Ebenezer
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. Currently, their daughter, Kaitlyn ’26, is thriving on campus 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,
Holiday classic performed through unique collaboration
Hanover’s theatre department opened the holiday season with a creative twist on a well-known Charles Dickens’ classic. “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol Experience” was performed Nov. 13-15 during a nine-show run at the historic Shrewsbury-Windle House in downtown Madison, Ind.
An immersive production conceived and directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Gabriel Vanover, “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol Experience” brought Dicken’s famed characters to life as audience members entered the grounds and toured the preCivil War mansion. The Shrewsbury-Windle House, completed in 1849, features 13 rooms, three-story spiral staircase, 16-foot ceilings, intricate plaster moldings and ornate stone details. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1994.
The play, featuring an all-student cast, was presented in collaboration with Historic Madison, Inc. The award-winning non-profit organization, formed in 1960, supports preservation, restoration and development of Madison’s National Historic Landmark District.
and legal guardians; siblings and stepsiblings;
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Hanover launches largest fundraising campaign in its history
Hanover has entered the public phase of its $110 million Bicentennial Campaign, marking the largest fundraising effort in the College’s history. The campaign’s successful initial phase has already secured more than $99 million toward the $110 million goal. The Bicentennial Campaign, which concludes June 30, 2027, will ensure Hanover’s continued ability to fulfill its critical educational mission for years to come.
“When the Trustees conceived the Bicentennial Campaign, none of us could have imagined the level of excitement the campaign and its priorities generated,” said President Lake Lambert. “Now that we’ve entered the public phase of the campaign, we invite all our alumni, students and friends of the College to join us in this historic effort. Together, we will create the foundation for the next 100 years of Hanover College.”
Bicentennial Campaign enhances academic and community experiences for students
Hanover is Indiana’s oldest private, four-year college, and this historic capital campaign will significantly bolster its reach and impact. Funds raised during the campaign will provide essential resources to attract and retain the best and brightest students, as well as recruit mission-driven faculty and staff.
Campaign priorities focus on supporting academic programs, fostering holistic educational experiences and enhancing worldclass facilities, such as:
• Funding new and expanded student scholarships
• Enhancing Impact Hanover Fund to support students with critical financial needs
• Ensuring campus beautification and facility enhancements
• Creating endowed academic and athletic positions
• Advancing community investment and partnerships
One of the campaign’s key remaining priorities is the construction of a theatre and community arts center on the upper level of Parker Auditorium. This renovation would finalize renovations to 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.
“As a proud Hanover alum, I am so grateful to our board of trustees, community and business partners, alumni, faculty and staff, for their generous contributions and belief in our mission,” said Elaine Kops-Bedel ’74, chair of the Hanover Board of Trustees. “The Bicentennial Campaign was created to support the goals and priorities of our five-year strategic plan to ensure that the next century of Hanover College is even more successful than our first two centuries.”
Priorities include delivering on Hanover’s commitment to increase enrollment and to create an even more welcoming community, enhance the offering of high-impact educational and extracurricular opportunities for learning and career-track preparation, expand graduate degree programs, improve alumni engagement, foster employee wellbeing, and update campus facilities.
“It has been an honor for my wife, Judy, and me to serve as campaign chairs for the Bicentennial Campaign – the most significant fundraising effort in the history of Hanover College. While our campaign goals are ambitious, the generosity of our partners, the board of trustees, alumni, faculty and staff, and many others, have proven that it is achievable,” said Trustee Mike Zeddies ’77, chair of the Bicentennial Campaign. “Each gift matters and we hope that everyone who appreciates the impact of Hanover College will consider becoming a part of this historic campaign.”
The Bicentennial Campaign represents a transformative moment for Hanover, ensuring its mission thrives for generations to come. For more, visit hanover.edu/campaign or scan the QR code.
Occupational therapy program reaches milestones
Hanover’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program (OTD) achieved two important milestones in recent months. In August, the College’s OTD program earned full accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association and, just last month, celebrated the graduation of its first class.
Forty-eight members of the OTD’s Class of 2025 earned a place in Hanover history as the program’s first graduates. The inaugural commencement was held Dec. 18 in Collier Arena.
Danielle Teschke OTD ’25 delivered the student address during the ceremony. Academic awards were presented to Teschke, Sel Adehe OTD ’25, Sam Colby OTD ’25, Cait Dolenski ’22 OTD ’25, Melinda Ritchie OTD ’25, Sierra Searle OTD ’25 and Jenna VanDuyne OTD ’25 Colby and Searle each merited the program’s Academic Excellence Award. Ritchie and VanDuyne earned the Professionalism and Leadership Award. Adehe and Teschke were presented with the Spirit of Hanover OTD Award, while Dolenski received the Double Panther Award.
The OTD program’s ACOTE accreditation was approved for the maximum allowed period of seven years. The accreditation serves as an important credential for the program’s graduates, who are now eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam and apply for licensure in all states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
ACOTE, recognized as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, establishes, approves and administers educational standards to evaluate occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs. ACOTE currently accredits more than 500 occupational therapist education programs, including more than 130 doctoral programs.
