Graphic design students in classes taught by Christopher Jackson, associate professor of art and design, reimagined two recent “Hanoverian” covers as part of their winter-term coursework.
Mallory Mahin ’28
Julia Settles ’28
Aaron Masri ’26
Himari Noto ’26
Jack Shaeffer ’29
Sawyier Shaw ’27
Vinny Shilling ’27
Payton Lock ’27
Send comments to:
On the cover:
Call
Thrower Tommy Wilmoth ’27 became the first men’s track and field athlete in Hanover history to earn indoor and outdoor all-American honors (in the same year, too!). Competing in the shot put, Wilmoth finished fifth at the NCAA Division III indoor championships March 14 and placed fourth at the outdoor nationals May 22. More on page 19.
or email cloyd@hanover.edu
Peter Ashley Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing
Ashley Birchmeier
Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
Carter Cloyd
Associate Vice President and Editor of the Hanoverian
Stephanie Johnson ’21
Associate Director of Social Media and Engagement
Joe Lackner
Director of Digital Marketing
Gwen Frederickson – Just Gwen Designs Christopher Jackson
Contributing Designers
Laura Jayne Gardner Photography Michael Lang ’28
Nico Klementzos
Ken Prince ’80
Gabriel Vanover
Contributing Photographers Hanover College provides equal opportunity in education and employment.
June 2026 by
During the 1990s, Greg Lorenzi ’99 was an all-conference basketball player and member of Lambda Chi Alpha. Brittany Thompson Lorenzi ’98 was active with Kappa Alpha Theta and the cheerleading squad. Their daughter, Kaitlyn ’26, graduated May 23. She thrived on campus through the past four years as a Dean’s List student, member of Phi Mu and leader on the Panthers’ basketball team.
Family connections have been an important part of Hanover for nearly 200 years. Many students have discovered the College through family members, both near and far. These legacy bonds help Hanover thrive and strengthen its impact. It’s important to share the experience of the College’s transformative education with the next generation.
To support this connection, the Legacy Scholarship provides a renewable $2,000 award to immediate relatives of Hanover alumni and current students, serving as a reminder that the most important part of the College is not its buildings but its people. Immediate relatives include parents, stepparents and legal guardians; siblings and stepsiblings; children and stepchildren; grandparents, uncles, aunts and first cousins; and spouses and domestic partners.
193rd Commencement
Hanover celebrated the Class of 2026 during the College’s 193rd undergraduate commencement. Spring term’s culminating event was held May 23 in Collier Arena. The indoor ceremony marked the first for the College since 2016.
Bachelor’s degrees were conferred to 213 members of the senior class, which included 25 legacy students whose parents or other close family members attended the College. Ninety-two students graduated with honors, including 26 with high honors (magna cum laude) and 29 with highest honors (summa cum laude).
Dr. Kathy J. Schilling Colletta ’75, M.D., FACR, was presented with an honorary Doctor of Science degree. Colletta, a Fellow of the American College of Radiology, serves as medical director at the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health and Wellness Institute in Boca Raton, Fla.
Jennavee Houser ’26, a double major in biochemistry and Spanish, served as the senior speaker. Houser (Long Citation), Creek Arthur ’26 (Crowe Citation), Kylee Morgan ’26 (Sullivan Award) and Elisabeth Walton ’26 (Sullivan Award) were recognized as Hanover’s top senior award recipients. Retiring faculty members Melissa Eden (English), Steve Jobe (English) and Kate Johnson (philosophy) were honored for their service to the campus community.
“Remember that Hanover used to be the next big thing. Be thankful for where you’ve been. Be thankful for where you are going. But, most importantly, be thankful for where you are in the moment. There will be plenty of times, just like in our time at Hanover, where we hit hang-ups and aren’t sure where to go next, but you won’t give up because you’ve got mountains to move. Life is a balancing act, one that often moves too fast. Learn, have fun, be adventurous and go after what you want.”
–Jennavee Houser ’26, Class of 2026 speaker
Arthur, Houser lead student honorees;
Johnson marks a faculty first
Hanover’s 89th-annual Honors Convocation saluted the accomplishments of undergraduate students and faculty. The event was held April 9 in Fitzgibbon Recital Hall, Lynn Center for Fine Arts.
More than 40 students were recognized during the program. Creek Arthur ’26, Jennavee Houser ’26, Kylee Morgan ’26 and Elisabeth Walton ’26 earned top honors among the Class of 2026. Faculty members Kate Johnson, Glené Mynhardt and Dee Goertz received awards for teaching, creativity and student advising, respectively.
Arthur, a double major in geology and history, earned the John Finley Crowe Citation for Scholarship and General Excellence. Houser, a double major in biochemistry and Spanish, received the Henry C. Long Citation for Scholarship and General Excellence. She was also presented with the Alpha Lambda Delta Award, Distinguished Award in Biochemistry and Distinguished Award in Spanish.
Morgan, a kinesiology and integrative physiology major, and Walton, an environmental geology major, each received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. The honor is given annually to recognize outstanding service to the campus community and the community at large.
Johnson, a retiring professor of philosophy, was presented with the Arthur and Ilene Baynham Outstanding Teaching Award. She is the first woman in Hanover history to earn the Baynham Award three times (1999, 2015 and 2026). She is one of just five three-time recipients of the faculty’s highest honor.
Mynhardt, an associate professor of biology, received the Daryl R. Karns Award for Scholarly and Creative Activity. She is the third faculty member to earn both the Karns Award and the Baynham Award, which she received in 2017.
Goertz, a professor of English, was honored as the first recipient of the Bill Tereshko Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising. She is the 1997 recipient of the Baynham Award.
Retirements, service and milestones highlight employee celebration
Dedicated service to the campus community took center stage during Hanover’s end-of-year employee celebration. More than 40 faculty and staff members were recognized during the event, held May 18 in the Withrow Activities Center.
The program honored the careers of five retiring employees (more on page 7) and celebrated service milestones for 41 employees. Milestones, recognized in fiveyear increments, ranged from 16 employees celebrating five years at Hanover to Professor of English Dee Goertz marking her 35th year on campus.
Cori Collinsworth (former head softball coach), Sara Harding Crafton ’04 (director of counseling services), Eric Dodge (professor of economics), Barbara Sims (director of enrollment management) and Garnet Tipton (director of graduate student services) were each presented with the Totten Award for Outstanding Service. The honor, which pays tribute to Professor Emeritus of Geology Stanley Totten, salutes service beyond normal job responsibilities.
Gogel selected exceptional alumni educator
Greg Gogel ’07 was named the Hanover Educator Preparation Program’s exceptional alumni educator of the year. He was recognized May 21 as part of the annual professional educator induction ceremony in the Ogle Center.
Gogel, who was named the 2026 District 11 principal of the year by the Indiana Association of School Principals, has served nearly 20 years as a teacher, coach and administrator in southern Indiana. Following his graduation from Hanover, he taught and coached at Crawford County (Ind.) High School for six years and Heritage Hills (Ind.) High School for four years. After earning a Master of Science in Education and administrator’s license from Oakland City University, he served one year as assistant principal and assistant athletic director at South Spencer (Ind.) School Corporation. He worked as principal at Southridge (Ind.) Middle School for four years, before transitioning to his current role as principal at Southridge (Ind.) High School in 2022.
While at Hanover, Gogel was a political science and government major. He was a member of the baseball and football squads, as well as an assistant coach with the women’s basketball team.
