Stimperts stick-to-itiveness leads to unprecedented legacy at AU

STimpErTS STiCk-To-iTivENESS

LEAdS To UNprECEdENTEd LEGACY AT AU

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

“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.” – Mary Stimpert ’84

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.

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.”

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.

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 2023.

Kelvin’s 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. 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 said.

The 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. (contined on page 9)