Languages and Literatures (formerly the Departments of English and Foreign Languages) welcomes alumni and friends to our open Questions:house.Dr. Hilary Donatini | hdonatin@ashland.edu.
8 – 11 Dwighta.m.Schar College of Education (Building #5 on the Campus map), second floor Stop by the Ashbrook Center’s new location. Refreshments will be served. Reservations are appreciated at alumni@ashbrook.org.
Contact: Cynthia cpetry@ashland.eduPetry
Saturday Lunch: 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
10-11 Bixlera.m.Lobby
Sunday: Noon – 3 p.m.
5 ASHBROOK CENTER OPEN HOUSE
5 BAND ALUMNI REUNION
The following on-campus groups are planning special pro gramming. Visit www.ashland.edu/homecoming for complete program details!
Saturday Dinner: 4 – 6:30 p.m. Cost: $16.15 per person
Cost: $12.75 per person
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5 STUDENT DINING INFO (CONVO)
Sunday Brunch: 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Cost: $16.15 per
5 AU CAMPUS STORE HOURS
5 RECREATION CENTER
Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
5 COBURN ART GALLERY
Contact: Joe Lewis, Director of Bands jlewisjr@ashland.edu
Saturday: Stadium Store, Noon – End of the game
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
5 THE DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
Open 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Pool: 3 – 8 p.m. Cost: Contact:ComplimentaryRecServices 419-289-5440
PROGRAMMINGADDITIONAL
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Jennifer Roy Barrows ’99 Fredericktown, MD
Doretha Pendleton ’85 Cleveland, OH
HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?
Ambur Banner ’19 MBA Kansas City, KA
Our purpose is to create a worldwide community of alumni through opportunities for meaningful engagement. We will foster awareness, pride, participation and philanthropic commitment to AU.
Joan Stanbrook Sustarsic ’78 Elyria, OH
OUR MISSION
Lisa Slater Chittenden ’91 Wooster, OH
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
WHO LEADS THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION?
30 | Ashland University | Fall 2021
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION?
Ken Dworznik ’98 ’00 M.Ed. Rocky River, OH
Stephanie Rankin Kromer ’14 Gahanna, OH
Tyler Lecceadone ’93 Sand Lake, MI
Amy Cepelnik ’18 MBA Bay Village, OH
Paul Lucas ’05 M.Ed. ’09 Ed.D. Streetsboro, OH
Hallie Mast Rutt ’12 Strasburg, OH
To engage alumni with Ashland University, where “Accent on the Individual” is a lifelong experience.
Upon graduation, you automatically become a proud member of the Alumni Association! There are no dues to pay. You share a common bond with more than 50,000 members worldwide: the “Ashland Experience.” Your friendships and experiences, in and out of the classroom, serve as the foundation of your lifelong connection to Ashland. For more information, visit www.ashland.edu/alumni
Erin Buzza ’19 New Albany, OH
Lisa Lang ’96 ’00 M.Ed. Big Prairie, OH
Elaine Robinson ’02 M.Ed. Howard, OH
James Turner ’98 ’03 MBA Columbus, OH
Your Ashland University Alumni Association is led by the members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, a diverse group of 25 alumni who meet on campus throughout the year. Together, they represent the interests of Ashland University and serve as informed ambassadors for the university.
AUAA Vice President
John Benedict ’03 MBA Canton, OH
Keona Padgett ’07 Sunbury, OH
BOARD OF 2022-23DIRECTORS
Heather Olson ’07 Parma, OH
Steve Oster ’88 Mansfield, OH
AUAA President Philip Yale ’78 Westlake, OH
Will Levering, Jr. ’05 Fredericktown, OH
Mark McIntyre ’95 MBA Blacklick, OH
Rachel Hanna Day ’86 Millersburg, OH
Maria Dehne ’06 Cincinnati, OH
Jill Potts Miller ’01 Avon, OH
Emily Day ’12 Columbus, OH
www.ashland.edu | 15 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: 4 Undergraduate Admissions enrollme@ashland.edu | 419-289-5052 4 Graduate, Online and International Admissions welcome@ashland.edu | 419-289-5738 4 Undergraduate Financial Aid financialaid@ashland.edu | 419-289-5002 4 Graduate Financial Aid gradfinaid@ashland.edu | 419-289-5003 4 Career Center CCLC-AU@ashland.edu | 419-289-5064 FROM YOUR FUTURE YOU CAN EXPECT 4 2,274 undergraduate students 4 4 COLLEGES – 60+ MAJORS 4 150 acres of one of the most beautiful campuses in Ohio 4 683 NCAA Division II student athletes 4 18 students is the average class size 4 130+ student clubs and organizations RECEIVE INFORMATIONMOREHERE
A large-scale facelift to Clayton Hall has converted the nine-story, co-ed facility that can house up to 266 upperclassmen into a modern-day living space. Schar’s $8.4 million in funding was used to make it fully air conditioned for the first time and every floor features a series of two-person suites, each with a private bathroom. Additionally, a new roof, new windows and LED lighting have been installed to make it a much more energyefficient building.
