Indiana Tech Magazine Spring 2026

MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS SPRING 2026

CONTENTS 02 University News 04 The Pinnacle

Commencement Day is Indiana Tech’s favorite day of the year. Take a look back with six pages of coverage and options for additional content.

10 Weighty Changes

Indiana Tech research collaboration helps shape new national policies in collegiate women’s wrestling.

14 WARRIOR Wednesdays Recap

The first year of this initiative gave traditional on-campus students additional time to prioritize work, school or personal needs on their terms, while offering special programming each week.

16 Building the Workforce of

Tomorrow, Together

Our partnership with Zimmer Biomet shows how education and industry can work well together to improve workforce development.

22 Hard to Stop

More and more student-athletes are pursuing graduate study as they complete athletic eligibility.

24 From the Desk of Director of Alumni

Relations Morgan Clark-Wolfe 25 Thanks to You

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In April 2025, Dave Charlesworth returned to campus for the first time since his graduation in 1974 to share valuable lessons he has acquired over his successful career.

26 Alumni Spotlight

Throughout her career, 2003 graduate Rachel Bennett Steury has been driven to improve the world and the people around her. But perhaps her most impactful act of altruism was choosing to donate a kidney.

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28 In Memoriam

18 Inside Our Colleges

This year’s Innovation Challenge generated a record-setting amount of proposals, a noticeable increase in quality ideas and stronger presentations.

16 ON THE COVER: Immense pride and countless smiles ruled Indiana Tech’s Commencement Day celebration on Saturday, May 9.

VOLUME 23, ISSUE 2 Karl W. Einolf, Ph.D. President

Please send comments, news and feature story ideas to:

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT: Theresa M. Law, JD, CFRE Vice President

Indiana Tech attn: Marketing 1600 E. Washington Blvd.

Fort Wayne, IN 46803

for Institutional Advancement, Dave Stevens Senior Director of Institutional Advancement, Erin Rosswurm Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, Kristi Jarmus Director of Institutional Advancement, G. David Bokhart Director of Institutional Advancement for Athletics, Morgan Clarke-Wolfe Director of Alumni Relations, Kayla Paz Director of Advancement Services, Sydney Zielinski Grants and Annual Giving Coordinator, Erin Kircher Executive Administrative Assistant for Institutional Advancement MARKETING: Matt Bair Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communication,

Jennifer Murphy MBA ’22 Director of Marketing, Julie Farison Creative Director, Elle Helm Graphic Designer, Joel Kuhn, BS ’12 Web Administrator, Randy Smith Director of Photo and Video, Amber Owens, MBA ’21 Director of Social Media, Zach Bernard Marketing and Communication Content Specialist

phone: 260.422.5561 or 800.937.2448, ext. 2250 email: marketing@IndianaTech.edu The editors reserve the right to edit articles for length and clarity. Articles may be reproduced with permission and proper attribution.

Our Mission: Indiana Tech provides learners a professional education; prepares them for active participation, career advancement and leadership in the global 21st century society; and motivates them toward a life of significance and worth.

Indiana Tech online: IndianaTech.edu

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

As I look back on another incredible year at Indiana Tech, one moment rises above the rest—our 2025-26 commencement ceremony on May 9. Read more about this wonderful day, beginning on page 4.

Commencement is what we work for, every year.

It’s one of our most meaningful and anticipated days, when graduates cross the stage and officially join the ranks of Indiana Tech alumni.

It’s a day filled with pride, excitement and, for many, a sense of relief after years of hard work.

You’ll also read on page 14 how WARRIOR Wednesdays are giving students more flexibility to manage their time, prioritize their well-being and take advantage of real-world opportunities.

Sometimes innovation isn’t about adding more— it’s about creating space for what matters most.

To our graduates: congratulations. You did it!

And you’ll learn on page 16 about partnerships with employers like Zimmer Biomet, where we’re working side by side to build the workforce of tomorrow. These collaborations ensure our students are gaining the skills and confidence they need to succeed in their careers.

Each of you arrived at this moment in your own way, overcoming challenges, growing in confidence and pushing toward your goals. As you approach what comes next, I want you to know something important. You are not alone in this journey. The entire Warrior Nation is behind you, cheering you on. Wherever your path leads, you will always have a home here.

Of course, impactful events like commencement don’t happen on their own. They are made possible by people.

To our faculty and staff: thank you for the care, energy and dedication you bring to Indiana Tech every day. You create the kind of studentcentered environment that truly changes lives, and it’s your willingness to go the extra mile, to collaborate and to innovate that keeps our university strong and moving forward.

As you’ll see throughout this issue of Indiana Tech Magazine, that spirit is alive in so many ways.

Altogether, these stories reflect something we all know to be true at Indiana Tech—we are at our best when we work together.

Thank you for being part of such a special year.

Your support, your passion and your belief in the mission of Indiana Tech make this university a truly remarkable place.

Warm regards,

Karl W. Einolf, Ph.D. President

You’ll read, beginning on page 10, about a powerful collaboration between our faculty and athletics team that is helping reshape national standards for women’s wrestling—work that is already making the sport safer for athletes across the country. It’s a great example of what can happen when expertise and a commitment to students come together.

SPRING 2026

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UNIVERSIT Y NEWS

Dr. Amie Anderson chosen as Tech’s vice president for academic affairs Earlier this year, Dr. Amie Anderson was chosen to be vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer for the university. Dr. Anderson will begin her new role on July 1.

A senior academic leader with more than 16 years of experience in higher education and a foundation as a secondary science teacher, Dr. Anderson comes to Indiana Tech from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. At IWU, she was dean of the School of Integrated Learning & Development, providing executive leadership for online undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs that serve adult and working learners.

That experience will fit nicely at Indiana Tech, where helping students achieve meaningful careers, competitive salaries, real-world skills and a clear pathway from education to the workforce is paramount.

“Dr. Anderson is an accomplished academic leader whose experience and values align strongly with Indiana Tech’s mission,” said Indiana Tech President Dr. Karl W. Einolf.

“Her commitment to student success, workforce relevance and academic quality—across both traditional and online programs—will be a tremendous asset to our university. This is a victory for academics at Indiana Tech, and we are excited to welcome her to our team.”

Dr. Anderson’s leadership experience spans education, human services, student engagement and online education, with demonstrated success in enrollment growth, accreditation oversight, program innovation and faculty development. She earned a Master of Science in Science Education from Aquinas College in 2008, and a PhD in Post-Secondary and Adult Education from Capella University in 2014.

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Women’s Fund recognizes Tech for a third straight year Indiana Tech has been named a top employer by the Women’s Fund of Fort Wayne for the third consecutive year. The recognition is based on the 2025 Compass Survey, which is part of the annual Women in the Workplace Report. Indiana Tech met or exceeded criteria in three of the survey’s four categories: leadership, compensation, benefits and policies, and recruitment and retention. À Women hold at least 32% of Indiana Tech’s top leadership roles (vice president or higher) and roughly 40% of middle management positions. À Indiana Tech earned praise for offering all of the survey’s qualified financial and retirement benefits, in addition to its zero-tolerance sexism and harassment standards and parental and family leave policies. À The university was recognized for offering a majority of qualified recruitment and retention policies, while providing a minimum of five professional development opportunities.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes The Indiana Tech Warrior community wore bright red heels and walked in solidarity during the campus’s fourth annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event in April. Part of a global movement raising awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault, the event featured keynote speaker Cheyenne Taylor Jacobs’ “It’s Giving Red Flags” presentation on consent, boundaries and safety, while also collecting donations for the Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center.