Third-annual DPT commencement celebrates Class of 2025
Hanover’s third-annual Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) commencement ceremony featured the conferral of degrees to 79 students. The event was held August 22 in Collier Arena.
Alexandra Carmen Menendez DPT ’25 delivered the student address. Bradley Johnson DPT ’25, Reese VanDevender DPT ’25 and Latrell Wade DPT ’25 each earned the Academic Excellence Award. Wade also received the Clinical Excellence Award. Leanne Schellhorn DPT ’25 was awarded the Student Impact Award. Trent Gabriel DPT ’25 earned the Service Excellence Award.
Mark Hays ’77 spoke on behalf of the Hanover College Alumni Association. He serves as president of the Alumni Leadership Council.
Mark Hays ’77, president of the Alumni Leadership Council, offered remarks and welcomed graduates to the Hanover College Alumni Association.
Kappa Alpha Psi becomes College’s first “Divine Nine” fraternity
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (ΚΑΨ) officially joined Hanover’s campus community during a Nov. 6 ceremony at Fitzgibbon Recital Hall, Lynn Center for Fine Arts.
Layden Adair ’26, Bryce Gray ’28, Talal Laguda ’26 and Joey McElroy ’26 were introduced as the Xi Rho colony’s establishing members during the event, which capped a three-year exploration and orientation process. The College’s colony will function as a branch of DePauw University’s Xi Rho chapter until growth allows creation of a full chapter on campus.
The addition of Kappa Alpha Psi marks Hanover’s first “Divine Nine” fraternity, which refers to the nine historically Black fraternities and sororities that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. ΚΑΨ was founded in 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington.
The organization has more than 150,000 members with 700 undergraduate and alumni chapters across the U.S. and international chapters in more than 15 nations.
Indiana Supreme Court holds oral argument
Nearly 1,000 spectators, including 700 regional high school students, watched as the Indiana Supreme Court held an oral argument Sept. 30 in Collier Arena. The public session was held as part of the court’s annual traveling oral arguments series. The five-member court listened to arguments in Ajaylan M. Shabazz v. State of Indiana (25S-CR-183), a criminal case concerning whether trial witness testimony by Zoom satisfies meeting witnesses face-to-face under the Indiana Constitution.
The Indiana Supreme Court, which regularly holds oral arguments at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, occasionally schedules arguments outside the capital. Traveling oral arguments allow students, public and the press in other areas of the Hoosier State the opportunity to see the work of the court.
The event was held as part of Hanover’s Constitution Day programming and made possible with the support of the Hanover Enrichment Series.
Totten and Nielsen mark Science Center’s 25th anniversary
Larry Nielsen, professor emeritus of natural resources at North Carolina State University, served as keynote speaker during a Sept. 25 event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Science Center.
Nielsen is a nationally recognized educator, author and captivating storyteller. He served 40 years as a faculty member and administrator at North Carolina State, Virginia Tech University and Penn State University. He is the author of more than 100 publications, including the books “Nature’s Allies: Eight Conservationists Who Changed Our World” and “Provost: Experiences, Reflections and Advice from a Former ‘Number Two’ on Campus,” among others. He published his first mystery novel, “Dead Man on Campus,” in 2022.
He was awarded the Excellence in Education Award by the American Fisheries Society in 2020. In 2022, he received the Sustained Achievement Award by the Renewable Natural Resources Foundation.
The event was hosted by Stanley Totten, professor emeritus of geology. During his opening remarks, Totten offered memories of the building’s construction and its impact on the College’s science programs. He also thanked key donors for their contributions to the facility and its museum collection.
Social justice program welcomes Genesis Be
Genesis Be, an artist, hip-hop performer and global ambassador for Moral Courage, explored how to have civil conversations with people of varying perspectives during a Sept. 13 appearance on campus.
Known for her efforts to remove the Confederate emblem from the Mississippi state flag, Be has been featured by the Associated Press, New York Times and Washington Post, and also appeared on “The Matter of Fact Listening Tour hosted by Soledad O’Brien” and Public Broadcasting Service’s “Laura Flanders and Friends,” among others.
Be’s campus appearance included a screening of “Mississippi Turning,” a 30-minute documentary about her experiences while working to remove the Confederate symbol from Mississippi’s flag. The film highlights her advocacy, which focuses on bridge-building and the healing of divided communities.
The event was sponsored by Hanover’s Social Justice Leadership Program.
Authoritarianism, citizenship focus of O’Brien Lecture
Roberta Pergher, Ph.D., associate professor of history at Indiana University, presented the annual Cornelius and Anna Cook O’Brien Lecture Oct. 4 in the Science Center. The lecture served as the keynote address for the 96th-annual Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences conference.
Pergher, who also works as director of the Institute for European Studies, is an expert on the rise of fascism during the period between World War I and World War II. Her study, “Mussolini’s Nation-Empire: Sovereignty and Settlement in Italy’s Borderlands, 1922-1943,” explored how ordinary people made sense of, challenged and rethought their place in society in the context of shifting state boundaries and collective identities.