MAJOR RENOVATION TO CLAYTON HALL, SEVERAL BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS IN THE WORKS
4 Claremont Ave. Streetscape and Pedestrian Bridge – These two highly visible elements of campus are overdue for some aesthetic improvements. Major landscaping and sidewalk upgrades will be completed on each side of Claremont Ave. to soften this area and improve pedestrian safety. Plus, the pedestrian bridge will be refurbished in another significant effort to vastly improve this side of campus.
Ashland University completed a major renovation to one of its largest residence halls this summer and is also undertaking a series of campus beautification projects that together will transform the main campus into a safer, more accessible and more picturesque environment. These enhancements are being made possible by two significant financial gifts, totaling nearly $20 million, from Dwight Schar ’64.
A second major gift of $10.4 million from Schar will result in a number of beautification updates to help enhance the campus. Some of these projects are in progress and others will take place throughout the 2022-23 academic year:
4 Convocation Center Plazas – Outside the John C. Myers Convocation Center, two outdoor plazas will be constructed, one adjacent to the Lower Convo entrance and one adjacent to the Upper Convo entrance. These additions will create highly functional and attractive spaces at one of the most frequently accessed buildings on campus.
4 Avenue of Eagles – The central pedestrian area through campus will undergo a transformation, reworking the walkway between the academic corridor and the student center. The reconstructed pathway will improve accessibility through the center of campus and include an arch to enhance brand identity in that area of campus.
“As we renovate, reconfigure and refresh Clayton Hall, we are creating the more comfortable, private and independent living spaces that students are looking for. This renovation will give new life to the 50-plus-yearold residence hall,” said Rick Ewing, vice president of operations and planning.
Clayton Hall now features modern-day comforts such as air conditioning and two-person suites with private bathrooms, as well as new windows and LED lighting to improve energy efficiency.
4 Library Café – A café will be added to the first floor of the iconic Archer Library as part of the general library renovation project. This new glassed-in atrium structure will enclose the existing northern patio and create an inviting presence for students as well as the entire Ashland community.
16 | Ashland University | Fall 2022 ACADEMIC & CAMPUSNEWS
Orr was the interim dean of eAshland, which offers non-credit-bearing programming, professional learning services, workforce development, English language learning and the dual-enrollment College Credit Plus program, prior to her permanent appointment. She will also provide oversight of the Center of Innovation and Teaching Excellence and LearnAU, while remaining an assistant professor of communication studies. Orr, with more than 25 years of higher education experience as both a faculty member and administrator, is a leader in faculty development and online/hybrid learning, and has developed and taught 20-plus business and communication courses across multiple modalities at several different institutions. Nettles is excited to be joining AU at what she aptly describes as an “important time of institutional growth” and looks forward to making an impact with “the meaningful work set before (her).” She served as the director of student equity and inclusion at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash., and as the associate director of the Greenfield Intercultural Center at the University of Pennsylvania, in addition to roles at the Maryland Institute College of Art and Fordham University. She has provided consultation and training to leaders in higher education, reviewed policies with a DEI lens, identified barriers to equity and recommended changes based on DEI research and best practices.
Brown had been in various roles at Walsh University since 2011, including as dean of the School of Arts and Sciences since July 2021. She began at Walsh as an assistant professor of art history and advanced up the ranks to an award of full professor in 2020. Her leadership roles there included being the director of the honors program for one year and leading five Global Learning programs to Rome and London. She was also a visiting scholar at the American Academy in Rome during the summer of 2019 and currently serves on the board of the Italian Art Society.
“The historically distinctive beauty of the Ashland University campus will be enhanced on a grand scale with these beautification projects, while at the same time improving safety, accessibility and functionality for the campus community and visitors,” noted Ewing.
4 Brick Walkway Replacements – The brick sidewalks in front of Founders Hall and on the Quad will be replaced. This effort will include the reconstruction of both Jones’ Terrace and the Quad flagpole plaza.