Junction 36 gaining steam with two staff additions The university has added two new team members to the Junction 36 team: Sonya Snellenberger as Director of Corporate Partnerships and Michelle Chambers as Director of Community Engagement.

Snellenberger

Chambers

Ms. Snellenberger joins Junction 36 from Conexus Indiana, where she most recently served as Vice President of Partnerships for the statewide advanced manufacturing and logistics organization.

In her role as Director of Corporate Partnerships, she will develop programs and services for regional and state manufacturers and entrepreneurs, building sustainability for the initiative through research and development projects, technology adoption and integration services, memberships and sponsorship opportunities.

Ms. Chambers comes to Junction 36 from her role as Work-based Learning and Internship Program leader at the Fort Wayne Community Schools Amp Lab program. She also currently serves as an atlarge council member on the city council of Fort Wayne. As Director of Community Engagement for Junction 36, Ms. Chambers will work with regional

non-profit organizations and education partners to develop and deliver programming and services, enabling Junction 36 to connect community members with a wide range of opportunities in advanced manufacturing fields.

First launched in the fall of 2024 with a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., Junction 36 will be an advanced manufacturing innovation center located at Electric Works, the revitalized former home of General Electric in downtown Fort Wayne. With the renovation of the existing building 36 on the Electric Works campus scheduled to begin this summer, Junction 36 will open in the summer of 2027.

For more about Junction 36, please visit junction36.tech.

Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. will aid the university’s exploration of AI Indiana Tech earned a $150,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can transform teaching, learning and career preparation at the university.

The grant will help Indiana Tech investigate new opportunities to enhance teaching and learning, support faculty development, engage with industry partners and improve institutional practices.

It will also initiative collaboration across campus and with external partners to identify innovative approaches and opportunities for improvement.

This grant comes to Indiana Tech through Lilly Endowment’s Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education initiative, which was developed to support Indiana colleges and universities in their efforts to address the implications of a rapidly evolving technology in their institutions and in the lives of their students.

As Indiana Tech prepares to embark on this initiative, it underscores the university’s commitment to serving students, faculty and industry partners through meaningful innovation. By exploring AI’s potential, the university strengthens its role as a trusted partner in education and workforce development, ensuring benefits for the entire community.

Thank you for Day of Giving support!

Thanks to all who made Indiana Tech’s annual Day of Giving initiative an overwhelming success! Because of your generosity: À $141,145 was raised to fund student success À Nearly $76,000 will go toward scholarships and related funds À 556 donors participated from around the country You can always contribute to our university’s student-centric mission.

Learn more at giving.indianatech.edu.

SPRING 2026

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COMMENCEMENT DAY

THE PINNACLE Saturday, May 9, marked the day Indiana Tech anticipates all year long: commencement.

A celebration defined by joy, pride and the promise of what lies ahead, commencement brought the Warrior community together at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

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There, the Class of 2026 crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, celebrating both the culmination of their hard work and the beginning of new journeys. It’s a moment Indiana Tech reveres, sharing in the excitement of its graduates while reflecting on the mission that helped guide them to this

milestone. Relive our favorite day of the year over the next six pages. Or, for a deeper dive, click the code and go to our website where you can download a digital copy of the program, explore additional photography or rewatch the live-stream of the ceremony.

IND.TC/2026COMMENCEMENT

SPRING 2026

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Outstanding Graduates Prior to the 2026 commencement ceremony, each of Indiana Tech’s three colleges held programs to honor their outstanding graduates of the year. Here are Indiana Tech’s outstanding graduates for the 2025-26 academic year:

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES GRADUATE DEGREE

Karine S. Williams, Master of Science in Psychology UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

Taylor L. Covington, Overall Outstanding Graduate, College of Business Mara Hendryx, Accounting Alejandro Acton Yanez, Business Administration–Entrepreneurial Studies

Zoe S. Alcorn, Overall Outstanding Graduate, College of Arts and Sciences

Mara Hendryx, Business Administration– Financial Services

Sara M. Gomperts, Biology

Genesis Villalobos, Business Administration– Human Resources Management

Isis K. Wagner, Child Development Brooklyn N. Campbell, Criminal Justice

Mathias Lilja Lutzhoft, Business Administration– Management

Savannah M. Bravo, Health Science

Korah A. Farley, Marketing

Zoe S. Alcorn, Psychology

Ben R. Rosenow, Sport Management

Daniel T. Beights, Recreation Therapy

Raymondy C. Ramothibe, Business Administration–Health Care Administration

Carrie L. Dahl, Health Information Management

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

TALWAR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCES

DOCTORAL DEGREES

GRADUATE DEGREES

Obrian Mvundura, PhD in Global Leadership– Organizational Leadership and Management

Lisa S. Scranton, Master of Science in Cybersecurity

Dissertation Title: Industry 4.0 Technologies and

Leadership Practices in Canadian Public Service Supply Chains: A Collective Case Study Travis Blume, PhD in Global Leadership– Higher Education Administration Dissertation Title: A Phenomenological Study

Exploring the Experiences of Leaders of Faculty in Native American Tribal Colleges and Job Satisfaction GRADUATE DEGREES

Shayla D. Carlisle, Master of Business Administration–Management Osvaldo Carrasco Valenzuela, Master of Business Administration–Human Resources Management Ashley Davison, Master of Science in Organizational Leadership William T. Moore, Master of Science in Management Mandeep Kaur, STEM Master of Business Administration

Lavanya Vangam, Master of Science in Engineering Management Yatin Rajkumar Kalra, Master of Science in Information Systems UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

Allison R. Greene, Overall Outstanding Graduate, Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences Allison R. Greene, Biomedical Engineering Luke D. Kieser, Computer Engineering Emma M. Green, Computer Science Karla M. Julian Austria, Cybersecurity Jakob D. Cornell, Electrical Engineering Makiah D. Burnell, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Trevor S. Hummer, Information Systems Karl A. Hackenbracht, Mechanical Engineering Claire Murphy, Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering Robert W. Pearson, Cybersecurity

COMMENCEMENT

BY THE NUMBERS Every Indiana Tech commencement reveals a powerful story—but some of the most meaningful moments can be captured in the numbers behind the day. From the graduates who crossed the Allen County Memorial Coliseum stage to the cheers that filled the arena, this issue’s By the Numbers feature highlights the scale, spirit and emotion of Indiana Tech’s 2026 commencement ceremony. Each figure offers a glimpse into a celebration defined not just by achievement, but by pride, perseverance and the promise of what comes next.

1,111 WARRIORS QUALIFIED FOR THIS YEAR’S COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

817

GRADUATES PARTICIPATING

235

GRADUATES FROM COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE U.S.