Jennavee Houser
Elisabeth Walton
Kate Johnson, Glené Mynhardt, Dee Goertz and President Lake Lambert
Kylie Morgan
Creek Arthur
Totten Awards recipients include (l-r): Garnet Tipton, Eric Dodge, Cori Collinsworth, Sara Harding Crafton and Barbara Sims.
Dustin Bailey and Greg Gogel
Five retire from College service at year’s end
Five members of Hanover’s faculty and staff retired with the close of the 2025-26 fiscal year. Faculty members Melissa Eden, Steve Jobe and Kate Johnson, along with staff members John Todd and Lynn Todd, capped their careers with more than 150 combined years of service to the College.
Eden, professor of English, started at Hanover in September 1991 as a part-time instructor of English. She was named visiting instructor in 1992 and became an assistant professor in 1997. She was granted tenure in 2003 and promoted to professor in 2010.
A professor of English, Jobe came to the College in September 1990 as an assistant professor. He served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty from 2009-20, including 10 months as interim dean, before returning to the classroom.
Johnson, professor of philosophy, joined the campus community in September 1993 as an instructor. She is one of just five three-time recipients of the Arthur and Ilene Baynham Award for Outstanding Teaching, earning the faculty’s highest honor in 1999, 2015 and 2026. She is the first woman in school history to win the honor three times. In 2025, she was presented with the Stanley Totten Award for Outstanding Service.
John Todd, associate director of facilities, began working on campus in September 1999 as a maintenance lead. He was promoted to maintenance supervisor in 2003 and appointed associate director of facilities, maintenance systems and capital projects in 2019. He was presented with the Totten Award in 2023.
Payroll Manager Lynn Todd came to the College in August 1998 as a member of the development staff. She joined the Office of Business Affairs in 1999 as accounts payable assistant. She was named business affairs and payroll assistant in 2005 and promoted to payroll coordinator in 2010. She received the Totten Award in 2022.
Trustees extend Lambert’s contract through 2030
Hanover’s Board of Trustees voted to extend the contract of President Lake Lambert through June 2030. The extension underscores the board’s confidence in Lambert’s leadership and vision for the College’s future.
Since joining Hanover in 2015, Lambert has achieved significant milestones, including launching new academic programs in engineering and nursing, introducing doctoral programs in physical and occupational therapy — the first graduate programs in a century — and successfully guiding the College through the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Hanover recently announced the $110 million Bicentennial Campaign — the largest in College history.
The extension comes as Hanover prepares for its bicentennial in 2027, the final phase of the Bicentennial Campaign, and the completion of the Hanover Stands Above strategic plan. Lambert has played a pivotal role in all these initiatives and is leading efforts to develop the College’s next strategic plan for 2027–2030.
Chism ascends to vice president; Middleton named controller
Two members of the Office of Business Affairs staff have been promoted within the department. Heather Chism has been appointed vice president for finance. Karen Middleton has been named controller.
Chism joined Hanover’s staff in February 1998 as staff accountant and had served the past four years as controller, associate vice president for finance and administration and interim chief financial officer. She is a recent graduate of the National Association of College and University Business Officers’ immersive leadership program. Chism earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and management information systems at Indiana State University. She received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Indiana.
Middleton came to Hanover in June 2019 as an administrative assistant in the business office after working 25 years for the City of Scottsburg, Ind. Middleton, who had served as assistant controller since 2022, earned a bachelor’s degree in music therapy at the University of Evansville.
Steve Jobe, Melissa Eden and Kate Johnson
Lynn Todd and John Todd
Heather Chism and Karen Middleton
Trio receives College’s top alumni honors
The accomplishments of graduates A. Richard M. Blaiklock ’90, Wiley D. Kite II ’90 and Rachel Slade Sharpe ’13 were recognized with the presentation of Hanover’s highest alumni honors during a May 15 ceremony at the Fairfield Inn in Madison, Ind.
Blaiklock and Kite were presented with the Alumni Achievement Award (AAA). Sharpe received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award (DYA).
Presented annually since 1960, the Alumni Achievement Award recognizes graduates who have enhanced Hanover’s reputation by making significant contributions to their community, state or nation through professional service, public service and/or civic activities.
The Distinguished Young Alumni Award has been presented annually since 2013. The honor celebrates graduates under the age of 40 and recognizes alumni who have enhanced the reputation of the College through their outstanding professional achievements, personal accomplishments or their loyal service to their alma mater.
A. Richard M. Blaiklock ’90
Blaiklock has served the legal community for more than three decades. He has worked as Marion County (Ind.) Superior Court judge since a 2024 appointment by former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb ’90 and currently presides over the civil docket.
He was a partner at Lewis Wagner & Trimble from 2005-24, working as managing partner from 2022-24, and served as an associate from 2001-04. He litigated business, First Amendment and statutory cases at the trial and appellate levels, arguing before the Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Court of Appeals, U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
A 1997 summa cum laude graduate of the Indiana University McKinney School of Law, Blaiklock worked at Ice Miller as an associate from 1997-2001 and law clerk from 1996-97. He was a law clerk at Lewis & Wagner from 1995-96. He joined the Marion County Department of Public Welfare in 1990. He served the probation department of the Marion Superior Court’s juvenile division from 1991-95, including stints as probation officer (1991-93), probation supervisor (1993-95) and community relations coordinator (1995).
Blaiklock and his wife, Mindy Pflum Blaiklock ’91, live in Indianapolis. They are the parents of two children.
Wiley D. Kite II ’90
A member of Hanover’s board of trustees since 2017, Kite currently serves as senior vice president of relationship management at Fidelity Investments.
Kite has worked at Fidelity Investments for 25 years, including three years in his current role. He served the previous three years as senior vice president for relationship management services and, prior to that, was vice president and managing director for 14 years, where he managed service delivery and corporate relationships supporting benefits outsourcing the administration of 401(k), pension, health/ welfare and equity plan disciplines.
Prior to joining Fidelity, Kite worked nine years in various management, quality and operation roles for Valvoline Inc.
Kite, a chemistry major at Hanover, was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and an Alumni/Senior Award recipient.
After graduating from Hanover, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner School of Business.
He resides in Chicago with his spouse, Tim Kendrick.
Rachel Slade Sharpe '13
Sharpe serves as manager of the Norton Healthcare Foundation, which supports Norton King’s Daughters’ Health as an advocate for the local community.
In her role with the foundation, Sharpe leads strategic fundraising initiatives, develops key donor relationships and partners with hospital and community leaders to advance projects that strengthen the region’s healthcare access. She is also active in the community, serving leadership roles with Romanian Handicap Ministries, Tri Kappa sorority, Women’s Giving Circle of Jefferson County (Ind.), and Leadership Jefferson County (Ind.).
Before transitioning into healthcare philanthropy, Sharpe served five years as head coach of Hanover’s men’s and women’s track and field teams. As a three-time Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference coach of the year, she helped produce academic all-American teams, three NCAA Division III national qualifiers, an all-American, and multiple indoor and outdoor school records.
Sharpe was a health and movement studies major at Hanover. She earned a master's degree in organizational leadership from Lewis University.
Sharpe resides in Madison, Ind., with her husband, Devon Sharpe ’13, a 2022 recipient of the Distinguished Young Alumni Award.
Pence reconnects with FIJI brothers, talks with history students
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence ’81 visited campus March 30. During a half-day visit, he reconnected with nearly two dozen Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity brothers while viewing a portrait and dining in the J. Graham Brown Campus Center. Pence also attended a World War II history course, taught by Professor Dan Murphy ’81, where he and Trustee Tim McGeath ’84 discussed decision-making in times of crisis with the students in the class, FIJI brothers and several members of the campus community.