Pergher’s previously released co-edited volumes offered a look at the longevity and popularity of Benito Mussolini’s government and examined outside influences on the Paris Peace Conference and its eventual resonance on nations impacted by the war. Her forthcoming book on fascist imperialism, part of the “Cambridge Elements Series,” will focus on citizenship and the contract between the individual and the state.
(l-r): Bryce Gray ’28, Talal Laguda ’26, Joey McElroy ’26, Layden Adair ’26.
Larry Nielsen, Ph.D.
Rubino and Malone receive preservation association honor
Professor of Biology Darrin Rubino and Sarah Malone ’22 received the Martin E. Weaver Award from the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT). The award was announced Nov. 14 during the organization’s annual conference in Providence, R.I.
Rubino and Malone were honored for their article, “Dating Construction with Tree Rings and Sapwood When Felling Dates Are Unavailable.” The work was printed in a 2025 issue of APT Bulletin: The Journal of Preservation Technology (Vol. 55, No. 3). The article was coauthored by Christopher Baas, an associate professor of landscape architecture at Ball State University.
Created in 2008, the Weaver Award recognizes an APT Bulletin article published during the last year that best demonstrates excellence in the history of technology, training and education in historic preservation or in the investigation and treatment of wood in historic buildings and artifacts. The award honors Weaver, an architect, historic preservation lecturer and former APT president who taught at Columbia University from 1991-2004.
Rubino, a noted dendrologist, has served as a member of Hanover’s faculty since 2002. He is a three-time recipient of the Arthur and Ilene Baynham Award for Outstanding Teaching (2007, 2012 and 2018) and a 2014 winner of the Daryl R. Karns Award for Scholarly and Creative Activity. He was presented with the Stanley Totten Award for Outstanding Service in 2016.
Malone, the College’s laboratory technician, studied specimens related to the article in 2021 as part of Hanover’s Summer Research Fellows program. In 2024, she completed her master’s degree in natural resources at the University of MissouriColumbia. Her master’s research focused on using tree-ring analysis and quantitative wood anatomy to study flood-induced stress in red oaks in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.
APT is dedicated to promoting the best technology for protecting historic structures and their settings. Its membership hails from nearly 30 countries and includes a wide scope of professionals and students who are involved in the application of methods and materials to maintain, conserve and protect historic structures and sites.
Stogsdill honored with “Realizing the Dream” Award
Annamarie Stogsdill ’28 has been named Hanover’s recipient of the Independent Colleges of Indiana’s “Realizing the Dream” Award. Stogsdill, an education major, will be honored during a late-winter ceremony in Indianapolis.
Established in 1989, the “Realizing the Dream”Award is a state-wide honor that recognizes first-generation college students of outstanding academic achievement and leadership potential. The honor is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. through the Independent Colleges of Indiana.
The award is presented annually to students from Indiana’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. Each recipient receives a certificate and $5,000 scholarship to help offset educational costs. The honor also provides a $1,000 professional development grant to a former teacher or mentor who greatly influenced their decision to attend college.
Warren selected for prestigious NCAA leadership program
Richard Warren, associate vice president for athletics, has been selected to participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Pathway Program for 2025-26.
Warren, who joined Hanover’s staff in 2023, is among 22 administrators across all NCAA divisions chosen to take part in the year-long leadership program, which focuses on preparing individuals to attain positions as an athletic director or conference commissioner.
Grounded in experiential learning, the Pathway Program challenges participants to address current and emerging issues across the collegiate athletics landscape. Participants engage in a targeted curriculum focused on strategic planning, organizational leadership, resource generation, executive communication, hiring processes and stakeholder engagement. The experience includes structured mentorship with senior leaders such as athletics directors, conference commissioners and school presidents, who provide personalized guidance and industry insight.
More than 300 executives have completed the Pathway Program, with nearly 30 percent eventually becoming athletic directors or conference commissioners. Additionally, more than 70 percent of the program’s participants have received some level of promotion in relation to their title or job responsibilities.
Woods selected to receive CIC/UPS Scholarship
Engineering major Sean Woods ’27 has earned a scholarship from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the United Parcel Service (UPS) Foundation. Woods received the award through Independent Colleges of Indiana and CIC, its national partner in Washington, D.C.
Woods’ $3,500 scholarship is part of more than $60 million that has been awarded in scholarship grants to CIC State Councils since 1985. The funding has assisted nearly 23,000 students at independent colleges across the country.
CIC is an association of more than 700 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges and related affiliates. The organization supports college and university leadership and enhances public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society.
The UPS Foundation, established in 1951, leads the company’s global citizenship programs that center on equity and economic empowerment, health and humanitarian relief, local engagement and planet protection.
Homecoming2025
Hanover’s 98th Homecoming featured milestone reunions for the classes of 1975, 2000 and 2015, dedication of Parker Auditorium’s new business and entrepreneur center, celebration of the 60th anniversary of Shakespeare in England, presentation of Alumni Achievement and Distinguished Young Alumni awards and more. The Panther Athletic Complex was energetic with an expanded Hanoverfest, the football squad’s 58-0 victory against Anderson University and the women’s soccer team’s 8-0 shutout against Manchester University.