122

VETERANS, ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS AND MILITARYCONNECTED FAMILY MEMBERS GRADUATING

459

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING

344

MASTER’S STUDENTS PARTICIPATING

14

PHD STUDENTS PARTICIPATING

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS GRADUATING WITH A 4.0 GPA = 34

MASTER’S STUDENTS GRADUATING WITH A

4.0 GPA = 49

PHD STUDENTS GRADUATING WITH A

4.0 GPA = 2

SMILES SHARED

1 million TEARS OF HAPPINESS SHED

100,000 PROUD HUGS FROM FAMILY MEMBERS

4,962 LAST-MINUTE OUTFIT FIXES

142 BOBBY PINS DEPLOYED

389

FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE DREAMS REALIZED

Countless YEARS OF HARD WORK REPRESENTED

Decades TIMES “POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE” GETS STUCK IN YOUR HEAD

Forever REASONS TO CELEBRATE

Endless SPRING 2026

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Dr. Dawn Anderson, professor of exercise science and director of the Exercise Science and Performance Laboratory (middle) oversees testing in Indiana Tech’s state-of-the-art exercise science lab.

WEIGHTY CHANGES

Indiana Tech research collaboration helps shape new national policies in collegiate women’s wrestling

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This pioneering collaboration produced results that challenged old ideas about female athlete safety.

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critical conversation that began on the wrestling mats at Indiana Tech has rippled across the nation, initiating a fundamental change in how collegiate women wrestlers’ health is protected. The initiative was a direct collaboration between Paul Rademacher, head coach of the women’s wrestling program, and Dr. Dawn Anderson, exercise science professor and director of the Exercise and Sport Performance Laboratory, with significant input and support from the National Wrestling Coaches Association and the National Institute of Health.

A PRESSING QUESTION Specifically, their work addressed a crucial question about the minimum body fat percentage required for female competitors, a standard that had gone largely unexamined and unquestioned for years. A primary concern for Rademacher and his peers was the established 12% minimum body fat marker for female athletes.

“Through seeing our athletes, through talking with other coaches…we kind of started to question whether that was valid,” Rademacher said.

The standard seemed arbitrary, and as they dug deeper, the foundation for it became even more alarming. What they uncovered has not only reshaped the guidelines at Indiana Tech but has also prompted a nationwide policy shift. These findings underscore Indiana Tech’s role as a leader in both athletics and applied student learning.

The data used to set the 12% benchmark was not based on elite collegiate wrestlers. Instead, it was derived from studies on different populations altogether.

“A lot of it was prepubescent,” Rademacher noted. “A lot of it was gymnasts rather than wrestling…We’re talking about college athletes versus 12-year-olds. Those are not the same.”

This realization galvanized the coaching community. The National Wrestling Coaches Association escalated the issue, but progress stalled. The necessary data to challenge the long-standing target simply didn’t exist.

SPRING 2026

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A CAMPUS COLLABORATION FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE

world setting. Instead of a traditional final exam, they would test the entire women’s wrestling team.

Recognizing the need for credible, scientific evidence, Rademacher turned to his own campus resources and approached Dr. Anderson. An academic with a long-standing interest in wrestler health and body composition, the professor was eager to collaborate.

The project was about more than just collecting data. It was also a case study in professionalism, communication and empathy.

“I’ve had an interest in working with wrestlers from early on,” Dr. Anderson shared, recalling her work certifying skinfold testers for high school wrestlers in Minnesota starting in 1999. “Body composition has been something that I’ve studied a lot…being concerned with not just what they need for sport, but for them for their own physical and mental health.”

For nearly a week, approximately 50 athletes cycled through the lab, providing the critical data needed while the students honed practical skills.

The problem was clear: the standards for female athletes were often based on male physiology.

“A lot of our standards are based on what we know for men,” Dr. Anderson stated. “And we’re not the same.”

With access to a Bod Pod—a highly accurate device for measuring body composition—Indiana Tech was perfectly positioned to gather the missing data.

The collaboration became a unique educational opportunity. Dr. Anderson offered her students a chance to apply their classroom knowledge in a real12

“These are people that are trusting us for their care,” Dr. Anderson told her students.

FROM DATA TO NATIONAL POLICY The results from the Bod Pod testing confirmed what Rademacher and other coaches suspected: 12% was too low. The data provided by Indiana Tech was instrumental in convincing athletic governing bodies to make a change. The minimum body fat percentage for collegiate women wrestlers was officially raised to 17%.

“It’s a good change, and I firmly believe that,” Rademacher said. “College wrestling was adjusted because of the testing we were able to do.”

The implications of this change are far-reaching.

Dr. Anderson explained that insufficient body fat in female athletes can lead to a condition known as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).

This imbalance between energy intake and expenditure affects numerous body systems.

“We end up with some mental health issues taking place.

We’ve got bone metabolism that’s compromised,” she warned. “Some of these young women are coming up with signs of osteoporosis that you would expect of women in their 60s and 70s, and they’re in their early 20s.”

The research also highlighted connections between dehydration from cutting weight and increased concussion risk. The new, higher body fat minimum directly addresses these dangers, prioritizing the long-term well-being of the athletes over extreme weight management.

“This is so critical for these young women, not just for sport, but for their lifelong health,” Dr. Anderson stressed.

These developments fit within a larger context. Women’s wrestling has seen an explosion in popularity over the past decade. Once a niche sport with only a handful of collegiate programs in the early 2000s, it now boasts nearly 200 teams nationwide. Rademacher, a key figure in this growth, has witnessed this expansion firsthand since Indiana Tech launched its program in the 2020-2021 season.

THE HUMAN IMPACT

a good change, “ It’s and I firmly believe that. College wrestling was adjusted because of the testing we were able to do.”

Paul Rademacher Head coach of the women’s wrestling program

Tehani Soares, one of Indiana Tech’s most decorated female wrestlers, exemplifies the value and relevance of this research. Soares—who was Tech’s first-ever conference champion and a five-time NAIA All-American—was considering dropping to a lower weight class in pursuit of a national title.

Initial skinfold tests suggested it was possible, but the Bod Pod provided a more accurate and sobering picture. The data revealed that reaching the lower weight would push her body to a dangerously low body fat percentage.

“We talked about it a lot,” Rademacher said. “Is it really going to be healthy for you long term? Is it going to be healthy for you to be able to do this, and will it actually help us perform better?”

Armed with precise information, the coach and athlete made the decision to focus on strength and diet adjustments at her current weight. The result? Soares finished her final season as an All-American once again, competing in a way that was both healthy and effective.

The work continues as a result of their initial findings.

Rademacher and Anderson are now examining the skinfold testing formulas themselves, aiming to develop more accurate, less invasive methods that can become the new industry standard.

This breakthrough highlights a culture where coaches and faculty work together to protect students, advance their fields and create a lasting, positive impact that extends far beyond campus. As Dr. Anderson noted, “Highlighting this issue that we need to have more attention spent on women athletes…It’s a small group, but it’s important.”

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WARRIOR Wednesdays provide students with new levels of flexibility

SURF POSTER COMPETITION

When the 2025-26 academic year came to an end, so did the first year of WARRIOR Wednesdays.

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EGINNING in the fall, the effort aimed to give traditional on-campus students some additional freedom during the week to prioritize work, school or personal needs on their terms. In addition, departments across the university offered supplemental programming and events on a weekly basis that offered a recreational outlet, reinforced learning objectives or brought the university community together.