Series namesake returns to deliver Shoemaker address
Technology executive and series namesake John Shoemaker ’64 returned to Hanover’s campus May 14 as the featured guest for the Shoemaker Speaker Series.
An emeritus member of Hanover’s board of trustees, Shoemaker has more than four decades of experience in high technology, including executive management roles at Sun Microsystems and Xerox Corporation. He is currently the board chair at Extreme Networks and has also served as a board member for numerous companies such as Altera Inc., SonicWall Inc., Astute Technologies, Inc., and Conformative Systems, Inc.
Established in 2022, the Shoemaker Speaker Series was developed to present on-campus conversations with prominent voices on business, leadership and innovation. During the event, Shoemaker delved into his path to Hanover from Rochester, N.Y., unique career trajectory in the technology field and the need to be a lifelong learner. Joseph Ciuffo, visiting instructor of business, served as host for the conversation in the Science Center.
The Shoemaker Speaker Series — part of the Hanover Business Department’s entrepreneurial network — is possible through the
Stafford headlines third-annual Women’s Brunch
generosity of Shoemaker and his wife, Donna. In addition to the series, the Shoemakers recently launched the John C. and Donna Shoemaker Global Scholars Program for Business Majors [see page 14] and are also the namesakes of The Shoebox, an on-campus, student-run, cabin-style eatery and entertainment venue.
New York Times best-selling author, educator and speaker Rachel Macy Stafford ’94 visited campus March 14 as the featured speaker at the third-annual Women’s Brunch. More than 125 students, employees and community members attended the growing event, held in the J. Graham Brown Campus Center.
For more than 25 years, Stafford has worked to help people live with greater presence, compassion and connection. With a master’s degree in special education and a background rooted in inclusion and relational teaching, she is known for translating complex emotional truths into accessible, life-giving practices.
Stafford is the author of five best-selling books, including “Hands Free Mama,” “Only Love Today” and “Soul Shift.” She also writes the Substack best-seller “Rachel’s Treehouse,” where she explores self-compassion, belonging and the courageous practice of being human.
The creator of “SOUL SHIFT,” a transformative eight-week online course, Stafford has supported more than 15,000 participants in softening self-judgment and building healthier boundaries. She also leads retreats and workshops at centers such as Kripalu, Omega Institute and the Art of Living Retreat Center.
Smith third to earn Hanover faculty Fulbright
Alexis Smith, associate professor of German, earned a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Grant from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. She is just the third Hanover faculty member to earn the honor.
Smith received a Fulbright grant to translate the first volume of original diaries of Robert Schumann (1810-56), the famous German composer, pianist and music critic of the early Romantic era. The translations will allow scholars and musicians to understand Schumann's works and the cultural environment of the period. She will conduct her work at the Robert-SchumannHaus in Zwickau, Germany, where she will have access to the largest archive of Schumann’s materials.
Women in Science Symposium spans unique research endeavors
Five Hanover students offered insights into their 2025 summer research projects during the seventh-annual Women in Science Symposium. The event was held Jan. 22 in the Science Center.
The symposium annually features a select group of students who provide an in-depth exploration of their research endeavors. Presentations highlight various aspects of their experiences, including experiment design, research processes and methodologies, laboratory and field work, and ethics. Students also discuss various scholarship opportunities that supported their experience.
Creek Arthur ’26, a double major in geology and history, presented information about “Paleobiology at Stanford University.” Her research was part of Stanford’s National Science Foundation-funded Sustainability Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering Program.
Jenna Schuler ’26 discussed “How to Quantify Cortisol in Hair via Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy.”
Schuler, a biochemistry major and Stephan Endowed Summer Scholar, performed research through Hanover’s psychology and chemistry departments as part of the College’s Summer Research Fellows Program.
Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative. Approximately 800 U.S. Fulbright Scholarships are awarded each year, but only 10 for work/study in Germany. The program is funded through an annual appropriation made by Congress and participating governments, host institutions corporations and foundations around the world.
Since joining Hanover’s faculty in 2019, Smith has helped invigorate the College’s German program and Modern Languages and Cultures Department. She has worked to create updated majors and new courses, host campus workshops and presentations, and offer free K-12 classes in the community. In 2024, she was recognized as Indiana’s collegiate German teacher of the year by the Indiana Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German. Last summer, she participated in the Internationaler Lehrerfortbildungskurs, a four-week professional development course at the International Summer School in Heidelberg, Germany.
Smith joins Mi Yung Yoon, professor of international studies, and the late Harve Rawson, professor emeritus of psychology, as Hanover’s faculty Fulbright Scholarship recipients. In 2011, Yoon conducted research about Korean bilateral development assistance to African countries at Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul. Rawson, who died in 2011, received a Fulbright to serve as distinguished professor of child psychology at the University of Bahrain in 1988. He also earned a scholarship in 1994 for study in Oman but could not attend due to war in the region.
Shelby Stegemoller ’26 examined “Defying the Odds: The Exploration of Sea Turtle Nesting and Hatchling Development in Costa Rica.” Stegemoller, who majors in biology and Spanish, conducted research through the Costa Rican Alliance for Sea Turtle Conservation and Science.
Callie Swegman ’26, a double major in biology and German, provided a look at “Integrated Pest and Pollinator Strategies for Management of Urban Community Gardens.” Swegman’s research, conducted at Indiana Wesleyan University, was funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture through its Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates program.
Victoria Zwilling ’27 discussed “Drought and Tornado: Understanding the Past Through Dendrochronology and Forest Succession.” Zwilling, a biology major, conducted research through Hanover’s Biology Department and the College’s Summer Research Fellows Program.
Jenna Schuler, Shelby Stegemoller, Callie Swegman, Creek Arthur and Victoria Zwilling
Theatre earns BroadwayWorld Award for region’s top play
The Hanover Theatre Department’s presentation of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” earned the BroadwayWorld Louisville Awards honor as the region’s top play in 2024-25.
BroadwayWorld is the largest theatre site on the internet, covering all aspects of entertainment from live theatre and concerts to television, film and streaming. The site’s regional awards salute the year’s best productions and include more than 100 cities across the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, Central America and South America.
“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" was staged Dec. 6-8, 2024, in The Other Place. This reimagined American holiday classic, adapted by Joe Landry from Philip Van Doren Stern’s “The Greatest Gift,” was directed by Gabriel Vanover, associate professor of theatre. Hanover’s production totaled 13 nominations, including best-ensemble for the 14-member, all-student cast. Tanner Brown ’25 and Emmy Mills ’28 each received a nomination for best performer in a play.
Hanover’s theatre department was also nominated as the best local theatre company and, in all, totaled 32 BroadwayWorld nominations.
Vanover picked up four nominations, including best direction and best sound design for “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “The Cottage.” Kevin Havlin, technical director, totaled eight nominations for best scenic design, best lighting design and best sound design for a play or musical.
Sustainability Studies joins list of majors
Hanover students now have an option to major in sustainability studies, an interdisciplinary program that examines the complex relationships between environmental health, social justice and economic equity.
The College’s sustainability studies major explores the ecological, social, political and economic systems that create and sustain issues. Coursework integrates environmental science, economics, sociology, ethics and policy, developing an understanding of how environmental and human systems interact. The major emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving to identify and evaluate solutions that support a healthy environment, advance social equity and promote a fair and resilient economy.
Hanover’s 11-course track, which includes an internship and community-based projects, is designed to prepare students for careers in environmental advocacy, public policy, nonprofit organizations, corporate sustainability, education and community development. The major also provides a foundation for graduate study in sustainability-related fields, environmental law and public administration.