Ashland University has welcomed four senior-level leadership additions over the past few months, as Lisa Vernon-Dotson was named the new dean of the Dwight Schar College of Education, Katherine T. Brown the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Shawn Orr the dean of eAshland and Brielle Nettles the executive director for diversity, equity and inclusive excellence.
Shawn Orr Dean, eAshland
Brielle Nettles Executive Director for diversity equity and inclusive excellence
ACADEMIC & CAMPUSNEWS
4 Welcome Center Parking Lot – A parking lot between the Gill Welcome Center and the Military and Veteran Resource Center will be expanded to 125 spaces and redeveloped to provide a convenient and well-landscaped area for campus visitors and commuter students.
Lisa Vernon-Dotson Dean, Dwight Schar College of Education
THREE NEW DEANS APPOINTED AS WELL AS LEADER OF DEI
Katherine T. Brown Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
4 Wayfinding and Branding Signage – An extensive effort is in progress to improve and refresh the signage throughout campus, while also achieving consistent branding and messaging.
4 Jefferson Street Area – Transitioning Jefferson St. from a cut-through street between Claremont Ave. and Broad St. into a pedestrian walkway to the athletic complex will be more visually appealing and add to the atmosphere on game days.
Vernon-Dotson came to AU from Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J., where she served since 2014. She was associate dean for Rowan’s College of Education as well as a professor and chair of the department of interdisciplinary and inclusive education. Vernon-Dotson has also held faculty and/or administration positions at Coastal Carolina University, Duquesne University and Hampton University. She has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate level, chaired multiple dissertation committees and been a consultant on accreditation for several universities.
For its exceptional emphasis and support of military-connected students, Ashland was awarded a Collegiate Purple Star from the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
18 | Ashland University | Fall 2022 ACADEMIC & CAMPUSNEWS
ASHLAND A MEMBER OF FIRST CLASS OF COLLEGIATE PURPLE STAR CAMPUSES
Ashland University was awarded a Collegiate Purple Star by the Ohio Department of Higher Education this May. Ohio became the first state in the nation to adopt a Collegiate Purple Star designation, and Ashland was one of nine independent colleges and universities (33 total, including public colleges and universities) in Ohio to earn the Thehonor.Collegiate
“Ashland is honored to receive this Purple Star designation from the state of Ohio. It affirms our commitment to our military families and we are so grateful to be among the first recipients of this very special award,” said Spade.
Criteria for being chosen as a Collegiate Purple Star include having a dedicated military/veteran point of contact and/or office on campus, establishing priority registration for veterans and service members, surveying student veterans and service members and their families about needs and challenges and allowing for the establishment of student-led groups and organizations for veterans and service members.
Ashland meets those criteria and then some. Its Jack W. Liebert Military and Veteran Resource Center opened in 2020, after years of planning and development, and serves as a hub for military-connected students to transition from military service to campus life. Support for student veterans includes assistance with the admission process, registration and GI Bill processing, financial aid, academic advising, mental health counseling, career development and more. The Jack, as it is affectionately known on campus, also includes spaces for military students to study, as well as to relax and share a sense of camaraderie.
Purple Star recognizes colleges and universities that are supportive and inclusive of militaryconnected students. The designations were determined by an advisory committee, which reviewed applications and recommendations, and the designation will be active for a period of three years.
Due to Ashland’s exceptionally strong emphasis and support of military-connected students, highlighted by its Jack W. Liebert Military and Veteran Resource Center, Carlos Campo was one of three college presidents requested to make remarks during the conference call announcing the statewide recipients. “Ashland is privileged to be among the schools in the inaugural class to receive the Purple Star designation. We would like to recognize Randy Spade for his leadership as the executive director of the Jack Liebert Military and Veterans Resource Center and also thank Deborah Liebert Karl, whose generosity helped us honor her father and establish the center,” he said.
Karaffa has been an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Whittier Middle School in Poland, Maine, since 2014. She is lauded for her ability to help students understand the connections between history and their own lives and for preparing them for long-term research projects that they present at the school’s National History Day. Students learn the essentials of research, including locating sources and evaluating their reliability, forming thesis statements, finding evidence to support their ideas and structuring their arguments in a clear, compelling way. Many have been recognized for their work, including one project that was displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
ACADEMIC & CAMPUSNEWS
Bethard was awarded for a book she has been working on about the loss of a sibling due to a heroin-fentanyl overdose. A distressing subject, she explores themes such as family, place, grief and land, and how they are interwoven. One part of the winning submission was an essay, “Grief Work,” which has been published in “VIDA Review.”
