Shipherd's Record and The President's Annual Report, Winter 2022

SHIPHERD’S

RECORD

T H E ALU M N I M AGAZ I N E O F O LI V E T CO LLEG E | WI N T E R 2022

REACH PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2021

IN THIS ISSUE:

SHIPHERD’S Shipherd’s Record is named in memory of “Father” John J. Shipherd, who established Olivet College in 1844. The magazine is published twice annually for Olivet College alumni and friends.

MAGAZINE STAFF Lisa Collins Graphic Designer & Brand Manager Connor Gilbert Website & Digital Media Coordinator

4

A Vision for a Prosperous Future

6

Strategic Priorities

Taylor Lenz ’16 Assistant Director of Communications Michele McCauley Executive Director of Communications & Marketing Vicki J. Stouffer, CFRE Vice President for Advancement EDITORIAL

14

This Has to Be the Place — Tim Hodge ‘83

16

Geoff Henson Sports Information Director Good Fortune Disguised as Bad Luck

GUEST CONTRIBUTORS Audrey Helfrich Rachel Hiser Jennifer Lareau-Gee Amber Zabonick

28

Homecoming Highlights

35

New Student Center Planning Moves Forward

SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICES TO: Office of Advancement 320 S. Main St., Olivet, MI 49076 269-749-7630 mwallenberg@olivetcollege.edu

DEPARTMENTS

17 Advancement

24 Comet Sports

18 Financials

26 Alumni

20 2021 Year in Review

30 Class Notes

Follow us on social media >>>

Olivet College’s mission is to provide an education that enriches lives intellectually, morally and spiritually to a diverse campus community. Having attained these qualities through their educational experiences at Olivet, our hope is that our graduates will embody the “divine art and science of doing good to others,” as stated by the College’s founding fathers in 1844.

Olivet College is committed to the principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination. The College, in its employment, student admissions, recruitment, and personnel policies and practices, will not discriminate against any individual on the basis of age, color, sex, gender identity, disability or disability status, height, weight, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, military or veteran status, or sexual orientation.

RECORD

This issue of Shipherd’s Record and the President’s Annual Report introduces “Vision for a Prosperous Future,” the strategic plan shaping Olivet College’s mission and priorities through 2030.

The magazine also includes accomplishments of alumni, updates on athletics and campus life, financial highlights and more. These stories each uniquely demonstrate how Comets reach — how students reach their goals, how alumni reach their communities, how the College is reaching new heights. In addition to telling the stories of how others are reaching, we are proud to reach you, our alumni and friends. Thank you for staying connected to the Comet family and helping Olivet College reach for the future.

| P R E S I DE NT ’ S U P DATE Dear friends, Welcome to the 2021 President’s Annual Report special edition of Shipherd’s Record.

With last decade’s “Charting the Course to 2020 and Beyond” strategic plan, we focused on strengthening the core of the Olivet College we’ve known and loved for over 175 years. We solidified our commitment to a relationship-based, immersive, residential experience for our predominantly traditional-aged student body.

This included a broad expansion and strengthening of our immersive programs in athletics, music, the arts, service, leadership and others. The academic program experienced unprecedented innovation, improving quality and growth in new programs. We set records in enrollment, dramatically grew the number of students living on campus, doubled the diversity of the student body, and received national and regional recognition as a top school by Washington Monthly, U.S. News and as a Top 10 Military Friendly School. Financially, we substantially strengthened the College’s financial health and completed a record-setting comprehensive fundraising campaign with the help of our alumni and friends.

With this foundation, we have now turned our attention to the decade ahead. The Board’s recent approval of our new strategic plan, “Olivet College 2030: Vision for a Prosperous Future,” sets a bold agenda for the coming decade. We recognize that for Olivet College to invest in our mission in the way we should, to “prosper,” we must build a sustainable future as a thriving, financially secure, comprehensive institution while remaining firmly Olivet. “Olivet College: Vision for a Prosperous Future” is focused on four strategic priorities: • Deeply Rooted and Firmly Grounded — Be Olivet: Remain firmly “Olivet.”

• Grow the Tree — Be Bigger: Grow programs, enrollments and resources.

• Cultivate and Change the Landscape — Be Better: Take what we have planted and nurture it to ensure quality.

• Engage Beyond Our Hill — Be Connected: Build connections and reputation with the outside world.