Hanover-Evansville create athletic training master’s pathway
Hanover has created a direct pathway for the College’s students to attend the University of Evansville’s Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program.
Each year, up to five students in Hanover’s kinesiology and integrative physiology program may be admitted following Evansville’s application and interview process. Students in related majors are also eligible with the completion of necessary prerequisites.
Hanover’s students are qualified to apply for direct-entry admission after completion of their sophomore year (or four full-time semesters). At the time of application, students must hold a 3.30 or higher cumulative grade-point average and maintain a 3.30 GPA through achievement of the bachelor’s degree at Hanover.
Evansville’s MSAT application process includes submission of the direct-entry application, transcripts, personal statement, resume and letter of recommendation, as well as an interview with a member of the university’s athletic training faculty.
Bicentennial Campaign surpasses $100 million
In January, Hanover entered the public phase of its $110 million Bicentennial Campaign, marking the largest fundraising effort in the College’s history. The campaign’s initial phase secured more than $103 million toward the goal. The campaign, which runs until June 30, 2027, will support Hanover’s continued ability to fulfill its critical educational mission for years to come.
The Bicentennial Campaign is driven by the goal of enhancing academic, athletic and community experiences for the College’s students. This historic capital campaign will also bolster Hanover’s reach and impact and provide essential resources to attract and retain the best and brightest students, as well as recruit mission-driven faculty and staff.
Fund-raising initiatives focus on supporting academic programs; fostering holistic educational experiences; enhancing world-class facilities; funding new and expanded student scholarships; enhancing the Impact Hanover Fund to support students with critical financial needs; ensuring campus beautification; creating endowed academic and athletic positions; and advancing community investment and partnerships.
Priorities include delivering on Hanover’s commitment to increase enrollment and to create an even more welcoming community, enhancing the offering of high-impact educational and extracurricular opportunities for learning and career-track preparation, expanding graduate degree programs, improving alumni engagement, fostering employee wellbeing and updating campus facilities.
27% ’27 by
Alumni participation rate nears nation’s top 15
The Bicentennial Campaign offers Hanoverians an opportunity to raise the College’s alumni participation rate to a level comparable to the most loyal U.S. colleges and universities.
Alumni participation matters. Donations from a greater percentage of alumni signal an engaged community of graduates and strong alumni satisfaction. Higher alumni donor rates also improve the College’s ability to secure major donations and strengthen the value of a Hanover degree. An increase in alumni donations provides stability and flexibility with unrestricted funds to support scholarships and operations and, also, creates a pipeline for future leadership donors.
Hanover’s 24.6 percent alumni-giving rate positions the College nationally among institutions like Spelman College (24.6%) and the University of the South (24.6%). Reaching the Bicentennial Campaign’s 27 percent goal would push Hanover within the top 15 schools in the U.S., approaching Amherst College (28.9%), Claremont McKenna College (28.4%) and Mount Holyoke College (28.3%).
BICENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN
All the completion of Parker Auditorium needs
IS YOU
The featured project for the Bicentennial Campaign is the construction of a performance space on the upper level of Parker Auditorium. This long-desired renovation would finalize the revival of the iconic campus building, which reopened last fall after completion of the state-of-the-art Hanover Business and Entrepreneur Center on the lower level.
Returning the home of Hanover’s theatre department to Parker Auditorium, and having a flexible community arts center, will have a tremendous impact on campus life, the local community and memories and experiences of generations of Hanoverians.
For many of the College’s alumni, Parker Auditorium stands as a symbol of campus and the architectural anchor of the historic quadrangle. The building also creates, in various forms, a level of institutional pride. Once completed, the theatre and community performance space will serve, once again, as the campus home for theatrical productions, choral and instrumental performances, guest speakers and much, much more.
Parker Auditorium can also serve as a resource for the community. The flexible space will be able to host local events, ranging from concerts and presentations to conferences and celebrations. As the College approaches its bicentennial, there is an opportunity — and responsibility — to renew this iconic space so it continues to serve future generations. With the Hanover Business and Entrepreneur Center now complete, the renovation of the auditorium stands as the final phase of the transformation.
As this last phase advances, numerous, distinctive naming opportunities are available that allow Hanoverians and friends to leave a lasting mark on this historic space. These recognition opportunities allow donors to demonstrate their personal connection to Parker Auditorium, while creating a legacy. Future generations of students and guests will see the commitment to preserving the College’s theatrical tradition.
The most visible naming opportunities include dedicated rooms, offices, lobbies, windows, balconies, curtains and equipment. Recognition levels begin at $25,000 for these items.
Donors may also honor their connection to Parker Auditorium with a named seat in the performance space. While commitments of $3,500 have secured all front-row seats, seats in the remaining rows are available for $2,500. Seat-naming opportunities are limited and names will be placed as commitments are received.
Every gift of every size is welcomed and needed! Gifts for any of the naming opportunities may be spread across a five-year period. Donors may also be part of Parker Auditorium’s renewal through contributions to the Parker Renovation Fund.
Questions about any of these opportunities may be directed to Melba Rodriguez, vice president for advancement, at rodriguez@hanover.edu or 812-866-7011.
Shoemakers establish Global Scholars Program
A new scholarship program funded by John Shoemaker ’64 and his wife, Donna, supports international travel and off-campus educational opportunities for Hanover’s business students.
The John C. and Donna Shoemaker Global Scholars Program for Business Majors was created to provide financial resources to enable students to take a business department course taught outside of the confines of Hanover’s campus, whether internationally or within the U.S. In addition to coursework, the experience must also include cultural learning opportunities focused on the arts, such as museums, theater productions, historical architectural sights and more.
Funding underwrites student expenses associated with traveling abroad, including airfare, lodging, local transportation, program-related excursions, meals and travel insurance.
To be eligible to receive the scholarship, students must be a business major or minor, have a 3.0 grade-point average in business courses, demonstrate leadership skills through coursework, campus involvement, internships or community engagement, and provide financial information related to their ability to pay for the trip.
Your legacy secures our future
A strong endowment creates a solid foundation to make the Hanover experience possible for future generations. Endowed funds provide essential financial support for all aspects of the College, especially its students, faculty, academic programs and career-centered endeavors. In recent months, Hanover’s endowment has received generous support, including these new legacy commitments:
George Brutcher ’71 Endowed Fund
Established through a planned gift by George Brutcher ’71, this fund will prioritize scholarship assistance towards students coming from underserved and/or underrepresented populations.
Patricia Love Krise ’81 and Thomas W. Krise, Ph.D., Endowed Scholarship Fund
Initiated by Patricia Love Krise ’81 and Thomas W. Krise, Ph.D., the fund will provide annual scholarship awards to first-generation students from underrepresented and/or underserved areas with limited financial resources.
The Pattie Congram Endowed Fund for the Parker Auditorium Performing Arts Center
This fund, established through a planned gift by Pattie Coongram, will support productions and maintenance in Parker Auditorium’s Performing Arts Center.
Lorenzi Family Endowed Fund for Athletic Honors
Created by Greg Lorenzi ’99 and Brittany Thompson Lorenzi ’98, this fund will support the Hanover Athletic Department’s annual end-of-year awards ceremony for student-athletes.
The Mark E. ’83 and Sang O. Dunning Endowed Science Center Fund
Instituted by Mark E. Dunning ’83 and Sang O. Dunning, the fund will assist with needs and be used to provide additions to the facilities, collections or classrooms to enhance the Science Center experience.