Alumni Achievement Award (AAA) and Distinguished Young Alumni Award (DYA) recipients include (l-r): Edwin Nartey (DYA), Beth Maxson Monnin (AAA), President Lake Lambert, Karl Plank (AAA), and J. Lee Annis Jr. (AAA).
Homecoming court (l-r): Abby Badore, London Brooks, Jordynn Gutowski, Layden Adair, Sophia Shaw, Molly Keep and Maurice Kessner.
Class of 1975 50-year reunion
PATTERSONS BRING PARKER AUDITORIUM BACK TO LIFE
Dedication ceremonies officially open business and entrepreneur center
The opening of the Hanover College Business and Entrepreneur Center and resurrection of Parker Auditorium was celebrated by alumni and the campus community during an Oct. 17 dedication ceremony. The event was held as part of the College’s 98th-annual homecoming festivities.
The creation of the business and entrepreneur center was made possible through the initiative and generosity of Vance Patterson ’72 and his wife, Mary Jo Cody Patterson ’75. The couple’s seven-figure gift transformed the ground floor of Parker Auditorium into a state-of-the-art business-centric learning environment.
“This building isn’t just beautiful, it’s intentional,” said John Riddick ’87, executive director and professor of business. “Every detail was designed to spark collaboration, to create energy, to remind our students that business isn’t something you just study, it’s something you do. Here, ideas collide naturally.”
In the fall of 2022, the Pattersons expressed an interest in funding the construction of an enhanced center for the business department with 4-6 classrooms. Hanover President Lake Lambert suggested the possibility of remodeling Parker Auditorium, which had been closed for nearly a decade.
“My first response was, no, it’s not what I had in mind,” stated Vance Patterson. “And then we got to thinking about it. This is the Hanover icon. And to be a part of it, to help restore it and get it back to what it was — being a feature of the campus — Mary Jo and I decided this is really an opportunity for us.
So, we agreed.”
Designed by SPGB Architects, LLC (SPGB), the modern 8,000-square-foot, glass-walled facility encompasses Parker Auditorium’s entire lower level. The space includes experiencespecific classrooms modeled after board rooms, modular workstations and conference rooms. A real-time, scrolling stock ticker and newsfeed swirls around the centrally located rotunda between the classrooms. Dedicated areas are also available for graphic design, social media and audio-visual recording.
“The space is beautiful and impressive,” said Chris Welker ’97, vice chair of the Hanover Board of Trustees. “Vance and Mary Jo’s vision and care are evident from the advanced technology to the smallest details inside.”
Not just for the College’s business-oriented students, the Hanover Business and Entrepreneur Center and all of its resources are also available for other academic disciplines.
“Faculty, alumni and students now share one space and one purpose, to think boldly and to act with impact,” noted Riddick. “That’s really the power of space. It shapes how we think, how we interact and, ultimately, how we lead.”
“As many of you know, Parker Auditorium has stood empty for longer than anyone wanted,” said Carey Adams, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Vance and Mary Jo Patterson have breathed new life into the ground floor of this beloved building through their vision and their generosity.”
The late Gerald R. “Jerry” Johnson, Jr. ’69 was honored as namesake of the business center’s faculty offices, dedicated during an Oct. 18 ceremony. Johnson, a former member of the board of trustees and cherished campus leader — together with his wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” Milligan Johnson ’70 — were passionate advocates for Hanover’s business students.
Riddick, acknowledging the vast contributions of the Johnsons, directed his comments toward Betsy Johnson during the event. He stated, “Your late husband, Jerry Johnson, my mentor, played such an instrumental role in strengthening business education at Hanover. Your recent gift furnishing the office suite in the new center ensures that his legacy, and your shared commitment to our students, will live on in this space every single day.”
With the business program now residing within its immaculate ground-level home, plans are developing to revitalize the upper floors of Parker Auditorium. SPGB has created a new vision for the auditorium and its adjacent spaces, which is slated to house the College’s theatre program and also serve as a venue for a variety of campus and community events.
Once donor funding is secured, the auditorium will be renovated to feature a new stage and rehearsal spaces with reimagined tiered and balcony seating. Plans also include an expansion of set-building and wardrobe shops, as well as prop storage, an elevator and wheelchair-accessible entrances.
“The renovation of the upper floor of Parker is our next big step and this [business] center demonstrates what is possible when vision, generosity and purpose come together,” noted Adams.
“Well, this is really just the beginning,” added Patterson. “We provided a foundation for growth now. And Mary Jo and I are really going to be interested in coming back and seeing what you all have done with this.”
Holcomb presented honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb ’90 was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during an Oct. 17 ceremony in the J. Graham Brown Campus Center. The conferral was held as part of Hanover’s 98th-annual homecoming celebration.
“Eric Holcomb is no stranger to this campus, nor to the transformative power of a Hanover College education,” said President Lake Lambert. “Like so many of our students, he arrived here with potential and left with purpose.”