This issue introduces “Olivet College 2030: Vision for a Prosperous Future.” In the months and years ahead, we look forward to joining our alumni and friends to further explore the strategic plan and advance these priorities to achieve a prosperous future for Olivet College.

This special edition also celebrates and acknowledges the accomplishments of the past year. We’ve all faced significant challenges, yet the Olivet College community has demonstrated that we are all stronger together. I also thank each of you who supported the College through your annual giving. We truly can not do it without you. This issue provides you with a link to the Honor Roll of Donors; we extend sincere gratitude to the individuals and organizations on this list.

As always, I hope you enjoy your issue of Shipherd’s Record as we bring Olivet College, students, fellow alumni and the Olivet College family a little closer to your world through this wonderful publication. Please know that you are always welcome on campus, and we look forward to having you home in Olivet sometime soon.

With very best regards,

Steven M. Corey, Ph.D. President WINTER 2022

3

The world is changing fast.

Higher education must change swiftly, too, if we want to continue to help respond to the economic and social challenges that our communities, nation and world face.

Colleges and universities must take bold and innovative approaches to prepare students for changing and evolving careers. We must also share the responsibility to foster healthy, principled graduates who flourish in a diverse world of wide-ranging social groups, cultures and ethnicities.

At Olivet College, we recognize that we must respond to the changing world in ways that honor our founders’ vision while arming students with knowledge, skills and character that prepare them for a future for which we cannot truly plan. Olivet College can accomplish this by reimagining our culture of education.

Before the pandemic, the College board, leadership team, staff, alumni and students began to reflect on Olivet College’s nearly 178-year journey. We applauded our successes and took a hard look at the difficulties we’ve faced. The outcome of these observations and discussions is a new strategic plan, “Olivet College 2030: Vision for a Prosperous Future.”

A VISION FOR A

PROSPEROUS

FUTURE

“Vision for a Prosperous Future” builds on Olivet’s strengths and successes in many areas, including the focus on a relationship-based learning and living community, individual and social responsibility, and Liberal Arts Knowledge. These deeply-rooted strengths of the College will help us to engage beyond our hill into new directions. The strategic plan priorities are grounded in work already underway, which you’ll discover in the following pages.

Our commitment is twofold: to preserve what makes an Olivet College experience desirable to many and address new opportunities. Our board, faculty, students, alumni and staff are poised to shape, grow and expand solutions in four strategic areas of impact that will guide “Vision for a Prosperous Future” to 2030.

1. Deeply Rooted and Firmly Grounded — Be Olivet: Remain firmly “Olivet.”

2. Grow the Tree — Be Bigger: Grow programs, enrollments and resources.

3. Cultivate and Change the Landscape — Be Better: Take what we have planted and nurture it to ensure quality.

4. Engage Beyond Our Hill — Be Connected: Build connections and reputation with the outside world.

Now more than ever, we must prepare students to be equipped with the knowledge and character to navigate an uncertain world and positively influence the communities where they live and work.

“Vision for a Prosperous Future” is ambitious and bold. So is Olivet College.

4

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

F

ROSPER OU A P

STRATEGIC VISION: S

TUR

2020

2030

E

VISIO

FU

N

O

R

OLIVET COLLEGE

Olivet College will build a sustainable future as a thriving, financially secure, comprehensive institution while remaining firmly Olivet.

The OLIVET COLLEGE 2030: VISION FOR A PROSPEROUS FUTURE will drive the capture of resources necessary to adequately and sustainably support: 1) the College's core residential undergraduate and expanded adult professional and graduate programs; 2) its faculty and staff; and, 3) necessary physical and technological infrastructure, all while maintaining and respecting the unique vision, mission and values of Olivet College.

DEEPLY ROOTED AND FIRMLY GROUNDED Be Olivet: Remain firmly “Olivet” • Achieve racial diversity within student, faculty and staff commensurate with populations in Michigan.

• Maintain socioeconomic undergraduate student diversity commensurate with populations in Michigan.

• Ensure “service” in all undergraduate and adult professional academic programs.

• Ensure the College-Wide Educational Goals and Learning Outcomes, including those specifically related to Liberal Arts Knowledge, are incorporated into all undergraduate and adult professional degree programs.

GROW THE TREE Be Bigger: Grow programs, enrollments and resources • Improve overall undergraduate retention.

• Increase enrollment in undergraduate programs by 20% by 2026.

• Increase enrollment in adult professional and graduate programs to 1,000 students by fall 2026.