Jim and Julia Nixon Elementary Educator Scholarship
Bill Tereshko Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising
Established by Andy Gigante ’91, the fund will annually honor a faculty member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to students’ success, growth and well-being throughout their academic journey.
Neil Handley ’58 Endowed Scholarship
John B. ’75 and Kathleen Jelliffee Endowed Scholarship Fund
The fund, started by Neil Handley ’58, will award scholarships to a sophomore, junior or senior in good academic standing and with demonstrated leadership.
The Claire Jolie Endowed Fund for Biology
Established by Claire Jolie ’64, the fund will provide budget enhancement and discretionary support for the biology department.
The fund, initiated by John B. Jelliffee ’75 and Kathleen Jelliffee, will provide scholarships to students from underrepresented and/ or underserved areas who demonstrate financial need and maintain a minimum 2.8 grade-point average.
The fund, created by James Nixon ’73 and Julia Wendt Nixon ’73, will support annual scholarship awards to worthy and deserving students.
The Honorable Vice President Michael R. Pence ’81 Endowed Scholarship Fund
This fund, instituted by Tim McGeath ’84, will provide annual scholarship awards to students from Indiana who show an interest in public service, demonstrate financial need and maintain a minimum 2.5 grade-point average.
The President’s Discretionary Endowed Fund
Established by Dr. John B. Luedeke ’64 and Linda Patton Luedeke ’64, the fund will support the President’s Discretionary Endowed Fund.
Harriet L. Sprague ’58 Memorial Scholarship Fund
Created by Harriet Sprague ’58, this scholarship is given with preference to a female senior who is planning to enter the teaching profession in the field of health and physical education at the high school or university level.
John C. Trimble Endowed Fund for the Ohio River View
This beautification fund, established by the family of the late John Trimble ’77 in his memory, will provide support for the maintenance of the College’s Ohio River view.
John C. Trimble ’77 Memorial Endowment for Pre-Law
Established by Lewis Wagner & Trimble in memory of John Trimble ’77, the fund will underwrite activities that further Hanover’s pre-law program.
Veach Family Endowed Fund for Entrepreneurship
The fund, created by Richard Veach ’88, Teresa Veach, Austin Veach ’15, Jennifer Veach ’15, Cameron Veach ’17, Samantha Veach ’17, Avery Veach ’19 and Hayden Veach ’20, will aid business department courses and activities that teach, promote and integrate entrepreneurship. The funding is intended to support hands-on learning in entrepreneurship and business-building activities, and to engage alumni entrepreneurs.
Zinszer Family Language Enhancement Scholarship
Instituted by Kendall ’65 and Judy Webb Zinszer ’65, the fund will be awarded to a student for a semester-long study abroad experience in which the recipient will engage with a foreign language.
BICENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN
Women’s Giving Circle targets special projects
The Hanover College Women’s Giving Circle was launched this past spring to unite alumni and friends to provide financial support through collective generosity. By pooling individual donations, members can make a larger impact on campus initiatives and connect with women in the greater College community.
Project proposals will be solicited from all aspects of campus, including employees, academic departments, athletic programs and student organizations. Funding, amassed through Women’s Giving Circle memberships, will be combined to support each year’s best ideas and submissions.
The Women’s Giving Circle is led by a five-member volunteer leadership group, known as the Guiding Circle. Brittany Thompson Lorenzi ’98 serves as the inaugural chair. Amanda Allen Harsin ’06, Ph.D., is the vice chair and grant liaison.
Katherine Johnson ’89 serves as the recruitment liaison and Nancy McFarland Gatewood ’74 is the member engagement liaison. Mallory Disbrow ’10 serves as marketing and communications liaison.
Panther Club relaunches, extends support for athletic programs
After 10 years of providing support for Hanover’s general athletic fund, the Panther Club relaunched in February with a broader reach and new structure that better recognizes the ever-growing list of annual athletics donors. Since 2016, the Panther Club has been a key resource for support of the athletic experiences of Hanover’s more than 450 student-athletes. While donations to the general athletics fund remain critical, the revamped Panther Club now serves as the umbrella for all annual giving to athletics. This annual giving includes support for the general athletics gift fund, all individual sports, corporate sponsorships and even the longrunning John R. Smith Golf Outing in Indianapolis.
Members of the Panther Club receive regular program updates and invitations to special events. Annual giving for athletics, led by members of the Panther Club, is the most important way to provide the financial foundation that is necessary to further build and sustain a championship culture that our student-athletes, coaches and fans expect.
The Hanover College Campus Store Co. is your official source for Hanover-related apparel and merchandise. Get your swag online at hanovergear.com or visit the retail location in the J. Graham Brown Campus Center.
BICENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN
“Jefferson Together” initiative marks first-year progress
“Jefferson Together” is the result of a $30 million grant received in 2024 from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its College and Community Collaboration initiative. The grant, administered by Hanover College, supports a holistic community development strategy that addresses the economic, social, cultural and connectivity needs of residents in Jefferson County (Ind.).
Hanoverians Henry “Chip” Snyder ’86 and Samantha Elliott ’22 lead the College’s community relations and outreach efforts, providing oversight of the five-year grant. Snyder serves as director of community relations which, among other things, focuses on partnerships and collaborations with the community. Elliott is the administrative coordinator for community relations.
Community-enhancing projects include the renovation of three historic homes near campus, including the 1852 Rodgers-Millican House and the former manse adjacent to the Hanover Presbyterian Church. With assistance from Indiana Landmarks and almost $1 million in Jefferson Together funding, these homes are being rejuvenated and, once complete, will be available for sale to the public.
The first phase of the Town of Hanover’s $4 million sidewalks and streetscapes project began this spring. This endeavor will include installation of a traffic signal and crosswalk at Indiana State Highway 56-62 and Kuntz Road, near Hanover’s cross country course. Sidewalks will be installed from the Zeddies Tennis Center to Grange Hall Road, which will connect the campus community to the local McDonald’s, Subway, Fast Pace Urgent Care, DG Market and coming Taco Bell.
In addition, “Jefferson Together” has already funded/committed more than $750,000 in the Town of Hanover for restoration of its water tower, Hanover Park lighting improvements, Fireman’s Park basketball goals, architectural planning and design services for enhanced streetscapes and more park amenities, and retiring the debt of the Hanover Community Garden. “Jefferson Together” is also helping the Hanover Child Development Center grow and is funding a second round of summer internships.
In nearby Madison, Ind., “Jefferson Together” provided $250,000 to Visit Madison and the City of Madison for the purchase of a new 30-passenger trolley and aided the purchase of a second trolley.
A multi-use trail that connects campus to Madison is being constructed in two phases. Recently completed, the first phase connects downtown Madison to Clifty Falls State Park. The second phase, covering five miles and connecting Clifty Falls to campus and the Town of Hanover, is in the preliminary stages of planning and construction. Once completed, the Hanover-Madison Connector Trail will provide a pedestrian- and bike-friendly experience for students, residents and visitors, and serve as a unique segment of a larger trail system planned in the region.
Give My Regards to Broadway:
THE HANOVER NEW YORK CITY ALUMNI TOUR | Nov. 4-8, 2026
Explore one of the world’s most vibrant cultural capitals with Hanover alumni! This Big Apple adventure includes Broadway productions, museums, historical tours, behind-the-scenes exclusives, memorable dining venues and more opportunities to reconnect with Hanoverians.
The price — $775 per person — includes two Broadway productions, lectures, tours and group social events. The price does not include transportation or hotel accommodations. However, a special Hanover rate has been arranged with The Westin Times Square, located in the heart of Broadway.
to 32 participants.