Maurer, this year’s lone Milken Educator Award recipient who teaches in Ohio, is a kindergarten teacher at Midvale Elementary, part of Indian Valley Local Schools in Tuscarawas County, where she was once a student herself. Described as expressive, caring and genuine by her colleagues, Maurer makes learning interactive and fun by prioritizing differentiated instruction to fit student needs. Whether in-person, remote or hybrid learning, she balances science-backed literacy instruction with character-building to prepare students for success in school and life.
Kristen Maurer ’14 Midvale Elementary
“There are not enough words to describe how honored I am to win such a prestigious award. I was completely shocked and … seeing how happy my family and friends and even my students were for me to win this award made my entire world,” she said.
An initiative of the Milken Family Foundation, Milken Educator Awards provide recognition and a one-time, unrestricted financial reward of $25,000 to individual elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists from around the U.S. who are furthering excellence in education. Recipients are heralded in early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish.
“The honor means a great deal to me because I’m working on very difficult material that can be hard to execute in a lyrical manner, and the validation of a jury of peers who recognize both my efforts and accomplishments gives me new energy to finish this book,” said Sundberg. “I plan to use the grant money to fund dedicated time during the summer for my research and writing, and I’m grateful to the Ohio Arts Council for both this recognition and the incredible amount they do to support the arts in Ohio.”
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically. The OAC’s Individual Excellence Awards program supports artists’ growth and development and recognizes their work in Ohio and beyond.
Two Ashland University alumnae – Kristen Maurer and Jamie Karaffa – received Milken Educators Awards, dubbed as the “Oscars of Teaching,” this spring. Maurer graduated from AU with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education in 2014, while Karaffa earned a master’s degree in American history and government in 2021.
An Ashland University alumna and an AU faculty member were recognized by the Ohio Arts Council with Individual Excellence Awards, a peer recognition program for a creative artist’s body of work. Ashley Bethard ‘08, who was recently promoted to editor and chief content officer of the Dayton Daily News, and Kelly Sundberg, an assistant professor of English, were both honored for their work in the non fiction category.
www.ashland.edu | 19
ASHLAND ALUMNA, FACULTY MEMBER EACH HONORED BY OHIO ARTS COUNCIL
PAIR OF ALUMNAE WIN MILKEN EDUCATOR AWARDS
Sundberg is an AU professor who also teaches in MFA in Creative Writing program. She plans to use the grant to complete her second book, tentatively titled “The Answer Is Always in the Wound.” It is a collection of linked essays about post-traumatic stress disorder. Sundberg’s first book, a memoir, “Goodbye, Sweet Girl: A Story of Domestic Violence and Survival,” was critically acclaimed.
“My gosh, that’s a huge honor to be considered one of the top educators,” she said of the award. “I’ve worked really hard in the history realm, doing the MAHG program, which (through) my understanding and my experience is one of the hardest master’s programs. Doing that hard program and earning the James Madison Fellowship, I think that made me feel good in my place as a (historian), but now I can feel like I’m being recognized for the teacher I am and not just the subject I teach.”
Jamie Karaffa ’21 Whittier Middle School
“I’m incredibly honored to receive a grant from the Ohio Arts Council. For the last few years, I’ve been working on a draft of a book about the loss of my sibling … it’s a book about the complicated ways we love and feel loss,” Bethard stated. “I plan to use the grant to take some time away to write — to really tap into that quiet, focused state that I need to move this draft closer to completion.”
20 | Ashland University | Fall 2022 ATHLETICNEWS
“I’m excited about the ability to come back here to AU and be able to keep moving the track and field program forward.”
Kruger, 43, a member of Team USA in three Summer Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012), is a 2001 graduate of Morningside College. He and his wife, Laura, have two children, Geo and Marina.
“I want to thank interim head coach Jake Sussman and our assistant coaches who kept this program up and running this year,” King said. “They faced some unique obstacles and they didn’t back down from any of those. Once again, we were heard from on the national level. Our team showed exceptional poise and composure throughout the year and that’s a testament to the coaches and the leadership in this program.”
But, now that Kruger has taken over the nationally-renowned program (officially on June 6), he views it not as job, but as a life Saidcalling.Kruger,
A.G. Kruger wanted to come back to Ashland University and serve as its head track and field coach. Just not under the circumstances that came about this past January—the sudden passing of legendary coach Jud Logan.