• Double annual revenue by 2030.

• Successfully launch five certificate or alternative credential programs by 2026.

• Ensure the signature Olivet College relationshipbased education experience occurs for all students in all programs and program types.

CULTIVATE AND CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE Be Better: Take what we have planted and nurture it to ensure quality • Increase undergraduate graduation rate.

• Increase degree-related job placement and graduate school admission rates.

• Perform in the top 10% for high impact practices for student success.

• Ensure 90% of faculty and staff annually participate in one or more significant professional development activities.

• Ensure continuous quality improvement in inclusion and cultural competence.

ENGAGE BEYOND OUR HILL Be Connected: Build connections and reputation with the outside world • Increase OC brand recognition as a distinctive, relationship-based, quality educational experience by prospective students.

• Establish at least one robust outreach and external engagement activity in every academic degree program.

• Achieve 95% of tenured faculty actively engaged in scholarship.

• Increase alumni engagement.

WINTER 2022

5

For something to prosper, it must have healthy, strong roots. From its beginning, Olivet College vowed to provide an education that enriches lives intellectually, morally and spiritually to a diverse campus community, regardless of gender, race or socioeconomic status. Building a sustainable and prosperous future does not mean we disregard this mission and the core values that make Olivet College unique. On the contrary, now more than ever, we must nurture and strengthen the College’s roots. Only then can the College grow and expand.

The first priority of the strategic plan centers on remaining firmly “Olivet.” Retaining its deep roots will be achieved by ensuring the signature Olivet College relationship-based education, incorporating College-Wide Educational Goals and Learning Outcomes into all undergraduate and adult professional degree programs, and embedding “service” in all undergraduate and adult professional academic programs. The College must also achieve racial diversity within the student, faculty and staff populations and maintain socioeconomic undergraduate student diversity to remain deeply rooted and firmly grounded.

Racial Diversity Within Our Faculty Students today are living in a world that is more diverse than ever before. Globalization has made the world smaller and has exposed 21st-century students to a multitude of races, ethnicities and cultures.

“It is our responsibility to prepare our students to live, learn and work in a diverse environment,” said Linda Logan, Ph.D., vice president and chief inclusion officer. “Chances are graduates will be working or living in communities of color. Therefore, our students must have the benefit of learning from and being mentored by people of different backgrounds.”

Olivet College has always attracted a high percentage of students of color, mostly African American and, secondarily, Hispanic/Latino students. Consequently, the College’s faculty and staff should reflect the student population.

Provost Maria G. Davis, Ph.D., said, “Our renewed focus on ensuring diversity in our faculty search process is in response to two observations: under our previous application system, we didn’t know anything about the diversity of faculty and staff applicants. Once our new application system was implemented, we then realized we weren’t attracting diverse talent. As a result, the College is putting new strategies in place, including recruiting all faculty and professional staff through diverse professional networks and recruiting from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to ensure a diverse applicant pool. We’re already seeing an influx in the number of diverse applicants and new hires of faculty and academic staff through these efforts.”

“Having a diverse faculty and staff involved in our relationshipbased educational experiences will challenge stereotypes, implicit biases, explicit biases and microaggressions, as well as provide opportunities to learn, grow and expand our understanding of others,” Logan said. “With employees and students as learners and contributors to our campus culture, we can better create an environment in which we are all receptive to and value each other’s reality.”

Maintaining Socioeconomic Undergraduate Student Diversity More than 50% of students admitted to Olivet College are Pelleligible, which means they can afford less than $6,000 per year for educational expenses. A high percentage of Olivet students are also first-generation students who tend to be racially diverse and from lower socioeconomic families.

6

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

DEEPLY ROO

OLIVET COLLEGE 2030: VISION FOR A PROSPERO

FIRMLY GR

“Pell-eligible and first-generation students often do not have a support network at home to help navigate the college search process, including admissions and financial aid,” said Doug Kellar, vice president for enrollment management. “On top of that, families feel overwhelmed from the start when they see the sticker price of an institution, not realizing how financial aid and scholarships can bring down the cost dramatically. It can be difficult for families to see the value of a college degree and the earning potential it brings.”

The Office of Admission is making concerted efforts to support the needs of lower socioeconomic students by helping them explore college options and navigate the admission process. The College has partnered with college access programs, including Lansing Promise, Kalamazoo Promise, Capital Area College Access Network, Michigan College Access Network and others.