“From early on in the fall semester, I was hearing students use Wednesdays to make doctor’s appointments, job shadow, sleep/ rest, study/get caught up on assignments or homework, or work,” said Dan Stoker, senior vice president for student affairs. “All of these were reasons for how the day was intended.”

Many students confirmed this, indicating the debut of WARRIOR Wednesdays was a resounding success. “I did homework if I needed to, caught up on work if I needed to,” said criminal justice graduate Destiny Wright.

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“I really always look forward to Wednesdays now, because it’s a tool to utilize for mental health, time management, working skills and things like that.”

Alex Rosenow, who recently earned his biomedical engineering degree, says it gave him the time he needed to apply for jobs and internships.

“I’ve been doing a lot of that on my Wednesdays, because I don’t have any courses I need to work on that day,” Rosenow said.

Others used WARRIOR Wednesdays to sharpen their workplace experience. Riley Dempewolf, who also graduated in May with a degree in biomedical engineering, says she was able to spend more time at her internship with the Fort Wayne VA Medical Center.

“Working in the health care technology management department at the VA has shown me how different engineers work in different situations and what fields I could work in

“I really always look forward to Wednesdays now, because it’s a tool to utilize for mental health, time management, working skills and things like that.”

Destiny Wright

Criminal Justice Graduate

outside of just the R&D aspect that I’ve learned here at Tech,” Dempewolf said.

“I spent a lot of mine working at the World Baseball Academy,” said Makena Markle, a recent graduate in business administration with a concentration in management.

HOLI FEST

Some students, like spring industrial and manufacturing engineering graduate Makiah Burnell, approached WARRIOR Wednesdays holistically.

“If I wanted to work, I could totally work a full shift on Wednesday, and I do appreciate that,” Burnell said. “It’s also allowed me to schedule some other things that have been going on in my life, more time to get the academic side taken care of, as well as the personal side.”

The program also helped take some pressure off of student athletes.

“We go to practice, and then you’d have a bunch of time to just kind of relax and catch up on homework if you needed to, or anything like that,” said lacrosse player Kiusttin Corpas, who earned his degree in entrepreneurial studies this spring.

MLK BREAKFAST

WARRIOR Wednesdays did increase instruction time to 75 minutes, but some students–like Dempewolf–saw value in this change.

“I really like the consistency this has created, and it makes it a lot easier to plan out my schedule and maximize my time spent at Tech,” she said.

Stoker notes that this was the first of a two-year trial, but the goal is to continue the program for years to come. In 2026-27, he says he hopes to see more students and faculty schedule employer “tours” in major surrounding cities like Indianapolis, Detroit, Cincinnati and others.

“WARRIOR Wednesdays is making us unique.

Parents seem to love the idea and our intentions behind it,” he said.

REC RALLY

SPRING 2026

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Building the Workforce of Tomorrow, Together

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INDIANA TECH, we believe the most effective workforce development happens when education and industry work side by side. Our partnership with Zimmer Biomet, a global leader in orthopedic medical technology, exemplifies what a true collaboration can achieve: creating relevant and flexible learning pathways that support employee growth while strengthening the organization for the future.

Zimmer Biomet operates in a highly-regulated, precision-driven manufacturing environment.

While the company excels in hands-on training and operational expertise, it also recognizes the need for strong academic partners to support long-term workforce readiness.

“We make orthopedic implants. That’s our expertise,” said Dale Campbell, human resources manager at Zimmer Biomet. “We rely on our external partners for the educational side. That’s their expertise.”

Indiana Tech fulfills that role by providing the classroom instruction and structured learning that complement on-the-job training and experience.

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Designing Education Around Real Business Needs What best defines the Indiana Tech/Zimmer Biomet partnership is flexibility and alignment with real business needs. Rather than delivering off-the-shelf programming, Indiana Tech collaborates closely with Zimmer Biomet to ensure curriculum supports emerging technologies, leadership development and operational realities.

“The ability to work with Indiana Tech to create the curriculum that really meets our needs—not just what the academic needs are, but what our business needs are—has been extremely important,” said Campbell.

One area where this collaboration has had significant impact is in leadership development for Zimmer Biomet’s shop floor workforce. Together, Indiana Tech and Zimmer Biomet customized the university’s Organizational Leadership certificate to support Zimmer Biomet’s Aspire program, which prepares highpotential employees to move into supervisory roles. Participants gain foundational leadership skills while continuing to apply what they learn directly on the job, helping ease the transition from peer to leader.

Building Confidence and Creating Leaders from Within Many Zimmer Biomet employees who participate in the Aspire program have never attended college, so initial hesitation is common. However, once their coursework begins, their confidence builds quickly. Graduates of the program often return to their teams as advocates, encouraging others to pursue education and advancement.

“Our Aspire participants go back and talk to their peers about their experience. They become that bridge to the next group, so now we have team members coming to us asking what certificate they need, even before a supervisory position is open,” said Campbell.

Beyond leadership development, Indiana Tech also supports Zimmer Biomet’s technically skilled workforce. Engineering roles within the organization require accredited degrees due to the critical nature of the company’s work. Through bachelor’s and master’s programs, Indiana Tech helps employees position themselves for advanced technical and leadership roles. Campbell said the impact of higher education extends well beyond the classroom, strengthening both individual careers and organizational capabilities.

the coursework really helps our team members be successful at work, at home and in class.”

Equally important is the real-world application that occurs when classroom learning connects directly with daily work. Students can immediately apply leadership concepts, engineering principles and management strategies on the job. This reinforcement strengthens learning outcomes while delivering tangible value back to the organization.

A Shared Investment in the Future At Indiana Tech, we don’t view Zimmer Biomet simply as an employer partner—we see them as collaborators in workforce transformation. By treating education as a strategic investment and creating stackable pathways from certificates to advanced degrees, we help employees build career confidence, capability and momentum.

Together, we partner with employers like Zimmer Biomet to prepare a workforce that is ready not only for today’s demands, but for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

LEFT: Kaylee Harper, group lead at Zimmer Biomet, chose Indiana Tech for the flexibility to learn on her schedule—online, at her own pace—without jeopardizing her time with her son. She’s putting her skills and knowledge to work with an employer that believes in her growth and supports her continuing education every step of the way.

BELOW: Cassandra Roberts (right), corporate communications specialist, says the support and encouragement she received from her employer helped her stay the course while pursuing her bachelor’s degree. Zimmer Biomet’s investment in her made all the difference, helping her turn her goals into a degree and her degree into new opportunities.

Hear from Zimmer Biomet employees about how employer support and their Indiana Tech experience have helped them balance education with work, family and everyday life.

ind.tc/zb_videos

Flexibility That Supports Work, Life and Learning Flexibility is another reason this partnership succeeds. Many Zimmer Biomet employees balance full-time work and family responsibilities alongside continuing their education. Indiana Tech’s online course options allow learners to engage with material on their own schedules, making going to school more accessible and sustainable. Campbell highlighted this benefit. “The flexibility in SPRING 2026

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INSIDE OUR COLLEGES

Innovation Comes Alive Exciting annual competition gains momentum Indiana Tech’s commitment to hands-on innovation and entrepreneurship was on full display April 14 as students, faculty and community members gathered for the university’s annual Innovation Challenge. Over the course of three hours, five finalist teams presented ideas that blended technical expertise with business strategy, with each one aiming to transform a concept into a viable product or venture.