Friday, Oct. 9
• Dedication of state historic marker in Milton, Ky.
• Trolley tour of Hubbard’s artwork in public and private collections
• “Paint Like Harlan” Watercolor Workshop with Tracy Barns (all skill levels)
• Payne Hollow open house
• Hubbard artifacts from the Payne Hollow on the Ohio Collection and Behringer-Crawford Museum Collection
• “S ecret Lives of American River People” project with Wes Modes on his Hubbardinspired shantyboat “Dotty”
• Hubbard/Payne Hollow oral history with the Trimble County (Ky.) Public Library
The inaugural Payne Hollow Symposium will focus on the lives of regional legends Harlan and Anna Hubbard. This captivating event, scheduled for Oct. 9-11, will include diverse sessions related to the legacy of the Hubbards and their rustic home, Payne Hollow.
• Evening reception with performance by Wes and Donna Griffin and pop-up bookstore provided by The Berry Center
• Indiana premiere of Daniel Gilliam’s Piano Trio No. 2: “Payne Hollow”
Saturday, Oct. 10
• A day full of infor mative and engaging sessions related to the legacy of Payne Hollow
• Unveiling of Hubbard artwork exhibit in Duggan Library
• Per formance by artist Bonnie “Prince” Billy at Fitzgibbon Recital Hall
Sunday, Oct. 11
• Frottage art workshop at Payne Hollow with artist Al Gorman
• “Paint Like Harlan” Watercolor Workshop with Tracy Barns (all skill levels)
• Payne Hollow open house
• Hubbard artifacts from the Payne Hollow on the Ohio Collection and Behringer-Crawford Museum Collection
• “S ecret Lives of American River People” project with Wes Modes on his Hubbardinspired shantyboat “Dotty”
If nothing else, the cicada is resilient.
They rise, make changes and become new again in the face of novel challenges and eras. The cicada's life cycle serves as a metaphor for justice work. Moments of high visibility and development happen in the public eye, but those moments are built and sustained by work that happens underground where many creatures are interconnected and interdependenct.
A purchase from the “Fighting Cicada” merchandise line supports Hanover's Social Justice Leadership Program. The initiative — brought to life by a collaboration between a trustee, student artist and employees — supports an endowed academic internship for a Hanover student in the areas of arts and social justice.
Learn more Shop here!
The Hanover New York City Alumni Tour is limited
Campos, Swegman earn top athletic honors
Patricio Campos ’26 and Callie Swegman ’26 headlined award recipients at the Hanover Athletic Department’s annual year-end honors ceremony, held May 20 in Collier Arena. The standouts were selected as the College’s most outstanding senior athletes, each earning an honor that was first presented in 1926.
Swegman, a four-year member of the track and field and cross country squads, earned academic all-American recognition as a junior and senior. She was a two-time all-Heartland Conference honoree in cross country and a six-time all-HCAC recipient in track. She joins Leah Peelman Mysock ’06 as the only female runners to rank among Hanover’s top 10 times in six different distance events.
In cross country, Swegman posted top-five finishes in the league’s 2024 and 2025 championship meets and helped lead the Panthers to team titles in 2023 and 2024. As a senior, she earned all-region honors with a 25th-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional.
On the track, Swegman was a six-time all-Heartland Conference honoree. As a junior, she won the HCAC’s five-kilometer (5K) indoor championship (18:29.07) and 10-kilometer outdoor crown (40:04.80). She holds Hanover’s school record in the indoor three-kilometer run (10:31.44) and ranks second in school history in the indoor 5K (18:11.03).
Campos was a three-year starter and a four-year member of the soccer team. He appeared in 68 matches during his career with 48 starts, helping the Panthers post a 42-20-15 record. He totaled 68 career points, including 28 goals and 12 assists.
He was a first-team all-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference selection in 2023 and 2025. As a senior, he was named the Heartland Conference’s offensive player of the year and was a first-team all-Region VII selection by the United Soccer Coaches.
During the 2025 campaign, Campos set a school single-season record with 38 points, including a team-high 16 goals, to surpass the former mark of 31 points set by Enrico Franchini ’17 in 2015 (15 goals, one assist). He led the Panthers with 59 shots, 35 shots on goal and seven match-winning goals. He also ranked second on the squad with six assists.
Omar Dizdar ’27, a forward on the soccer squad, was presented with both the Bill Griffin Mental Attitude Award and Lexi Riggles Teammate of the Year Award. Kelsey Waggoner ’27, an outside hitter and defensive specialist on Hanover’s volleyball team, earned the Mildred E. Lemen Mental Attitude Award.
For the second year in a row, Hanover’s women’s soccer program earned the Dean’s Award, which recognizes the team with the highest grade-point average (GPA). Head coach Jim Watts’ 30-member squad attained a 3.739 GPA.
The women’s cross country team, led by head coach Brady Wells ’83, achieved the Faculty Athletic Representative Award for the largest increase in GPA from one academic year through the next. The 11-member squad posted a 3.429 grade-point average, marking a 0.197 improvement from the previous year.
Patricio Campos
Callie Swegman
Omar Dizdar
Kelsey Waggoner
Wilmoth first to earn indoor and outdoor all-American honors
Record-setting thrower Tommy Wilmoth ’27 became the first men’s track and field athlete in Hanover history to earn indoor and outdoor all-American honors. Competing in the shot put, Wilmoth finished fifth at the NCAA Division III indoor championships March 14 in Birmingham, Ala., and placed fourth at the outdoor nationals May 22 in La Crosse, Wis.
Making his second straight appearance at the outdoor nationals, Wilmoth capped a record-setting spring with a fourth-place finish among 22 athletes in the field. He jumped into an early lead with a 17.58-meter heave (57 feet, 8.25 inches) on his first attempt. After slipping to fifth place, he bounded into the fourth spot with a 17.86-meter effort (58 feet, 7.25 inches) on the last of his six attempts.
Wilmoth, who finished 19th at the 2025 outdoor nationals, surpassed Hanover’s long-standing outdoor shot put record multiple times during the 2026 season. He now holds the Panthers’ mark with an 18.07-meter heave (59 feet, 3.5 inches), set May 8 at the Billy Hayes Invitational in Bloomington, Ind. The College’s former record, 16.61 meters (54 feet, six inches), was established by Sam Moneyhun ’66 in 1965.
Wilmoth’s historic 2026 opened with all-American honors in his first appearance at the NCAA Division III indoor track and field championships. He placed fifth overall in the shot put with a 17.28-meter heave (56 feet, 8.5 inches). He entered the competition as the seventh seed among 20 athletes.
The national meet came two weeks after Wilmoth’s record-setting performance to win the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s indoor shot put championship. He surpassed his own school record with a 17.68-meter toss (58 feet, one-quarter inch) Feb. 28 in Cincinnati.
Wilmoth became just the second Hanover male athlete to compete at the NCAA Division III indoor championships. Joe Sheryak ’19 was the first, finishing 10th in the heptathlon at the 2019 national meet in Boston. Sheryak posted a school-record 4,807 points in the two-day series of seven events.
Harriers repeat as national academic honorees
Hanover’s men’s and women’s cross country teams earned all-academic honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. This year’s recognition marks the third consecutive season for the women’s squad and the second straight for the men’s program.
To qualify for all-academic distinction, teams must achieve a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, among other qualifiers. The College’s 11-member women’s squad combined for a 3.42 GPA. The men’s team, which has six athletes, posted a 3.39 GPA.