“We visit the high schools associated with these access network programs and work with high school counselors to encourage students to consider postsecondary education and help them in that pursuit. There are so many high school students with extraordinary potential. They simply need guidance and encouragement to apply to college,” Kellar said.

The support for first-generation or lower socioeconomic students doesn’t end once the student chooses to attend Olivet College. The College has programs in place, and many in development, to support at-risk students. These programs assist students who lack some preparation and understanding about how to be successful in college.

Kalamazoo Promise Scholars

OTED

ROUS FUTURE

and

ROUNDED Lansing Promise Scholars

“A racially and socioeconomically diverse student body brings different perspectives. Interacting with and developing relationships with people of contrasting backgrounds is educational. We all learn from one another through shared ideals from various cultural and even socioeconomic backgrounds,” Kellar said. “If the College is to grow, and if we are to have a racially and socioeconomically diverse undergraduate population, we must continue to support these students through creative financing programs, summer courses that permit degree completion in less than four years, success navigators and more.”

Nadia Anzaldua, a first-year student majoring in business administration and a Lansing Promise scholar, agrees that a diverse student body and employee base are important. “Programs like the Lansing Promise give all students in the Lansing School District a fair opportunity to attend college.

Inevitably, these scholarship programs bring diversity onto the campus, which allows us to learn more about other races and cultures and learn things from their perspectives.

“Students also need to see faculty and staff who look like them. It can help make you feel a little more comfortable. And it’s one more way for all students who will one day be getting jobs and moving to new communities to learn different perspectives on certain situations regarding race and culture,” Anzaldua said. “If everybody looks like you and holds the same opinions as you, it can get boring, and you don't grow as a human being."

WINTER 2022

7

GROW THE TREE OLIVET COLLEGE 2030: VISION FOR A PROSPEROUS FUTURE

A strategic priority of the College is to “Grow the Tree.”

Therefore, strategic outcomes will focus on expanding programs, increasing enrollments and resources, and improving undergraduate retention rates.

One way the College can increase enrollment is by broadening the type of students it serves. For example, adult professional and graduate programs offer unique opportunities for the College to build on existing academic strengths. In addition, alternative credential programs such as certificates and badges can provide non-traditional students with up-skilling and re-skilling options.

In 2008, the College launched its first graduate program, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in insurance. The College introduced two additional MBA concentrations in 2020, enterprise risk management and a general concentration. More MBA concentrations will evolve naturally from solid undergraduate programs in high-demand career fields, with students taking 21 credits of core MBA courses and 12 credits from a specialized concentration.

“The MBA student traditionally is in a program for career development instead of being in a graduate program just for the learning. MBA students are either looking to enhance their career opportunities or because a company wants to enhance the skills of its employees,” said Michael Oyster ’77, chair of the Business Department and associate professor of business administration. “An MBA gives professionals the platform to move into the management or administrative side of a career field. Regardless of the profession, business management, financial analysis and economics are all needed when moving into a management or administrative role.”

8

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

Barbara Diou-Roig, DBA, director of the MBA program and assistant professor of business, added, “A graduate student who’s a working professional has a different perspective than traditional undergraduate students.

They are at a point where they are becoming experts in a specific area, which they will take forward to their employer.”

Ben Rathbun, MBA, CPCU, CAWC, president of Rathbun Insurance and Olivet College MBA graduate, wanted to plan for the long-term success of his thirdgeneration family agency. “I was looking for a program that would develop me into a stronger leader that had a focus on managing an insurance organization.

As a small business owner and busy insurance professional, I find myself in the weeds often. So, I find it critically important to take a step back and be intentional about leading and setting the Rathbun direction for my organization. Having my MBA has given me the skills to successfully navigate all of the challenges that go along with building and maintaining a motivated team.”

The next step for the College is to launch an MBA in accounting. “To sit for the CPA exam, 150 credits hours are required, 30 more credit hours than a traditional bachelor’s degree. We currently offer a five-year CPA track in our undergraduate accounting major. So, we asked ourselves, why not have those additional CPA credits be at the graduate level? This will fit nicely into our growing undergraduate accounting program for students interested in obtaining their CPA,” said Oyster.

“As we consider new programs, we monitor what current students, graduates and employers are looking for. What skills do employees need? What are employers looking for?

We’re continuously reviewing, updating and modifying the skills that we convey in our classes. We make sure when students graduate, they'll have those skills that will help them stand out for a promotion or new job,” added Thomas Humphreys, CPCU, CLU, ChFC, CIC, director of the insurance and risk management program and assistant professor of insurance and risk management.