Hosted by the College of Business and the Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, the Innovation Challenge continues to grow as a signature opportunity for students to explore the intersection of innovation, business and applied learning. This year, a record 12 proposals were submitted.

The diversity of ideas reflected the interdisciplinary strength of Indiana Tech’s students. Finalists presented a compact bowling simulator for small spaces, an AI-powered digital safety partner for families, a robotic arm controlled through eye movement, a cloud-based infrastructure platform for educational institutions and an AI-enabled plastic-to-fuel system designed to address environmental concerns.

Taking first place was ClassCloud, developed by cybersecurity majors Martin Topp and Avery Hughes. Their platform, designed to simplify infrastructure management for educational environments, earned them the top prize of $5,000 shared among the team and recognition from judges and attendees alike.

For Topp and Hughes, both sophomores, the experience was about far more than winning. It pushed them to expand

Martin Topp’s and Avery Hughes’ concept for ClassCloud took first place against four other teams

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beyond their technical strengths and develop critical business and communication skills.

“We’re very technical people,” Topp said. “This challenge really gave us experience with everything else, especially marketing and how to promote what we’ve built. It helped us see the bigger picture.”

Hughes pointed to public speaking as a key area of growth.

“Getting up on stage and presenting was huge for me,” he said.

“That’s something I wasn’t very comfortable with before, and now I feel a lot more confident.”

Their next steps include testing ClassCloud in future courses at Indiana Tech and continuing to refine the platform based on the feedback they receive.

The team of Naina Kalra, Yatin Kalra and Gurkirat Kaur Cheema finished second after presenting its AI-enabled plastic waste-tofuel platform called Plas2Fuel AI. The team won $2,000, shared among team members.

Compact bowling simulator entrepreneurs Meagan Kennedy, Gary Glaser and Noah McEldowney won $1,000 shared among team members.

The Innovation Challenge’s continued growth is fueled in part by strong alumni support, including that of entrepreneur and 1994 graduate Gil Farley. Farley has taken to this initiative and was struck by this year’s progress.

“The jump from last year to this year was amazing,” Farley said.

“We had double the teams, more finalists and a noticeable

increase in the quality of ideas. The business plans were stronger and the presentations were more polished. It was a big step forward.”

Farley, a first-generation entrepreneur and visionary founder of Fort Wayne-based companies Biodyne USA and BW Fusion, views the event as an opportunity to give back by mentoring students and sharing real-world insights. He emphasized the importance of helping students move from idea to execution.

First Order of the Engineer ceremony held at Tech

“I’m really passionate about mentoring and helping shorten that gap—from starting a business to actually growing it into something successful,” he said. “This competition gives students a chance to think through that process early.”

On April 20, 35 engineering majors participated in Indiana Tech’s first-ever Order of the Engineer ceremony. The Order of the Engineer is an association for graduate and professional engineers in the United States that emphasizes pride and responsibility in the engineering profession. Nearly all states have universities with chapters that host the Order of the Engineer.

He also sees significant potential for the Innovation Challenge to expand its impact.

Farley suggested increasing participation, growing the audience and even reconnecting with past competitors to track their progress.

During the ceremony, engineering graduates take an oath to abide by the code of ethics called the Obligation of the Order. After each member takes the obligation, they put their hand through a large representation of the Engineer’s Ring. A member of the Order of the Engineer then places a stainless steel ring, known as the Engineer’s Ring, onto the little finger of the graduate’s dominant hand to provide a constant reminder of the engineer’s oath.

“I’d love to see this become an even bigger event,” he said. “Bring in more students, more ideas, more energy. And it would be great to follow up with past teams to see where they are now. I think in five or 10 years, we’re going to have some real success stories.”

Farley added that continued encouragement is key, especially for teams that may not win right away. Referencing one of this year’s concepts, he noted that early-stage ideas still hold promise with further development.

“You don’t want students to get discouraged,” he said. “Some of these ideas just need more time. With the right support, they could turn into something really meaningful.”

Faculty advisor to the Innovation Challenge, professor of marketing and management Dr. Staci Lugar Brettin, echoed that optimism, highlighting the collaboration across disciplines and the resources available to help students continue developing their ideas beyond the competition.

“Entrepreneurship and innovation are my passion,” Lugar Brettin said. “I love working with our students who have innovative, out-of-the-box ideas to make the world a better place.”

With growing participation, strong mentorship and a clear vision for the future, Indiana Tech’s Innovation Challenge is not only celebrating student ingenuity, it’s helping shape the next generation of entrepreneurs.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Participating students: Samuel T. Adamson, Jack R. Bardales-Calix, Kassidy D. Bertels-Boener, Owen J. Chambers, Jakob D. Cornell, Riley Dempewolf, Evelyn M. Dolce, Kieyin E. Edmonds, Lexi N. Gallini, Allison Rose Greene, Karl A. Hackenbracht, Naing N. Htoo, Zachary J. Hueber, Jordan E. Kallet, Kaelie Kugler, David Maung, Samuel E. Maurer, Chloe E. Mergy, Camden C. Montgomery, Ryan P. Morgan, Benjamin Douglas Morrison, Abigail Shae Newton, Georgina Palos Noguer, Keith C. Sosa Padilla, Hunter Perkins, Dylan Poore, Haylee Marie Pruitt, Alexander Rosenow, Logen D. Shipley, Kendal M. Smith, Gael Vargas, Emma Walters i Alves

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

From classroom to crime lab Forensic science major Sophia Jermstad earned a forensic biology summer internship with the Indiana State Police.

During the internship, the Minneapolis native will observe real casework and sample processing while working closely with forensic scientists. She will also learn about current industry standards and modern instruments used for testing while learning about the daily analytical and administrative demands of being a forensic scientist.

“I hope to get a better understanding of what forensic scientists do to get a head start in finding a career after university,” said Jermstad, who hopes to become a forensic biologist and work in a lab similar to that of the Indianapolis State Police. “I want to gain hands-on and valuable experience that sets me apart from others.”

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COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

INSIDE OUR COLLEGES

Meaningful Connection New cooperative education model will be a win-win for students and local employers.

When Indiana Tech launches its Co-Op EDGE program this fall, it won’t just be adding another academic offering, it will be reshaping how students and employers connect.

Designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and career readiness, the program creates something both groups have long sought but rarely experienced together: a sustained, meaningful partnership that begins well before graduation.

supervisors. The impact is clear, as national data shows that, following graduation, co-op participants frequently transition into fulltime employment with the very organizations where they trained.

An initiative of Indiana Tech’s Career Center, Co-Op EDGE will be piloted for incoming biomedical and mechanical engineering students. For multiple semesters while pursuing their degree, participating students will work on-site at one of our employer partners, gaining immediate and tangible benefits.

Employer partners benefit just as significantly. By engaging with students over multiple semesters, organizations gain early access to emerging talent and can actively create and execute long-term talent acquisition goals.

“When our employer partners give our students the opportunity to gain meaningful experience that directly connects to their academic journey, they are able to find and build the talent needed for future growth,” Storm said.