Holcomb, who was inducted into the Indiana Academy Nov. 3, served as Indiana’s 51st governor from 2017-25 following one term as lieutenant governor. He is the fourth Hanoverian to serve in the state’s highest office – joining Thomas Hendricks ’41 (1873-77), Albert Porter ’42 (1881-85) and Mike Pence ’81 (2013-17) – and the first to serve two terms.
“Hanover is the kind of institution where young people, in my estimation, can gain, and do gain, three priceless skills,” noted Holcomb. “They can learn why it's important to stay curious and ask questions. They can learn where to look for those answers. And most importantly, they can learn how to draw the threads together into something completely new.”
As governor, Holcomb emphasized economic development, infrastructure investment, workforce readiness, education, public health and quality of life and community development initiatives. He was “recognized” for his consensus-building approach and efforts to modernize state systems while maintaining a focus on civility and collaboration.
Under Holcomb’s leadership, the Hoosier State had recordbreaking capital investments, including significant direct foreign investment, and growth in technical innovation and life-science research and development. His administration prioritized fiscal responsibility, maintaining a AAA credit rating, adding more than $150 billion to the state's gross domestic product and
Baylor family honored with naming of Collier Arena court
The Baylor family will remain connected to Hanover’s athletic program with the official naming of the playing surface in Collier Arena. The dedication of Baylor Family Court was held Dec. 6 prior to the men’s and women’s basketball twinbill against Franklin College.
refunding more than $1.5 billion to taxpayers. He also oversaw public health funding increases and signed legislation on issues ranging from road funding and hate crimes to abortion and Sunday alcohol sales. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he implemented statewide health measures that drew both support and criticism.
“Eric has governed through times of great challenge and change, and has done so with vision, steadiness, and a clear commitment to the people of Indiana,” said Lambert. “His efforts have advanced economic growth, improved education and workforce development, invested in mental health and public health, and positioned Indiana as a national leader in innovation and collaboration. And yet, through it all, he has never lost touch with his roots.”
While at Hanover, Holcomb majored in history with a focus on the American Civil War and Reconstruction. He also served two terms as president of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity.
“Potential is nurtured here. Success in all walks of life is made possible here,” said Holcomb. “I know that Hanover will hold up its end of the bargain, continuing to nurture that special potential in young people to make success possible.”
Following graduation from Hanover, Holcomb served six years active duty as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy. He was initially stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes in Chicago. He later served at Naval Air Station Cecil Field near Jacksonville, Fla., and at Allied Joint Force Command Lisbon in Oeiras, Portugal.
Prior to serving as lieutenant governor (2016-17), Holcomb was campaign manager and deputy chief of staff for former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. He was the Indiana Republican Party chair and a member of the Republican National Committee before serving as chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Dan Coats.
The late Bob Baylor ’70 and Beth Baylor, a current member of the College’s board of trustees, along with their daughters, Cari Beth and Kelly, have enjoyed a close connection to Hanover for decades. Generous supporters, the Baylors have been devoted fans of the College’s athletic program and enriched the lives of Hanover’s students, coaches and fans.
“It is a great honor for my whole family to have our name on the floor,” said Beth Baylor. “My daughters, granddaughters, all my family, and the Baylor Foundation have helped support this. We’re just thrilled!”
The list of contributions from the Baylor family is substantial, including more than two dozen campus initiatives. Among the highlights are the creation of the Bob and Beth Baylor Locker Room Suite for the basketball and volleyball teams, completed in 2021, and the 2016 establishment of the Robert and Beth Baylor Coaches Home for Athletic Department Assistant Coaches and Interns. The family’s consistent support is punctuated by the recent revitalization of Collier Arena.
“The Baylor family is proud to be a part of Hanover and support all of the athletics [program],” stated Baylor. “Especially this new gym project. We needed to make improvements and I wanted [to help create] a sustainable competitive advantage.”
Made possible by Beth and Cari Beth, Collier Arena now features two video-enabled scoreboards (each 8 feet high and 13 feet wide) and a video-capable scorer’s table with four 8-foot sections. Two additional scoreboards (each 3 feet high and 8 feet wide) have been mounted on the north and south walls. Vibrant window graphics now adorn the upper perimeter.
“The addition of the video boards provides an opportunity from a game-day experience to just really take it to another level,” noted Jon Miller ’97, head men’s basketball coach. “This is a game-changer.”
“[These improvements] are something that others aren’t doing that set us apart,” said John Jones, head women’s basketball coach. “I think that's what the Baylor family has always been about. How can we do something better?”
The Baylors have also allotted resources to provide giveaways and fan-centric items — such as shirts, rally towels and noisemakers — to further enhance the game-day experience for fans.
“We just want to make it a fun event,” added Baylor. “We’d like to have competitions with the sororities and fraternities. We would like to get the community involved, get alumni to come back and also get faculty and staff to show up for the games.”