Keeping a pulse on what individuals and employers are looking for and building on the strength of leading academic programs will also enable the College to expand into certificate or alternative credential programs.

Certificate programs generally enhance an individual's knowledge and abilities in a specific topic, area or skill.

Benefits of a certificate program include refreshing or updating expertise or skills in a current career or developing knowledge, skills or abilities for career advancement or to prepare for a new career.

“Consumer interest in alternate credential programs is on the rise, with a steeply accelerated pace since the start of the pandemic,” said Maria G. Davis, Ph.D., provost. “An August 2020 Strada Center survey reported that 25% of Americans who were planning to enroll in an education program were interested in enrolling in a non-degree credential, with an additional 37% interested in skills training.”

A certificate in insurance and risk management will be the first offered by the College, tentatively planned to launch in the spring of 2022. Other areas under consideration include diversity and inclusion, successful aging, coaching and various business-related skills.

“You’ve got a lot of industries where employees need some individualized, specialized training,” said Oyster.

“For example, there are many insurance companies that hire people right out of high school or college graduates who have no specialized insurance training. Certificates can lay on top of the training or schooling the employee has already received.

“In addition, for students who don’t have an undergraduate degree, certificates can serve as a marketing tool to get them started at Olivet College with four college-level courses. They’ll receive a certificate and be that much closer to earning an undergraduate degree.”

Whether an adult professional or MBA student, flexibility and personalized attention are essential for success. All agree that as programs develop and expand, the College must take career goals and time and delivery of course material into consideration. In addition, faculty must retain the Olivet College relationship-based approach even when teaching online if the College is to grow its programs and enrollment.

“Vision for a Prosperous Future is well thought-out and articulated. The strategic plan hits on all of the points that our institution needs to focus on to grow,” said Humphreys. “Are the strategic outcomes aggressive?

Absolutely. Given the landscape in education right now, it needs to be aggressive for us to get to where we need to be.”

WINTER 2022

9

CULTIVATE CHANGE OLIVET COLLEGE 2030: VISION FOR A PROSPEROUS FUTURE

and

THE LANDSCAPE

Olivet College holds nearly 178 years of deeply-rooted history, but continuous growth and evolution are required to ensure the College meets today’s students' unique needs. As the third strategic priority in the strategic plan defines, the College must take what it has planted and nurture it to ensure quality. Many initiatives underway include enhancing student engagement opportunities, reviewing and implementing student success programs, and measuring the success of current programs.

“Higher education is facing a lot of scrutiny, so we must balance our commitment to remaining ‘uniquely Olivet’ while embracing the need to be innovative to meet the needs of our prospective and current students,” said KayDee Perry, Ed.D., special assistant to the provost for retention and student success, associate professor and chair of the Health and Human Performance Department. “The strategic plan seeks to foster this innovation while recognizing that we fill an exceptional niche in higher education and our greater society.”

Strategic outcomes include increasing the graduation rate, increasing job-placement and graduate school admission rates,

10

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

performing well in student success, and improving inclusion and cultural competence, among others. The College has laid a strong foundation in many of these areas and work will continue to shape and evaluate steps toward reaching these strategic outcomes through 2030.

“This strategic priority is significant because it gives Olivet College an opportunity for reflection and introspection,” said Joshua Gillespie, director of career readiness and diversity strategic initiatives. “We need to be about the business of identifying best practices and extinguishing antiquated processes.

The needs of students continue to diversify. To me, cultivating and changing the landscape means focusing on salient issues that are impacting our students such as, but not limited to, engaging in more meaningful diversity, equity and inclusion efforts; supporting student well-being (including mental health); fostering students’ sense of belonging; improving retention efforts for underserved students; improving coordination across existing student services; and expanding the use of data analytics.

We must ensure that we are actualizing the practices that we are espousing.”

Programs and Resources Enhancing the Student Experience Some of the programs that are evolving or that are currently offered to students include the Hiram Archer Student Success Academy (H.A.S.S.A.), a mentorship and support group for students of color; gender inclusive programs, like the Queers and Allies group; Comet’s Cupboard, a free food assistance program on campus; F1RST Comets, a support group for first-generation students; enhanced recreational programs, including intramural offerings; and Green Dot, a bystander intervention program and peer education initiative.