“It’s something I didn’t think would come at this time in my life, to have the opportunity. There’s no way I replace Jud, but I hope I have enough ‘Jud-isms’ in me. Learning from him and learning from other people, especially at the University of South Dakota from coach (Lucky) Huber and coach (Dave) Gottsleben … (I’ve learned) how to become a head coach.
Said Kruger, “I kind of look at this as … this is the move I have until I retire. It’s a place where you can raise a great family … and be able to have great track athletes and have fun and enjoy it.”
“Youpeople.look at AU over the last couple of the years, it’s a great, balanced program. That’s why you’re winning national titles. I hope to get back there. It doesn’t mean it can happen overnight. It’s going to take time. The tradition here has been excellent. What we can do with the women is the same thing we can do with the men. The biggest thing is getting the group together to help these athletes to go from young boys and girls to becoming men and women, and moving forward with their lives.”
A.G. Kruger, a former AU assistant coach and head strength and conditioning coach, is taking over the helm of the Eagles’ traditionrich track and field program.
Most recently, Kruger served as the throws coach for NCAA Div. I South Dakota’s track and field program from 2015-22, a stint which included 2018 (outdoors) and 2022 (indoors and outdoors) Summit League women’s team championships.
KRUGER ANSWERS THE CALL, RETURNS TO AU AS HEAD TRACK AND FIELD COACH
Ashland’s men’s track and field team has finished fifth or better in 10 consecutive nationals, indoors and outdoors combined, and won three consecutive NCAA Div. II national titles (2019 indoors and outdoors, and 2021 indoors). The Eagle women have been on the nationals podium as recently as 2015 (tied for third indoors).
“You look at Div. II, and it’s development,” Kruger said. “It starts with, how do you develop the talent you have here? You can’t complain about what recruits you don’t have, you say, ‘What do you have, and what do we do to make them better?’ That’s from day number one of getting them here…making sure they’re going to class, being great students, being great athletes and being great
Kruger is just the third full-time head track and field coach at Ashland in the last 40 years, following Bill Gallagher and Logan. Following Logan’s passing, interim head coach Jacob Sussman led the Eagle men to second- (indoors) and fifth-place (outdoors) finishes at the 2022 NCAA Div. II Championships.
Kruger is a known commodity at AU, having spent 13 years training, coaching and teaching on campus, including stints as head strength and conditioning coach and assistant throws coach under Logan. “A.G. had the benefit of being mentored by a number of people, in and outside the track and field program, during his first stint in Ashland,” noted Al King, director of athletics at AU. “He went to South Dakota and continued his coaching education. He returns with new perspectives and ideas and the fire to maintain the outstanding all-around program Jud Logan put in place.”
Individually, senior Trevor Bassitt ended his stellar collegiate career with 10 national titles and 21 AllAmerican honors. Bassitt’s time of 48.98 seconds in the men’s 400-meter hurdles finals gave him his 10th national championship and slotted him at No. 4 all-time in Div. II in the event.
ATHLETICNEWS
BASEBALL – The Eagles made the NCAA Div. II postseason for the 17th time in 25 years; prior to that, the program’s first 100 years were recognized in early April. Ashland was the runner-up in both the Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular season and tournament.
WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD – Ashland was tied for 42nd nationally, and freshman Kelsey Kinsley picked up her first All-American award by finishing fifth in the women’s hammer throw (191 feet, 3 inches). Senior hurdler Rachel Miller was named first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America for the second year in a row.
STUNT – The Eagle STUNT program’s first full season was a successful one, as the team finished 9-3. Ashland’s first home game at Kates Gymnasium was a 16-0 defeat of Ursuline.
Both Bassitt and Fairbanks were College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-Americans®, with Bassitt eventually
WOMEN’S LACROSSE – Under first-year head coach Lauren Simko, the Eagles improved to 6-11 overall and 5-5 in the Great Midwest, good for a conference tournament appearance. Junior Cassady Becker earned Great Midwest Attacker of the Year honors. She finished with 50 goals.
Senior Brent Fairbanks added a third-place in the hammer throw at 209 feet, 5 inches, while fellow thrower Noah Koch, a sophomore, took eighthplace in the discus with a mark of 173 feet, 11 inches. Leading the relays was the 4x100 team of senior Tim Rumas, sophomore Doniven Jackson, senior Channing Phillips and senior Aaron Banks, with a runner-up performance in 39.33 seconds; Banks was fifth individually in the 200 meters at 20.64 seconds.
Concluding Ashland University’s 2022 spring season and the entire 2021-22 athletic year, the Eagle men’s outdoor track and field team finished fifth at the 2022 NCAA Div. II Outdoor Championships. That marked a remarkable 10th consecutive topfive placement at nationals (indoor and outdoor combined) for the program.