Volleyball nets conference tourney crown, NCAA tourney berth
Hanover’s volleyball squad knocked off the Nos. 1-2 seeds to capture the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship and earn the program’s first berth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III national tournament since 2017.
Under 27th-year head coach Peter Preocanin, Hanover posted a 21-11 overall record, marking the squad’s third straight 20-win season and sixth in the past 11 years. The Panthers tied Mount St. Joseph University for third place in the HCAC regular-season standings with a 6-3 mark.
Hanover opened the Heartland Conference tournament with a five-set win against top seed and host Earlham College (25-19, 21-25, 29-27, 24-26, 16-14). The Panthers earned the league’s automatic berth in the 64-team national tournament with a five-set victory against No. 2 seed Transylvania University (20-25, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 15-11) in the championship match.
In the opening round of the NCAA tourney, Hanover battled No. 19 Calvin University Nov. 20 at Bloomington, Ill. The Panthers lost to the Knights (26-3) in three sets, falling 25-21, 25-23, 25-15. Hanover was led by outside hitter Abbey McCoy ’27 with 10 kills. Setter Brook Gervers ’28 posted 14 assists and libero Madison Schicker ’28 had 12 digs.
In Hanover’s previous NCAA tournament appearances, Preocanin’s squad dropped a five-set battle against Berry College (25-22, 27-25, 22-25, 19-25, 15-3) during the first round of the 2017 NCAA tournament in Atlanta. The Panthers fell in three sets against eventual national champion Washington University-St. Louis (30-19, 30-22, 30-23) in the opening round at Kenosha, Wis., in 2007.
Football sweeps HCAC slate, wins home NCAA playoff game
Hanover’s football program rolled through its six-game Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference slate to secure the league’s championship and earn an automatic berth in the 40-team National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III national playoffs.
Guided by 10th-year head coach Matt Theobald ’96, Hanover posted a 9-3 overall record, which included nine consecutive wins after opening the season with losses to Centre College and Butler University. The Panthers capped the regular season with a 51-18 win against Franklin College in the 95th battle for the Victory Bell.
Hanover defeated Grove City College, 23-15, in the opening round of the national tournament Nov. 22 at Alumni Stadium. The home victory was the first for the Panthers’ program since joining the NCAA in 1992 and first in the playoffs since a 20-3 triumph at Hope College during the 2000 season.
Quarterback Eian Roudebush ’27 completed 19-of-35 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 14 times for 75 yards and two scores to lead the offense. Cornerback Brian Wall ’28 led the defensive unit with seven solo tackles and also added a 35-yard fumble return to set up a second-quarter touchdown.
In the second round, Hanover battled top-ranked North Central College Nov. 29 in Naperville, Ill. The Panthers trailed 10-0 at the intermission before eventually falling, 38-6, to the defending national champions.
Hanover tallied 15 first downs but was limited to 231 yards of offense. Running back Josh Williams ’29 led the squad with 75 yards on 10 rushes, including a 23-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter. Wall posted five solos and four assisted tackles to spur the defense.
The post-season appearance was the 16th for Hanover, including three under Theobald. The league championship marks the 28th in school history and fourth in the past eight seasons.
Wall named all-American, football dominates HCAC year-end awards
Cornerback Brian Wall ’28 earned all-American honors and Hanover’s football team collected five of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s top individual awards following the 2025 campaign.
Wall was named second-team all-American by the American Football Coaches Association and earned the Heartland Conference’s defensive player-of-the-year award. Quarterback Eian Roudebush ’27 was named the league’s offensive player of the year. Placekicker Clint Hearne ’26 was recognized as the special teams athlete of the year. Head coach Matt Theobald ’96 earned the HCAC’s coach-of-the-year honor. Chase Burton, who serves as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, was recognized as the conference’s coordinator of the year.
Wall led the Panthers with 45 solo tackles and 30 assisted tackles. He also tallied four tackles for loss, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and a forced fumble. He is the Panthers’ first all-American selection since linebacker Ryan Martin ’17 in 2015 and the program’s first league defensive player of the year honoree since linebacker Kyle Treber ’22 in 2019.
Roudebush completed 242-of-348 passes for 2,868 yards with 30 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed 126 times for 410 yards and eight scores. He was named the league’s newcomer of the year in 2023 and is the first Hanover player to win the HCAC’s top offensive honor since running back Shawn Coane ’22 in 2019.
Hearne led Hanover in scoring with 66 points. He converted 48-of-52 extra-points and made 6-of-8 field goals, including all four attempts from beyond 40 yards. He tied a school record with a 52-yard field goal during the 58-0 Homecoming victory against Anderson University Oct. 18. Hearne now shares the mark with Tom Harlan ’84 (1983) Drew Starck ’03 (2002).
Theobald earned the Heartland Conference’s coach-of-the-year honor for the third time (2018, 2019) after guiding the squad to a 9-3 overall record, including a 6-0 mark in league outings to win the regular-season title. Theobald’s squad boasted the HCAC’s top offensive and defensive units. The Panthers averaged 37.2 points and 429.4 yards per outing on offense, while limiting opponents to just 12.6 points and 235.9 yards per game.