Many of these groups on campus serve a distinct purpose for unique populations of students, providing customized student support. Junior Destinee Hawkins serves as the president of H.A.S.S.A. For her, the group provides a safe place for students of color to connect and relate to one another, in addition to receiving tailored career-readiness and mentorship support.

“H.A.S.S.A. is important because it offers more than just academic knowledge for students,” Hawkins said. “We are creating spaces for students to see and learn in their own way, often providing life skills that go beyond what we learn in the classroom. While academics are always a priority, academics alone won’t get you through all the doors you will face in life. H.A.S.S.A. is important and needed on Olivet’s campus because the connections you make and the mentorship you receive bridges the gap between college and real life. There is always a message or a deeper reason for the events and programs we conduct. Students have to be comfortable to thrive and succeed at their fullest potential, and we help fuel their fire.”

Serving Modern Students “Research has established that traditional undergraduate students, who are Generation Z members, differ from previous generations in many ways, such as their behavior and consumption,” said Perry. “These differences require adjustments to the experiences provided by institutions of higher education to engage students effectively. The focus of ‘Cultivate and Change the Landscape’ acknowledges these differences. This strategic priority recognizes our need to shift our practices and processes to meet the needs of students to increase student success that will be measured through improvements in our retention, persistence and graduation rates.”

Providing meaningful and purposeful experiences for students has always been at the heart of the Olivet College mission. This is actualized through the College’s ongoing commitment to Education for Individual and Social Responsibility, the relationship-based education model and the dedication to creating a sustaining and vibrant college community into the future.

“It is essential that we learn from the past, impact the present day, and invest in the future for our students and community,” said Amy Radford-Popp, Ph.D., dean of student engagement.

“A critical aspect of the strategic plan is that we must look within, as well as to the overall purpose of why today’s students are choosing college. The strategic plan process is intentional and gives us the opportunity to benchmark other college student experiences so we can be relevant and innovative while fostering a culture for change to occur.”

In addition to student programs, virtual resources and tools for faculty and staff include a revised Comet Alert System, launching the Olivet College app, a dashboard used by the Department of Athletics to track retention and identify atrisk student-athletes, online advising resources, and revisions to the work of the Health and Wellness Center.

WINTER 2022

11

ENGAGE BEYOND OUR HILL OLIVET COLLEGE 2030: VISION FOR A PROSPEROUS FUTURE

Olivet College offers a relationship-based education to students, but those connections don’t end after graduation.

Alumni become ambassadors of the College as they enter the world into professions and communities across the nation and beyond. The strategic priority “Engage Beyond Our Hill,” focuses on Olivet College’s growth beyond campus, setting goals to build connections and the College’s reputation with the outside world. Increasing alumni engagement is one strategic outcome.

“Alumni, regardless of where they live in the world, have the power to be our biggest advocates both in their positive press about the College and also in their capacity to give financially,” said Vicki J. Stouffer, CFRE, vice president for advancement. “The reality is that tuition and fees are not enough, and we rely on generous contributions from alumni and friends of the College to keep our institution in a strong financial position.

“Alumni also incite spirit and passion in the community and can be a powerful tool in recruitment. When students see alumni supporting the College it can create a sense of belonging, knowing that our Olivet community is all-connected.

Also, as Olivet College steps more into the graduate and adult degree program space, we need and want our alumni to take advantage of those opportunities. Alumni will be responsible for helping us shape those programs, which will increase our capacity in the long term.”

While attending college events and financial giving are great ways for alumni to stay connected and support the College, alumni engagement can be demonstrated much more broadly. The Alumni Engagement team is digging deeper by identifying ways to build a more robust program that will engage alumni across the country and around the world, including continuing education courses and lectures, travel opportunities, philanthropy, enhanced communications, and chances for volunteerism and mentorship.

“The ideal picture of great alumni engagement is a program that offers clearly defined value to the population and that is tailored to specific alumni affinity groups and interests,” said Stouffer. “Our success in increasing alumni engagement is all about relationships. We must understand what has been working and where we can improve, and create metrics to measure our impact so we can continue to grow.”

Alumni Engagement in Action Alumni engagement is also supported through the Alumni Council, a group of alumni from various graduation years, industries, cities and states, who represent the link between the College and the larger alumni base. Alex Miller ’00 recently joined the Alumni Council with a unique perspective on higher education. He serves as the vice president for student life at Denison University, a private liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio.