As Associate Director of Cooperative Education Matthew Storm explained, “You’re not just completing a degree.

Before you even graduate, you are earning a paycheck, building a connection with an employer and gaining relevant, hands-on experience.”

Rather than waiting until after graduation to begin building a résumé, students apply classroom knowledge to real projects, develop professional confidence and form lasting relationships with mentors and 20

This extended engagement leads to stronger hires—individuals who already understand company culture, workflows and expectations, and who are more likely to stay and succeed long term.

Ultimately, Co-Op EDGE creates a true win-win scenario: students graduate career-ready, and employers build a reliable pipeline of skilled, motivated professionals.

Dr. Eve-Lynn Clarke selected to lead the College of Business In January, Dr. Eve-Lynn Clarke was chosen by Indiana Tech to be dean of its College of Business.

Dr. Clarke has over 10 years of experience in higher education, including the last 43 months at Indiana Tech. She became the College of Business’ associate dean on July 1, 2022, and has served as acting dean since July 1, 2025. Dr. Clarke also has more than 20 years of experience in risk management, audit and information technology consulting services. She has served in various roles, including as division director of the Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership at the University of Saint Francis and as AVP of IT Internal Audit at Lincoln Financial Group.

“I am excited to continue to work alongside our distinguished faculty, dedicated staff and engaged alumni to prepare our students for an increasingly complex and technologydriven workforce. Together, we will continue to strengthen our learning community through our academic and interdisciplinary programming, experiential learning, professional development and meaningful industry partnerships,” Dr. Clarke said. “In addition, by embracing innovation, fostering curiosity and integrating emerging technologies, we can open new pathways that empower our students to thrive in their careers and in the future.”

Indiana Tech’s College of Business programming is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education and is comprised of a wide range of programs for students at various stages of their careers.

The college offers 26 certificates, 30 undergraduate degrees, 18 graduate degrees, a PhD in Global Leadership and a Doctor of Business Administration.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Health science student earns ICI Realizing the Dream scholarship Indiana Tech sophomore Asi White has been named one of this year’s Realizing the Dream scholarship recipients

by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI).

Realizing the Dream scholarships are awarded to firstgeneration students by ICI for outstanding achievement in pursuit of their bachelor’s degrees. The awards also acknowledge an “influential educator” that left a lasting impact on them, as chosen by the student.

White, a health science major, was born in Taiwan and moved to Fort Wayne with her family in 2007. After completing her degree, she will enter the accelerated

nursing program, offered through a partnership between Indiana Tech and Huntington University.

gets $1,000. Twenty-nine students across the state were recognized for the 2025-26 academic year.

“My dream is to become a travel nurse so I can help people in rural areas, especially in places that don’t have a lot of medical equipment, resources and staffs,” she said.

“With the background I come from, I can realize how much of an impact this can have in certain communities.”

ICI is a non-profit association that represents Indiana’s 28 private, non-profit colleges and universities.

White selected Erin Baumgartner, a teacher at Fort Wayne’s North Side High School, as her influential educator.

The scholarships are funded by the Lilly Endowment. Each student receives $4,000, while their influential educator

You can view White’s full video submission for this year’s Realizing the Dream scholarship at youtube.com/watch?v=f8L86mmzUJo, or scan the QR code.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Inspiring future innovators Dr. Staci Lugar Brettin, professor of marketing and management, shared her knowledge about entrepreneurship, marketing and project management with over 200 Carroll High School students during two class sessions in April at the Fort Wayne high school.

Interactions like these are invaluable to students and Indiana Tech, alike. They give students an authentic preview of collegelevel thinking, helping them see how subjects like entrepreneurship, marketing and project management translate into real-world careers. For a university, this kind of outreach builds early trust and familiarity, positioning the institution not just as a future option, but as an active partner in a student’s academic journey.

Dr. Lugar Brettin, the university’s faculty lead for marketing and entrepreneurial studies, has been with Tech since 2012. A member of the American Marketing Association and the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, she has extensive experience in marketing and entrepreneurship, including launching her own business and helping develop new ventures.

“It’s so exciting to see the future leaders of Indiana Tech in a high school setting,” Dr. Lugar Brettin said. “I love supporting the region’s high school teachers. And I love sharing the mission of Indiana Tech with the students so they can see how the concepts they’re learning in high school come to life at the university level.”

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INSIDE ATHLETICS

Kervin and Le join the rising number of student-athletes pursuing graduate study as they complete athletic eligibility

HARD TO STOP

Jonathan Kervin qualified for the NAIA Wrestling Championships in March.

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hose who follow college athletics know the student-athlete experience and the competitive and academic landscape are in the midst of one of the most significant evolutions in the history of higher education.

Revenue sharing, NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) and transfer “portal” debates, among other hot college athletics topics, pop up in news feeds and tickers nearly every day.

Indiana Tech has also seen some shifts in student needs and behaviors, especially in these now five-plus years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the latest developments for staff to manage is the rising number of student-athletes pursuing graduate study as they complete athletic eligibility. During any given term, it is estimated that as many as 20 Warriors across nearly all athletic teams are training and competing while enrolled in post-graduate coursework.

Factors such as eligibility waivers and increased dual credit earned during high school have contributed to the increase in graduate student-athletes. The NAIA also embraced this constituent group with updated legislation related to grade eligibility in the past several years.

On a different academic schedule than the balance of the “traditional” campus population, the day-to-day takes on a unique look and feel, with these grade athletes tackling a variety of challenges while pursuing championships.

HIEN LE ’25 (Da Nang, Vietnam), call name “Bo” to his teammates and competitors, is one such student-athlete. A First-Team All-Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference and WHAC AllAcademic performer on Tech’s eSports team, he focused his energies on League of Legends and helped the Warriors claim the 2025-26 WHAC Championship, which was clinched April 11 at Bethel University.

JONATHAN KERVIN ’25 (Floyds Knobs, Ind.), an elite wrestler, also finds time to balance campus, work and team commitments effectively in his current schedule.

The week leading up to March’s NAIA Wrestling Championships in Park City, Kansas, saw Kervin up at 3 a.m. for an early shift at Costco, followed by a disciplined nutrition regimen and practice through the late afternoon.

Such preparation served him well, as he avenged a prior defeat to take down top-seeded Cam Robinson of Grand View University in a 4-2 decision to top the podium for the second time in his Tech career. Kervin became Tech’s third two-time champion (Eric Vermillion ’22, ’23, at 184 pounds in 2021 and 2022, and Connor Gimson ’21, at 133 pounds, also in 2021 and 2022), previously winning in 2024, and the ninth national champion in program history.

“It was a surreal experience, visualizing that moment for a year,” Kervin said. “Through faith in Christ, I surrendered the outcome and am blessed to finish my career on top and meet nearly all my season goals. It was an awesome year.”

With the season complete, Kervin still had his eyes focused on school, work and the mat, as he prepped for the U.S. Senior Open in Las Vegas in late April. He also recently initiated a full-time project management internship with Weigand Construction in Fort Wayne.

“I really feel free to work and do things outside of school,” Kervin said. “With only one six-week class at a time, I can handle work, wrestling and academics. I feel more like an adult now.”