Burton, a former three-time HCAC player of the year as quarterback at Franklin College, engineered the Panthers’ balanced offensive attack. Through 12 games, his offense averaged 165.6 rushing yards and 263.8 passing yards per contest. The unit scored on a league-best 42-of-50 trips inside the “red zone” (84 percent) and also led the conference with a 51-percent conversion rate on third down (74-of-145).
Clint Hearne
Eian Roudebush
Matt Wall
Matt Theobald
Conley, DeBra and Fricke enter Athletic Hall of Fame
Mackenzie Dye Conley ’15, Kathleen “K.C.” Reynolds DeBra ’05 and the late Gary Fricke ’77 were inducted into the Hanover Athletic Hall of Fame Sept. 13 during a morning ceremony as part of the College’s Hall of Fame Day.
Conley was a four-time all-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference honoree in cross country and a three-time league champion in track. DeBra, a two-time all-Heartland Conference honoree, ranks among the top goal scorers in Hanover’s soccer history and was named the HCAC player of the year in 2003. Fricke, a two-time all-Hoosier-Buckeye Collegiate Conference offensive tackle on the football team, was named a second-team all-American in 1976.
Campos named all-region, HCAC offensive player of the year
Soccer standout Patricio Campos ’26 has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s offensive player of the year and a first-team all-Region VII selection by the United Soccer Coaches.
A midfielder, Campos led Hanover with a school-record 38 points — including a team-high 16 goals — to eclipse the former mark of 31 points set by Enrico Franchini ’17 in 2015 (15 goals, one assist). He paced the Panthers with 59 shots, 35 shots on goal and seven match-winning goals. He also ranked second on the squad with six assists.
Campos scored two goals in a match three times and tallied a hat trick (three goals) to spark a 9-1 win at Bluffton University Oct. 11. In league contests, he posted a Heartland Conference-best 10 goals, 24 points, 21 shots on goal and four game-winning goals. He also ranked among the top 10 in the HCAC with four assists and 3.2 shots per outing.
Campos is the third Hanover player to earn the Heartland Conference’s offensive-player-of-the-year honor. Josh Hughes ’21 earned the league’s top offensive award in 2019. Franchini became the first Hanover player to win the honor in 2015.
Hanover, guided by 15th-year head coach Matt Wilkerson, capped the 2025 campaign with a 14-4-3 overall record. The Panthers finished second in the HCAC standings with an 8-1 mark.
Athletics program inks apparel, equipment deal with BSN SPORTS and Nike
Hanover has secured a multi-year agreement with BSN SPORTS, in partnership with Nike, to serve as the official equipment supplier of the College’s intercollegiate athletics program.
As part of the deal, BSN SPORTS will provide premier Nike footwear, uniforms, apparel and BSN equipment to all 20 of Hanover’s teams. Incentives built into the partnership will save the athletic department funds while providing student-athletes with exclusive access to Nike products.
BSN SPORTS is a leading distributor and manufacturer of sporting goods apparel and equipment. The company, launched in 1972, serves more than one thousand collegiate partners nationwide and has helped elevate team sports participation for more than 150,000 teams and organizations nationally at all levels.
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
JOHN CARL TRIMBLE ’77 Trustee
John Carl Trimble ’77, a 25-year member of Hanover’s Board of Trustees, died July 2, 2025, in Indianapolis. He was 69 years old.
Trimble was born August 12, 1955, in Norfolk, Va. He graduated from Southwestern (Ind.) High School in 1973 and attended The Citadel for one year before transferring to Hanover. Following his graduation in 1977, he earned a Juris Doctor from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law in 1981.