For individual accolades, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top 25 percent at the regional meet.
Callie Swegman ’26 and Kaylee Kinser ’28 each earned individual all-academic honors. Swegman, a biology major, notched the award for the second consecutive year. Kinser, a computer science major, received the honor for the first time. Swegman finished 25th among 260 runners at the Great Lakes Regional. Kinser followed in 34th place.
Girard becomes baseball’s career strikeout leader
Lefthanded pitcher John Girard ’26 became the Hanover baseball program’s career strikeout leader during the 2026 campaign.
A first-team all-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference selection, Girard fanned 90 batters to lift his career total to 258 strikeouts, eclipsing the former mark of 246 set by Adam Christie ’03 from 2000-03. He set the record with four strikeouts during a May 8 victory against Franklin College in the HCAC tournament.
This season, Girard posted a 5-4 record in 13 appearances. He led the Panthers’ staff with a 1.07 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) and 3.74 earned run average through a team-high 84.1 innings on the mound.
Girard, a three-time all-HCAC honoree, was the Heartland Conference’s pitcher of the year and a first-team all-region selection in 2024. That spring, he posted a 6-3 record, set Hanover’s single-season record with a league-high 96 strikeouts and led the league in innings pitched (90) and earned run average (3.60).
Clark named Heartland Conference’s outstanding golf newcomer
Golfer Cassidy Clark ’29 was chosen as the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s newcomer of the year by the league’s eight head coaches.
Clark, who totaled five top-10 finishes this spring, led Hanover at the Heartland Conference’s 54-hole tournament, played May 8-10 at the Anderson Country Club in Anderson, Ind. She posted a 251 (81-80-90) to place fifth among 34 golfers. The Panthers, limited to just three competing players, tied for seventh place in the team standings.
She is the fourth Hanover athlete to claim the league’s newcomer-of-the-year honor and first since Allison Goodwin ’20 earned the award in 2017. Becky Roberts Oliver ’13 and Courtney Martin ’14 captured the HCAC’s rookie-of-the-year honor in back-to-back years following the 2010 and 2011 league tournaments, respectively.
DeWeese selected Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference’s top rookie
Jack DeWeese ’29 earned the Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference’s newcomer-of-the-year award. He was selected by the league’s seven men’s head coaches.
An attacker, DeWeese led the Heartland Conference with 78 points, including a league-high 58 goals. He ranked fourth in the conference with 20 assists. He posted an HCLC-best 5.2 points, 3.87 goals and 11.73 shots per game. Through 15 contests, he tallied five or more goals on seven occasions and had six games with seven or more points.
DeWeese is the fourth Hanover player to earn the HCLC’s newcomer-of-the-year award. He joins Colin O’Brien ’26 (2023), Dirk Meinhart ’23 (2019) and Sam Green ’19 (2016) as the Panthers’ rookie-of-the-year honorees.
Vlcan tapped Heartland Conference’s basketball newcomer of the year
Emerson Vlcan ’29 was selected the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s newcomer of the year by the league’s 10 women’s basketball coaches.
Vlcan, a 6-foot-3 center, started 17 games during her first collegiate season. She ranked fourth on the squad in scoring with 7.4 points per outing and second with 6.0 rebounds per game. She led the Panthers with 46 blocked shots and ranked second in the Heartland Conference with 1.8 blocks per contest.
Vlcan is the fourth Hanover player to earn the HCAC newcomer-of-the-year honor.
Grace Bezold ’25 received the award in 2022. Hanover Hall of Fame member
Molly Martin Pabst ’11 won the honor in 2008. Jessie Davidson ’17 claimed the award in 2014.
Track team posts three titles, two records at HCAC outdoor championship
Tommy Wilmoth ’27 and Sean Woods ’27 each set league records as Hanover’s men’s track and field team earned three first-place finishes at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s outdoor championships. The meet was held April 23-25 in Lexington, Ky.
Wilmoth captured the Heartland Conference’s shot put title for the second year in a row. Wilmoth’s 17.46-meter launch (57 feet, 3.5 inches) shattered the previous HCAC meet record. Prior to the 2026 season, Anderson University’s Dwayne Lockridge set the former HCAC record with a 16.49-meter heave (54 feet, one inch) at the 2006 championship.
Woods won the Heartland Conference pole vault crown with a school- and league-record 4.92-meter effort (16 feet, 1.75 inches). The previous league record of 4.90 meters was set by Bluffton University’s Gabe Makin in 2018. Hanover’s former record of 4.54 meters (14 feet, one inch) was set by Jalen Simmons ’22 in 2022.
Sprinters Layden Adair ’26, Brandon Bensouda ’28, Kingston Dugan ’29 and Blaine Ison ’27 posted the Panthers’ third league crown. The foursome combined to win the HCAC’s 4x100-meter relay title in a school-record 41.61 seconds. The time eclipsed the mark if 42.01 seconds, set April 4 by Adair, Dugan, Ison and Anthony Lloyd ’26 at the Wilmington College Invitational.
Hanover totaled 89 points to finish fourth among 10 teams at the HCAC meet. The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology earned the team crown with 204 points. Manchester University was second with 144 and Anderson University finished third with 94.
Panthers collect four titles at HCAC indoor meet
Hanover’s men’s track and field squad tallied four titles enroute to a third-place finish at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s indoor championships. The league meet was held Feb. 28 in Cincinnati.
Tommy Wilmoth ’27 repeated as the HCAC’s shot put champion with a school-record indoor heave of 17.68 meters (58 feet, one-quarter inch). The effort was more than 2.5 meters farther than his winning effort from 2025 (15.12 meters).
Sprinter Brandon Bensouda ’28 defended his 2025 Heartland Conference title in the 60-meter dash. He won the event in 6.89 seconds, clipping four one-hundredths of a second off his time from the previous year (6.93).
Jumper Anthony Lloyd ’26 posted a first-place finish in the high jump with a leap of 1.95 meters (six feet, 4.75 inches).
Hanover also captured the men’s 400-meter distance medley relay title. Jayden Enderle ’27, Jacob Miller ’27, Charlie Stuelpe ’27 and Colin Kistler ’28 combined to win the event with a time of 10:55.50.
The Panthers tallied 81 points in the championship. The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology won the team title with 215. Manchester University finished second with 157.
HALL OF FAME DAY
Saturday, Sept. 5
2026 INDUCTION CLASS
Bob Donewald Sr. ’64 – Basketball/Coach
Erika Shepherd Dixon ’16 – Golf
Melissa Fenton ’97 – Softball
Ben Fox ’96 – Football
Skip Lichtfuss – Lacrosse/Coach/Legacy Award
Mike Rivera ’94 – Cross Country/Track and Field
Micah Shrewsberry ’99 – Basketball/Coach
Jim Spencer ’75 – Football
INDUCTION CEREMONY
10 a.m. – Collier Arena
TAILGATE RECEPTION
12:45 p.m. • North Endzone Tent
FOOTBALL VS. CENTRE COLLEGE
2 p.m. • Alumni Stadium
Kops-Bedel honored at softball reunion
Elaine Kops-Bedel ’74, Hanover Board of Trustees chair, was saluted and presented with a framed jersey during the softball program’s “Day at the Diamond” reunion March 28 at the Panther Athletic Complex. Last year, Kops-Bedel — a former Hanover softball player — established the Elaine Kops-Bedel ’74 Endowed Coach for Softball, marking the athletic department’s first endowed position. The funding provides budget enhancement for the softball team and resources for professional development.