Hien Le helped the Warriors eSports team clinch the 2025-26 WHAC Championship.

Already a Tech alum with a degree in information systems, Le certainly appreciates the flexibility of his schedule and the routine he’s developed since his transition to graduate study (Master of Science in Information Systems). He starts his day early with coffee and gym time, and follows that up with lunch and work at McMillen Library on campus until 5 p.m. On many evenings, he attends class or eSports practices. He can be found at the Rec Center on his rare nights off.

“With evening classes, I can work and prioritize my fitness. I feel more balanced and everything seems more manageable,” Le said.

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS FROM THE DESK OF MORGAN CLARKE-WOLFE

Happy spring, Warriors! We made it.

As the weather warms and the sun stays out just a little longer, we are reminded of the refreshing season of growth. This spring we welcome the newest group into the Warrior Alumni community. Filled with excitement and energy, these new alumni are set to represent all of the best qualities of our community and Indiana Tech. It’s an exciting time that reminds us of the spirit, innovation and determination that define Indiana Tech as it continues to thrive in each new generation.

While these graduates grow into new roles, new responsibilities and a new outlook on the future, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your experience at Indiana Tech and share those memories with others. They now carry forward the same values and experiences that have shaped all of us, adding their own stories, ambitions and achievements to our legacy. So, to our newest alumni, we are excited to see where your journey takes you. And to all of our alumni, thank you for being a part of the ever-growing Indiana Tech story.

In the coming months, there will be a variety of events designed to bring our alumni family together. We are working hard on expanding alumni events and activities, including meet-ups, happy hours, sporting events and activities.

Some are shown on the back cover of this magazine, and all will be shared through our social media channels, emails and the Warrior Circuit, our alumni e-newsletter.

And, of course, Homecoming is just around the corner. Mark your calendars for Oct. 2 and 3 for a multitude of recognitions, celebrations and activities on campus. Be on the lookout for additional information and schedules, which will be coming soon.

Thank you to all of our alumni and friends for your shared excitement and passion for Indiana Tech and its community. We hope to see you soon!

Morgan Clarke-Wolfe Director of Alumni Relations

This is also an ideal time to reconnect and engage with the Indiana Tech community.

KEEP US CONNECTED! Your stories are what make Indiana Tech proud—and we want to hear from you! Share your successes, update your information, learn about the Alumni Association and find ways to connect with your peers, friends and faculty members on our website at Alumni.IndianaTech.edu, or scan the code to the right. You can also email your updates to alumni@IndianaTech.edu.

INDIANA TECH ALUMNI GROUP

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@INDIANATECHALUMNI

INDIANA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

THANKS TO YOU

BECAUSE OF GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM OUR FRIENDS AND DONORS, INDIANA TECH CONTINUES TO BE A LIFE-CHANGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT MOTIVATES STUDENTS TOWARD LIVES OF SIGNIFICANCE AND WORTH, EVERY DAY.

Dave Charlesworth CLASS OF 1974

Dave and Debbie Charlesworth

Share your valuable professional insights with Indiana Tech students.

Reach out to Morgan Clarke-Wolfe, director of alumni relations, to discuss opportunities. mdclarke-wolfe@indianatech.edu

Take a walk across Indiana Tech’s main Fort Wayne campus and you will see countless physical examples of how our university’s friends and donors put generosity into action to support our transformative mission.

concepts have been applied to engineering solutions in the real world. I greatly appreciate when alumni share their knowledge and passion for the profession with our students,” said associate professor of engineering Peggy Canales.

Sometimes, however, support comes in the form of time and talent—with actions that are oftentimes unseen, but incredibly impactful to our students and appreciated by our university.

Dave shared valuable lessons he acquired over his successful career, and discussed decision analysis, a systematic, quantitative and visual approach to evaluating complex choices under uncertainty. It’s a practice he is passionate about and honed during his 15-plus years in leadership at Chevron.

In April 2025, Dave Charlesworth returned to Indiana Tech—with his wife, Debbie—for the first time since graduating with a chemical engineering degree in 1974. A guest lecturer at several Texas-based universities and owner of a technical publishing company in that city, Dave returned to present to four engineering classes, two business classes and the university’s Society of Mechanical Engineers student group.

“Opportunities to have alumni come back and share their lessons learned is tremendously beneficial for our students; it helps them see how engineering

“Coming back to Indiana Tech with my wife, who is also an engineer, made the experience especially meaningful,” Dave said. “I was amazed to see all the new attractive buildings and labs on the campus. The professors and students that we talked with in each class and on each tour were uniformly friendly, engaged and impressive.”

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ALUMNI: SPOTLIGHT RACHEL BENNETT STEURY �03 BUSINESS ADMIN

The N Degree

TH

At Indiana Tech, we take pride in motivating our students toward lives of significance and worth. In fact, it’s one of the most impactful and often-recited components of our university’s mission statement. Rachel Bennett Steury is an Indiana Tech alumna who takes living a life of significance and worth to the nth degree.

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ACHEL graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, concentrating in management and human resources. She lived in northeast Indiana for 20 years and is now working and traveling between the Midwest, California and Hawaii. She and her family foster a thriving conservation habitat in Indiana, offering a safe haven of native plants and food supply to the region’s wildlife. She comes from a big family, with more than 40 nieces and nephews who lovingly know her as Aunt Rae. She specializes in marketing, graphic design and publicity for nonprofit clients, and also supports communities impacted by natural disasters. Her recent deployments were to assist in sheltering and logistics for Maui wildfires, Kentucky floods, Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires.

But perhaps her most impactful act of altruism came in 2012 when she chose to donate one of her kidneys.

“After watching a segment about kidney chains on the news, I was mesmerized,” Rachel explained. I

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had never heard of such a thing. I already knew deceased donation was an impactful thing to do because my Uncle Ed was a donor. He saved the lives of five people from South Bend to Puerto Rico after he died. Maybe Katie Couric was reaching into my living room with this story for a reason.”

Rachel researched the donation process, went through a battery of medical tests and was finally medically cleared to give her kidney away through the National Kidney Registry. Because the need for donor kidneys is great, it didn’t take long before Rachel’s perfect match was identified. Through Loyola University Medical Center in Illinois, on July 26, 2012, Rachel’s extra kidney flew to Pennsylvania to a man, Rachel confirms, needed it more than she did.

“It wasn’t until I woke up from surgery

Spring 2003: Graduating from Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

“Altruism just might help end the waitlist once and for all. Are there enough of us willing to help people we don’t even know?

I think it’s possible.”

—Rachel Bennett Steury

Rachel with her Uncle Ed—who saved five lives through organ donation—and her grandmother and sister.

July 2012: Recovering after her kidney was harvested.

that my doctor told me someone in that man’s life also donated a kidney and it flew right back to Chicago for a man who was down the hall from me,” Rachel revealed. “To be that close to someone in this kidney chain and not know it was wild.”

After surgery, Rachel volunteered to speak with the public about the importance of eye, organ and tissue donation, and even walked in the 2019 New Year's Day Rose Parade to represent living donors. She continues to tell her story and that of her Uncle Ed, inspiring people to see how an act of altruism, as a living donor, and also as a deceased donor, can help our neighbors and even complete— strangers—gain a new lease on life.