Trimble served the legal profession for 45 years with Lewis Wagner, which changed its name to Lewis Wagner & Trimble in March 2025. He earned dozens of awards, including the IndyBar Luminary Award, Defense Research Institute (DRI) Louis B. Potter Lifetime Professional Service Award and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
FACULTY AND STAFF
JACOB HENRY “HANK” BENTZ, 83, of Madison, Ind., died Nov. 22, 2025 (original emcee Hanover Athletic Hall of Fame
ROBERT ELLIS IRELAND, 84, of Hanover, Ind., died Dec. 10, 2025 (former assistant professor of psychology)
JAMES G. GRUBBS, 81, of Hanover, Ind., died Oct. 15, 2025 (former housekeeping staff member)
GEORGE O. NICKAS, PH.D., 83, of Corpus Christi, Texas, died Sept. 20, 2025 (professor emeritus of physics)
JOHN W. “JACK” THOMPSON, 82, of Madison, Ind., died Sept. 29, 2025 (former physical plant staff member)
1948 RUTH MITCHELL RUTLEDGE DUNKER, 99, of Louisville, Ky., died Nov. 5, 2025
1949 DORIS MERRILYN CRAIG, 98, of Pomona, Calif., died Sept. 17, 2025
1953 MARIELLEN BERG BEEM, 93, of Pensacola, Fla., died Nov. 5, 2025
1953 JANET RAE THOMPSON MEYER MCCLARY, 92, of Pomona, Calif., died Oct. 8, 2024
1955 PAUL RUSSELL DILLER II, 92, of Lompoc, Calif., died Aug. 30, 2025
1955 JOHN RICHARD SUTTON JR., 92, of North Webster, Ind., died Sept. 5, 2025
1956 JAMES ROBERT NEWTON, 87, of Columbus, Ind. died July 4, 2022
1957 BARBARA JEAN “BABS” SWENGEL ABEL, 89, of Chapel Hill, N.C., died June 15, 2025
1957 DIANA I. WAITS DAVIS, 90, of Indianapolis, Ind., died Nov. 10, 2025
Along with his dedication to Hanover, Trimble served as president of the Indianapolis Bar Association, chair of DRI’s Judicial Task Force, president of the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, chair of the McKinney School of Law’s board of visitors, and board member of Storytelling Arts of Indiana. In 2022, he was named to Indianapolis Business Journal’s inaugural Indiana 250, recognizing the state’s most influential leaders. In 2024, he was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash by then-Gov. Eric Holcomb ’90 He was preceded in death by his father, Professor Emeritus of Spanish Robert Trimble, and mother, Barbara Gene Schubert Trimble. Trimble is survived by his wife, Ann Wimsatt Trimble; daughter, Marie Holvick, and her husband, Todd; daughter, Laura Elbogen, and her husband, Brian; sister, Lisa Actor, and her husband, David; six grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
1957 THEODORE S. PROUD JR., 90, of Springfield, Ill., died June 28, 2025
1958 HAL THOMAS HIATT, 87, of Franklin, Ind., died Jan. 18, 2024
1958 VIRGINIA LEE CHISHOLM KERR, 91, of Carmel, Ind., died August 14, 2025
1958 CHARLES W. MYERS, DMD, 89, of West Lafayette, Ind., died Sept. 18, 2025
1960 MORTON “FRITZ” HOLLINGSWORTH, 87, of Aurora, Ind., died Feb. 2, 2025
1960 RICHARD GEORGE MELCHIORRE, 86, of Green Valley, Ariz., died Nov. 13, 2025
1961 JOHN R. COOMER, ED.D., 86, of Greenwood, Ind., died August 12, 2025
1961 DAVID E. MILES, 86, of Louisville, Ky., died August 5, 2025
1962 JOHN G. SHORTRIDGE, 85, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died Sept. 23, 2025
1963 BETH ANNE HADLEY JONES, 83, of Bowling Green, Ohio, died Sept. 4, 2025
1963 DR. FREDERICK D. KUEMMERLE, 84, of Wenham, Mass., died Nov. 21, 2025
1966 ELSBETH ANN DERBY CASS, 80, of Leo-Cedarville, Ind., died July 21, 2025
1966 ARTHUR JAMES KELLER, 81, of Palm Springs, Calif., died Oct. 20, 2025
1967 LAURENCE WHITE JAQUITH, 80, of New Bedford, Mass., died Nov. 8, 2025
1967 NANCY JEAN SINGER UNDERWOOD, 78, of Madison, Ind., died August 30, 2025
1969 DEBORAH LEE SHARP BEARDSLEY HEAZLITT, 77, of New Albany, Ind., died Sept. 11, 2025
1971 DELORES MARIE RINGER, MFA, 76, of Lawrence, Kansas, died June 21, 2025
1972 NATALIE MAGDALENA LEROY LANTZ, 75, of Greenwood, Ind., died Sept. 10, 2025
1972 KEVIN SEE, 75, of Middletown, Ohio, died Sept. 25, 2025
1973 KARYL KAY SCHMIDT, 74, of Sunman, Ind., died Nov. 5, 2025
1975 DR. HORACE PORTER HAMBRICK, 72, of Georgetown, Ky., died Sept. 5, 2025
1975 SARAH V. MORROW KETCHUM, 72, of Denville, N.J., died August 24, 2025
1975 JAMES MARTIN MOONEY, 71, of Louisville, Ky., died Oct. 30, 2024
1976 NANCY KATHRYN FOSTER PATTON, 70, of Hot Springs Village, Ark., died Dec. 7, 2024
1978 ELIJAH "LIGE" BUELL JR., 69, of Cumberland, Ky., died June 19, 2025
1978 VINCENT M. RAK, 69, of Indianapolis, Ind., died May 15, 2025
1981 TRINA JERENE ELSWICK VERNON, 66, of Scottsburg, Ind., died April 27, 2025
1984 ANGELA CAROLE HAWK MAYER, 63, of Scottsburg, Ind., died August 8, 2025
1987 TAMMY JO CADLE FARLOW, 60, of Wabash, Ind., died Sept. 6, 2025
1989 MICHELLE LYNN CAUGHEY FISCHER, 58, of New Palestine, Ind., died August 27, 2025
1998 CAROL JEAN THRONDSON KOEHNKE, 49, of Fairfield, Conn., died July 4, 2025
(l-r) Kathleen Reynolds DeBra, Kelly Ann Fricke and Mackenzie Dye Conley