TENNIS – Ashland’s men were 6-12 overall and 2-4 in the Great Midwest in the fall and spring, and the AU women were 7-9, 3-4. Senior Stuart Brdicka became the first Eagle men’s tennis player to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America status.
MEN’S GOLF – The Eagle men, another young squad with two freshmen and three juniors playing most tournaments, finished 11th at the 2022 Great Midwest Championships.
SPRING SPORTS WRAP-UP
SOFTBALL – The Eagles finished 12-23 overall and 6-16 in the Great Midwest, and have a lot to look forward to, thanks to a young team and a new oncampus turf softball field that will debut in the spring of 2023.
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ENDS 2022 5TH IN THE NATION
www.ashland.edu | 21
WOMEN’S GOLF – Ashland, with three freshmen and a sophomore in the lineup, finished fifth at the 2022 Great Midwest Championships. With four eagles in 2021-22, freshman Samantha Webb set both new single-season and career program records, and was tied for the second-most in Div. II.
The final 2021-22 tally shows seven Ashland Academic AllAmericans®, tied for the most in a single academic year in athletic department history (2012-13, 2016-17), and Ashland became the first in Div. II to have two individuals recognized as the overall Team Member of the Year (Kari Pickens, now head women’s basketball coach at her alma mater, was the other).
garnering the CoSIDA NCAA Div. II Academic All-America Team Member of the Year honor.
Aretta1991 (Casebolt ’91) Baumgartner, proud Phi Mu sorority sister, is delighted to share that “Continuum,” an original theater piece in the 2021 Cincinnati Fringe Festival, featuring her puppetry work, received both the Producer’s Pick award at that festival and the YoungHowze Theatre Journal Long-Form Zoom Play of the Year award. “Continuum” is an interactive, live-streamed theatre piece that takes participants on a galactic journey through space and time into breakout rooms with shortform stories about characters caught in time loops. Aretta is the education director at the world-renowned Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, serves as president of the Puppeteers of America and produces original puppetry with partner Thom Stanley in the artist collective “One Double-O Four Eight.”
2016
Brittany Rhodes McClish ’14 announces the birth of her daughter, Londyn Rayne Rhodes, on Oct. 27, 2021.
Philip1969Beekley
Carlos1986
Prem Concesso ’19 received his MBA from AU and was a student worker for the Advancement Services Office. Prem married Smitha Rebello on Jan. 2, 2022. He congratulated the Advancement Services Office on their fundraising efforts and will always think of AU as his family.
1998
Helen2018A
Watkins ’79, ’87 M.Ed. and Cathy (Huls ’80) Watkins celebrated 42 years of marriage in June. Michael is presently employed as sales manager at Subur ban Clock and Repair in Berea, Ohio.
Michael1979
2019
Brandon2009
Guidry ’18 shares to keep having faith in God. He is always there for you, and to keep on praying. He answers prayers when you least expect it.
Lowell, D.O. ’86 was selected to serve as co-chair of the education committee for the Clinical Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Society, which is an international organization with a mission to optimize the clinical practice awareness and accessibility of Transcra nial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Charles has been in private psychiatric practice in Sandusky, Ohio, since com pleting his psychiatric residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1995. He serves as medical director of TMS, which was FDA cleared for the treatment of major de pression in 2008, and provides lectures/seminars on TMS to physicians, residents and medical students. Charles is very grateful for the quality of education he received at Ashland College which prepared him for his ongoing education and eventual medical practice.
1975
2022
Karen and Robert Hoehn’s daughter, Madison Hoehn ’22, graduated from AU with a major in business management on May 7. Karen has been with AU’s Institutional Advancement office for 21 years. Madison accepted a position as social media marketing manager at Bo Lacey Construction in Mansfield, Ohio. Karen and Robert could not be more proud of Madison’s accomplishments.
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’69 took second-place in the 2021 Texas State Smallbore Rifle F-Class Championship at Marble Falls, Texas. Philip has been an NRA-classified Expert Rifle Shooter since 2016. Also, Philip was appointed as City Council District 7 Commissioner, City of San Antonio Veteran Affairs Commission, in Feb. 2022.
’99) and Tom Sondgrass’ son, Tyler Snodgrass, graduated this May from AU with a major in biology. Tyler was accepted into the Ohio State University Medical Research Ph.D. program.