January 2019: Representing living donors in the New Year's Day Rose Parade.

Her experiences starting a kidney chain and advocacy in Indiana, California and Washington DC motivated Rachel to write her memoir, Losing My Kidney and Finding My Voice: Confessions of a Living Donor which was published by BC Books.

“I never imagined how my life would evolve because I said yes to donation and volunteered to talk about it, Rachel explained. “There is a broader message I wanted to convey through my story. Altruism just might help end the waitlist once and for all. Are there enough of us willing to help people we don’t even know? I think it’s possible.”

You can find her ebook and paperback and learn more by visiting her website www.bennettsteury. com/memoir.

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IN MEMORIAM Indiana Tech commemorates the following alumni and friends of the university who have recently passed on.

1940s Gordon M. Hower Underwood, Minnesota Mechanical Engineering, 1948 Edward R. Lehman La Jolla, California Mechanical Engineering, 1948 Roderick J. MacLean Boyertown, Pennsylvania Mechanical Engineering, 1949 Vernon A. Rebenstorf Montgomery, Illinois Mechanical Engineering, 1948

Roger W. Hulthen Charlotte, North Carolina Electrical Engineering, 1957

James B. Vuchetich Woodridge, Illinois Radio Engineering, 1952

Solomon Kramer Fort Wayne, Indiana Civil Engineering, 1954

John F. Wagner Albuquerque, New Mexico Electrical Engineering, 1958

Roy E. Metz Bath, Pennsylvania Civil Engineering, 1951

Bernard W. Whitcomb Modesto, California Civil Engineering, 1958

Antone E. Mileska Mattituck, New York Radio Engineering, 1953

1960s

1950s

Robert K. Nishida Marana, Arizona Electronic Engineering, 1955

Daniel C. Allen Saco, Maine Electrical Engineering, 1952

Juergen H. Nordhausen Acton, Massachusetts Electronic Engineering, 1959

Orman O. Bloxom Snow Hill, Maryland Mechanical Drafting Diploma, 1958

Edgardo G. Pantoja Louisville, Kentucky Civil Engineering, 1958

Elliot T. Brooks Little Falls, New Jersey Electrical Engineering, 1950

Harry T. Postovoit San Dimas, California Electronic Engineering, 1959

Kurt Fischer Carlsbad, California Electrical Engineering, 1959

John P. Sackinger Roseburg, Oregon Radio Engineering, 1952

Ernest J. Fox Ambler, Pennsylvania Electronic Engineering, 1959

Thomas C. Scalzo Fort Wayne, Indiana Electronic Engineering and Electrical Engineering, 1958 & 1961

Thomas L. Gamble Greenfield, Indiana Electrical Engineering, 1954 Kanwar S. Gulhati Flushing, New York Mechanical Engineering, 1958 Donald G. Henderson Harvest, Alabama Mathematics, 1960

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Carroll K. Simkins Surprise, Arizona Electronic Engineering, 1957 Bert E. Stepp LaGrange, Indiana Electrical Engineering, 1952

Steen Bentzen Berlin, Massachusetts Electronic Engineering, 1961 Claude W. Bradford San Diego, California Aeronautical Engineering, 1961 Robert C. Hyer Durham, North Carolina Electrical Engineering, 1967 Edmund Leonard Johnson, Jr. Brookline, New Hampshire Electrical Engineering, 1967 Terry J. Quinn Murrysville, Pennsylvania Mechanical Engineering, 1967 Daniel P. Roth Fort Wayne, Indiana Electrical Engineering, 1967 Lewis T. Sinemus Cicero, New York Electronic Engineering, 1961 William J. Wieczerzak Brooklyn, New York Electrical Engineering, 1961 Robert M. Winslow Liberty, North Carolina Mechanical Engineering, 1960

1970s Phillip A. Benson Lakeside Marblehead, Ohio Mechanical Engineering, 1971 Thomas A. Cincotta Sparks Glencoe, Maryland Mechanical Engineering, 1970 Anthony J. Planks East Granby, Connecticut Electrical Engineering, 1973 Daniel L. Switalski Cedarburg, Wisconsin Civil Engineering, 1977

1990s Wilfred H. Hackbush Fort Wayne, Indiana Business Administration, 1999 Karen L. Murphy North Manchester, Indiana Business Administration, 2003 Stephen A. Pearson New Haven, Indiana Business Administration, 1990

2000s Jeffrey Cabrera Indianapolis, Indiana Business Administration, 2009 Terry W. Crews Hot Springs, Arkansas Business Administration, 2006 Diadriene L. Ferguson Indianapolis, Indiana General Studies, 2017 Da’Vion T. Williams Southfield, Michigan Energy Engineering, 2019

SHARON LOKUTA, MIDDLE, WITH HER WARRIOR INFORMATION NETWORK TEAM.

Sharon Lokuta 1962-2026

On April 8, the Indiana Tech community learned that it had lost its colleague and friend, Sharon Lokuta.

For nearly two decades, Sharon dedicated her career to Indiana Tech. She played a pivotal role in shaping the systems, processes and people that have fueled our university’s growth and success.

Sharon had a rare and remarkable ability to turn vision into action.

She understood that strategy only mattered if it was realized, and she approached every challenge with determination and clarity. To Sharon, there was always a way forward. She was the person we relied on—the one who could take complex ideas and operationalize them with precision, urgency and excellence.

She was a mentor, an advocate and a champion for so many across our campus. She had a gift for bringing people together, for seeing potential in others and for helping them grow. Colleagues often spoke of how she “saw” them, supported them and believed in them. She was, in every sense, a servant leader.

We give thanks for Sharon’s life and for the countless ways she made Indiana Tech better. Her legacy will live on in the culture she helped shape. We are stronger because of her, and we will honor her by continuing the work she cared so deeply about.

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

1600 EAST WASHINGTON BLVD FORT WAYNE, INDIANA 46803

PAID

FORT WAYNE, IN PERMIT NO. 159

OUT AND ABOUT WITH ALUMNI RELATIONS Save the date for one, or all, of these opportunities to meet with Indiana Tech alumni and alumni relations representatives.

This schedule is tentative, with dates and times subject to change.

Learn more through our social media channels, emails and the Warrior Circuit, our alumni e-newsletter.

JULY 15

OCTOBER 2 AND 3

Fort Wayne Alumni Meet-Up at Hoppy Gnome, Fort Wayne

Homecoming Weekend at Indiana Tech, Fort Wayne

AUGUST 8

OCTOBER 22

Indianapolis Indians baseball game night hosted by the Military Alumni’s Indianapolis Committee at Victory Field, Indianapolis

Alumni Pizza Night at Big Apple Pizza, Fort Wayne

AUGUST 11

NOVEMBER 10 Virtual Open Alumni Meeting, Online

Virtual Open Alumni Meeting, Online

DECEMBER 10 SEPTEMBER 5 Fort Wayne FC soccer game at Ruoff Mortgage Stadium, Fort Wayne

Parkview Field Holiday Lights, Fort Wayne

SEPTEMBER 23 Alumni Happy Hour in the Club Room at the Clyde, Fort Wayne

ALUMNI.INDIANATECH.EDU