Lacrosse conference adds three members
The Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference (HCLC) welcomed three new members. Alfred State College, Hilbert College and LaRoche University began league play this past spring.
Alfred State and Hilbert, both located in New York, and Pennsylvania-based LaRoche are members of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). By uniting with Hanover, Earlham College, Spalding University and Transylvania University, the single-sport HCLC now includes seven schools, which surpasses the number required for the conference’s champion to earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III national tournament.
Jay Jones and Jeromy Yetter serve as the HCLC’s co-commissioners. Jones is commissioner of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, while Yetter is the AMCC’s commissioner.
Hanoverian Eternal is available on Hanover’s alumni website. Information about the passing of members of the College community, including alumni, faculty, staff and trustees, are regularly updated online along with links to obituaries, when available. our.hanover.edu/eternal
JAMES LEE ANNIS JR. ’78
Author, Official Hanover Bicentennial History
James Lee Annis Jr., Ph.D., the author of Hanover’s official bicentennial history, died March 5, 2026, in Silver Spring, Md. He was 68 years old.
Annis was born on May 13, 1957, in Rockledge, Fla., and grew up in Alexandria, Va., and Rockville, Md. He graduated from Robert E. Peary (Md.) High School in 1974 before enrolling at Hanover. He later earned master’s and doctoral degrees at Ball State University.
An educator, historian and author, Annis taught history and political science at Montgomery College for 40 years. He taught classes at each of Montgomery’s three campuses and served as history department chair at the main campus from 2011-18. He published
FACULTY AND STAFF
STANLEY PAUL CAINE, Ph.D., 85, of Adrian, Mich., died Dec 29, 2025 (former vice president for academic affairs)
DAVID BRIAN GALBREATH, 70, of Madison, Ind., died Feb. 23, 2026 (former campus safety officer)
BARBARA ANN CALVERT JOHNSON, 80, of Hanover, Ind., died Dec. 29, 2025 (former food service staff member)
DONNA JEAN WEBB LEAHEY, 88, of Danville, Ky., died Feb. 26, 2026 (former student life staff member)
EDNA DAWN LAW HAY SEEBAUER MURPHY, 97, of Logansport, Ind., died Feb. 19, 2026 (former food service staff member)
SHIRLEY MARLENE BURRESS SCOTT, 84, of Hanover, Ind., died April 4, 2026 (former housekeeping staff member)
1952 JOSEPHINE PITTENGER
SHANAFELT, 96, of Indianapolis, Ind., died Feb. 22, 2026
1952 RACHEL HELEN MATTHEW ZIMMERMAN, 96, of Tucson, Ariz., died July 30, 2025
1953 FERDINAND AUGUST DOLL JR., 95, of Ann Arbor, Mich., died March 1, 2026
1954 MARY ELIZABETH DEMAREE GOLDSMITH, 93, of Madison, Ind., died May 23, 2026
1956 ROSALIE GAIL GROSKURD BANDY, 91, of Mount Dora, Fla., died April 7, 2026
several books, including “Howard Baker: Conciliator in an Age of Crisis” and “Big Jim Eastland: The Godfather of Mississippi,” among others. In recent years, he had traveled the U.S. interviewing Hanover alumni for the College’s official history, set for publication ahead of the 2027 bicentennial celebration.
Annis was honored by both Montgomery College and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development in the past two years. In 2009, he was acknowledged by the Montgomery’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors for outstanding service.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James L. Annis Sr. and Betty Ann Pound Annis, and a brother, Richard Carl Annis.
Annis is survived by his sister, Gayle Annis-Forder, and her husband, Dick; two aunts; one uncle and numerous cousins and friends.
1956 AUSTIN LEROY STROUSE JR., 91, of Scottsdale, Ariz., died Jan. 3, 2026
1958 JANICE D. BOHNE DEAN, 89, of Anderson, Ind., died Jan. 20, 2026
1958 JOAN RUTH PHILLIPS LEITZEL, Ph.D., 89, of Columbus, Ohio, died March 5, 2026
1960 MARGARET ANNE GIBBS, 87, of Richmond, Va., died Feb. 14, 2026
1960 JAMES W. TIPTON, 88, of Port Ludlow, Wash., died Nov. 10, 2025
1961 ANN T. THORN FULKERSON, 81, of Troy, Ohio, died Oct. 16, 2020
1961 ROBERT LEE GROSS, 92, of Madison, Ind, died April 5, 2026
1962 ALLEN JOHN DEMROSKE, 96, of Brimley, Mich., died Feb. 13, 2026
1962 CHARLES MICHAEL TRAW, 85, of Campbell, Calif., died December 2025
1963 ANGELA PECKHAM HEWETT, 84, of Wallingford, Pa., died March 3, 2026
1967 MARCIA JAYNE BURKS LUIGS, 80, of Carmel, Ind., died April 8, 2026
1967 MAX K. WALKER JR., 81, of Elkhart, Ind., died April 20, 2026
1968 MARTHA THORN SNYDER, 76, of Houston, died June 13, 2023
1969 CAROL LYNN ANDERSON, 79, of Bolingbrook, Ill., died Jan. 20, 2026
1969 ALAN LEE JOHNS, 79, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, died Jan. 24, 2026
1971 BARBARA R. GLASS, 75, of Union, N.J., died Oct. 17, 2025
1971 JEFFREY HARVEY SIRMIN, 75, of Indianapolis, Ind., died Dec. 23, 2025
1972 DAVID ALAN DUVALL, 76, of Mansfield, Ohio, died May 16, 2026
1972 DONALD C. NEWMAN JR., 76, of Mishawaka, Ind., died March 26, 2026
1973 CAROL ANN EICKMEYER, 75, of Winston-Salem, N.C., died Feb. 20, 2026
1973 JOHN GILBERT SHAKE, 73, of Louisville, Ky., died April 24, 2025
1974 MARK ISHAM THOMPSON, 74, of Zionsville, Ind., died Dec. 20, 2025
1977 REBECCAH BEAZLEY BODART, 70, of Cary, N.C., died April 5, 2026
1977 HELEN LOUISE WEYERBACHER CHRISTIAN, 70, of Evansville, Ind., died March 1, 2026
1977 CAROLYN LOUISE WINKEL SMITH, 89, of Madison, Ind., died March 3, 2026
1978 GLEN PRESTON BROWN, 67, of Columbus, Ind., died July 3, 2023
1978 SUE ELLEN WYNN BROWN, 69, of Columbus, died Jan. 2, 2026
1978 PAUL STUART CASHEN, 67, of Zionsville, Ind., died August 18, 2024
1983 RONALD KERRY GAY, 64, of The Villages, Fla., died Dec. 22, 2025
1987 DAVID ALLEN DARNELL, 62, of South Bend, Ind., died April 5, 2026
1991 CHRISTIAN JAMES HEALY, 56, of Washington Island, Wis., died April 22, 2026
2008 KYLIE VICTORIA MAHER, 38, of London Mills, Ill., died Oct. 17, 2023
517
Homecoming
Celebration
Hanover’s 99th Homecoming celebration is a fantastic opportunity to revisit a transformative time of your life, hang out with friends, rekindle connections with classmates and mentors, and root for the Panthers!
Homecoming 2026 highlights include a gridiron battle with the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, milestone reunions for classes of 1976, 2001 and 2016, theatre production of the awardwinning musical “1776” and a look at the refreshed Harlan Hubbard art exhibit. The Panther Athletic Complex tailgate lot will be alive with Hanoverfest, while Panther Village moves to the Quad as a focal point for family friendly activities, booths and presentations.
Online registration is now live. All events are subject to change.