After 25 years of single life, Stacy (Prochazka ’98) Hendrix is excited to announce that “Mr. Right,” Rob Hendrix, was worth the wait. Even during a pandemic with an outdoor ceremony and socially-distanced recep tion, Stacy was fortunate to have 11 of her AU friends with her to celebrate their July 25, 2020 wedding.
Cassie2014(Nix ’14) Wayne married Jason Wayne on June 4, 2022, in Cannon Beach, Ore.
Pictured standing L to R: Dave Wolbert ’78, Marty Kral ’98, Amy (Pusateri ’96) Reading, Tonya Kral ’97, Kellie (Christman ’99) Doyle, Dan Doyle ’99, Krista (Alexander ’98) Miller, Chris Pobursky ’98, Valerie (Pfaff ’99) Henry, Dr. Ron Black ley - Choir Director ’98-present and Kimberly (Shearer ’99) Riley. Seated: Stacy (Prochazka ’98) Hendrix and Rob Hendrix.
Dean1990DePiero ’90 is the law director for the city of Aurora and assistant law director/prosecutor for Broadview Heights, and serves as “of counsel” for the law firm McDonald Hopkins. Among the projects Dean has helped shepherd through the political landscape in nine years as law director of Aurora was the effort to rezone the Geauga Lake area via a ballot initiative that led to the former amusement park’s redevelopment. He also negotiated a favorable Joint Economic Development District agreement with Bainbridge Township, so the area of Geauga Lake in Bainbridge could be developed. Dean also was previously elected the mayor of Parma, Ohio’s seventh-largest city, and as an Ohio State Representative.
BIRTHS
Susan DeShetler ’75 retired from United Airlines after 44 years of fly ing, both domestic and international, based in Washington and Chicago.
The last 22 years of Susan’s life have been spent flying Beijing, China, Hong Kong, Dubai and military charters through Kuwait. Susan was blessed to absolutely love her career, but it was time for another chapter in her life and she is enjoying living in Naples, Fla. and Columbus, Ohio. Susan sees a lot of her Ashland friends in both places, and after 50 years, that is a great deal!
In January 2022, Patrick Williams ’16 completed his Master of Public Administration degree at Grand Canyon University College of Humanities & Social Sciences.
Amy1999(Kessler
MARRIAGES ANNIVERSARIESAND
Kayla (Ray ’14) married Adam Spinella on June 11, 2022, overlook ing the ocean in York Harbor, Maine. Adam and Kayla met while working for Culver Academies in Culver, Ind., during the spring of 2015. Kayla’s two matrons of honor were Allie (Grund ’15) May and Abby (Leboza ’15) Ray, both of whom she met through her sorority, Delta Zeta. Fellow Eagles in attendance were Kyle Ray ’18, MBA, Konnor Ray ‘24 and Mailiis Simovart ’24.
Christopher2008 Kenny ’08 and Erica (Bates ’08) Kenny welcomed their second child, Declan Allen Kenny, on March 26, 2022. He weighed 9 pounds and measured 22 inches long (at almost 3 weeks early). Every one is doing well and Cora loves being his big sister.
Marissa2008 (Uhrig ’14, ’22 MBA) Edwards and Kees Edwards ’14 welcomed their first child, Adeline Edwards, on May 15, 2022.
Montgomery ’09 shares that his photo titled “Nocturnal Oasis,” will be displayed at Viewpoint Photographic Art Center in Sacramento, Calif.
22 | Ashland University | Fall CLASS2022 notes NEWS
After graduating with her Ph.D. in religious studies from the University of Iowa in 2021, Darcy Metcalfe ’01 ’03 is now assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Findlay. Darcy and her family are happy to be back in this area of the country.
Steven1983 Keller ’83, author, speaker and sought-after life coach, has published his first personal development book, This Has To Be Cheaper Than Therapy: 7 Essential Values for Living a More Fulfilling Life and Simple Techniques to Nurture Them. It is available exclusively on Amazon. This small but powerful book on self-transformation teaches the art of simple living and it encourages us to read more, eat less, exercise every day and spend more time with our family.
Norman Richards ’63 5/22/11
Walter Zimmerman ’69 6/9/22
Judy (Mosure) Swenton N ’63 6/19/22
Sue Smith ’70 1/30/21
Toconferences.honorJacobs’ memory the administra tors and faculty at COBE have created a tribute, the “Raymond A. Jacobs Gallery of Societal Impact,” located just outside of the main lobby in Dauch. The intention is to honor additional COBE faculty and staff in the future who have greatly impacted the AU community and society as a whole, following Jacobs’ example.
Raymond Poyar ’75 6/24/22
Henry Geary ’68 1/15/22
Nancy (Creasap) Cook N ’62 1/30/21
“Dr. Jacobs had the uncanny ability to solve problems with integrity in the most amica ble fashion for all involved. His knowledge of COBE history was unmatched. He was loved by the administrators and the faculty equally well across campus,” said longtime colleague Khush Pittenger, who recently re tired as professor of business management at AU.
Paul Van Jura G ’94 4/18/22
Kenneth Haueter ’61 1/15/22
Richard Patterson ’47 4/16/22
A member of the AU faculty since 1990, Jacobs taught a number of undergraduate and graduate courses. He also published dozens of articles in academic journals and made oresenations at national and regional
Janet Zak G ’97 9/5/09
Christopher Cassidy ’76 3/5/22
Janis (Hudson) Barba G ’89 11/11/12
Faye (French) English ’73 2/14/22
Shelley (Bright) Frey ’03 6/1/22
Mary (Lightowler) Major ’98 7/7/12
William Smith ’92 5/26/18
S – Seminary
Edwin Henning G ’93 4/19/22
David Rittichier ’65 3/1/22
Steven McDannel ’80 3/31/22
Jacobs was committed to his work till the very end, serving AU as professor of busi ness management and associate dean of COBE during the 2021-22 academic year. He eagerly accepted many roles throughout his career, including chair of the MBA program, and was most proud of his ac creditation work. He helped COBE reach its highest accreditations, securing a second 10-year reaffirmation from the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Pro grams (ACBSP). He also was in the process of assisting AU attain accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Rodney Hewitt ’67 3/29/22
Barbara Pfaff G ’03 5/5/22
N – Nursing degree
Julie (Lomax) Geisel ’90 2/8/22
Eric Grove ’03 2/26/22
Gregory Pike ’70 1/26/22
Rosemary Vontorcik ’90 4/20/22
Doris (Hart) Shultz ’49 1/30/22
Lynn (Richter) Haggett ’74 5/2/22
Bruce Brelsford ’72 2/2/22
Jon Oleinick ’76 5/17/22
Gregory Saunders ’70 6/21/22
Roberta (Clinger) Harpster ’87, ’91 1/20/22
G – Graduate degree
IN MEMORIAM
Roger Ames ’66 4/27/22
Dr. Raymond “Ray” Jacobs, beloved profes sor at Ashland University who held several leadership positions within the College of Business and Economics (COBE) during a 32-year tenure, lost his battle with cancer on April 6. He was 66.
Mary (Garver) Allen ’74, ’86 3/24/22
Carol (Zeides) Newton G ’02 2/19/22
Andrew Ansley ’11 3/20/18
Doris (McAdoo) Willis ’78 3/16/22
Carol Banas G ’88 3/22/22
Sara (Watson) Fox ’92, G ’98 3/10/22
J Leininger ’61 2/3/22
Ruth (Shorthouse) Southworth N ’40 5/31/22
Laura (Weaver) Hill ’99 11/12/20
Donald Navorska ’80 1/26/22
Judith (Jurgens) Watson G ’89 2/2/22
Dorothy (Barth) Tasman ’89 1/16/22
Robert Chase ’51 10/5/21
Laurie (Groza) Schubert ’76 1/11/22
Joyce Nickley G ’88 2/19/22
Olga (Geracioti) Dattilo ’60 6/29/22
Ryan Teglovic G ’04 5/27/22
Shirley (Bean) Cline G ’92 1/20/22
JoAnn (Stigamire) Walker N’ 56 4/10/22
Nancy (Barton) Wertz ’53 4/29/22
Janet (Halley) Keim ’70 12/1/19
James Cooke ’72 8/19/15
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Debra (McGuire) Gilmore G ’95 2/17/22
J Hurley ’69 5/14/22
Frank Lewis ’70 5/31/22
Thomas Bichsel G ’07 7/1/22
Eva (DeLancy) Beard ’65 1/25/22
Sandra (Norton) Stevens ’95 4/9/22
Theodore Rapp ’69 9/29/21
Shirley (Shrader) Boling N ’52 6/16/22
Dean Banta ’68 10/14/20
Michael Rupe ’71 3/12/22
Terry Beck G ’91 6/17/22
Donna (Sizemore) Hills ’71 6/18/22
James Hall ’94 3/11/22
Richard Comings ’67 3/13/22
RAY JACOBS –BELOVED PROFESSOR, LEADER AND SERVANT
Debra Voege ’76 2/8/22
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