“One of the reasons why I started serving on the Olivet College Alumni Council, even while living out of state, was because of the great alumni at Denison,” Miller said. “They inspired me to think about how I could do similar work at Olivet and how my experiences as a college student contributed to who I am today. Many alumni of the 2000s-era, like myself, are just starting to engage with the College. I’m able to serve as an example for this generation by showing how I am giving of my time, talent and treasure. Serving on the council further allows me to share my story and connect with others about additional alumni engagement programs and how they benefit the College. This will perpetuate over time as other alumni reflect on their college experiences and are motivated to find ways to plug in to these programs and provide their support. I’m proud to be part of the millennial class, and I’m excited to see what that impact could mean over time.”

Just as relationships shape the student experience at Olivet College, relationships are imperative to engaging alumni and building a stronger base, no matter where alumni live. Using ambassadors and word of mouth are key to forming connections and creating a personalized approach for each alumna or alumnus to engage in their own, unique way.

“I think the strategic plan is an extension, a continuation, of the foundation that has already been laid,” Stouffer said.

“This is a path to improving our operations and evolving to remain relevant in an ever-changing higher education landscape. This plan is really an opportunity to create better benchmarks for ourselves so that we can improve and then look back at the progress to see what is working, what isn’t working and how we can continue to evolve.”

12

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

Alex Miller ’00

WINTER 2022

13

THIS HAS TO BE THE PLACE Dr. Tim Hodge, a 1983 Olivet College graduate, was appointed chair of the Olivet College Board of Trustees on Oct. 15, 2021. Hodge is a distinguished emergency medicine physician and U.S. Navy veteran whose commitment to Olivet College has remained strong.

He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for 20 years and has been a consistent annual contributor.

Hodge’s fond memories of his years spent at Olivet and devotion to the College’s mission have influenced family members and many others to attend his beloved college.

Preparing for Something Bigger Hodge was like many first-year students coming to Olivet College with a dream of preparing for something much bigger. He always wanted to be a physician but wasn’t sure how to make it a reality. Hodge and his nine siblings grew up in Bangor, Michigan. His family relocated from Detroit when he was a very young age. Hodge thought he wasn’t ready for a large university when he graduated from high school. “I wanted an institution that prepared me for medical school, that would allow me to continue participating in athletics and a place where I could have tremendous fun. After spending the weekend with a friend at Olivet College, I liked what I saw. I thought, ‘This has to be the place,’” said Hodge.

In 1979, Hodge began classes at Olivet College. He planned to spend two years at the College to get a solid academic foundation, learn the social expectations of college and then transfer to a larger university that would further prepare him for medical school. That all changed when he met Dr. Fred Gruen, Hodge’s chemistry professor.

We’ve Got You If he was going to make it to medical school, Hodge knew he had to chart his course and make the most of his anticipated two years at Olivet College. Sitting in on one of Dr. Gruen’s organic chemistry classes made Hodge realize that he would have to ask for help outside of the classroom for his dream to come true.

14

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

“We want students to be ready for life in a way that they weren’t when they came to us. That’s what Olivet did for me — a young student from a rural community.”

— Dr. Tim Hodge ’83 Chair, Olivet College Board of Trustees

“Dr. Gruen would be talking quickly while writing formulas equally as fast on the board, and at times, the sheer volume of the material felt overwhelming. Not wanting to miss anything important, I asked him to explain several key points from the previous lesson. He and his wife, Marian Gruen, lived in Olivet, so they invited me to their home to review lessons. I recall sitting at a small table in the kitchen while Dr. Gruen tutored me and Marian served fresh baked goods,” Hodge said. These visits became continuous open invitations for Hodge. “Dr. Gruen was always there with an encouraging word, a gift of a recent book he had read and enjoyed, and meaningful discussions on academics and life.”

“During one of my visits with Dr. Gruen, I told him I was going to transfer to another school so I could prepare for medical school. He looked at me and asked, ‘Why would you want to do that?

We can prepare you; we’ve got you,’” Hodge recalled.

True to their word, Dr. Gruen and other professors at Olivet College did come through for him. When Hodge needed a course in human physiology as a senior and it wasn’t scheduled, Dr. Richard Flemming stepped in to help. He offered to be the sponsoring professor for an independent study in human physiology. The two outlined a new course and met every week to discuss that week’s material. Dr. Flemming also allowed Hodge to write the test questions for the course based on learning objectives. Each answer was then discussed in-depth to assure understanding of human physiology principles.

“Knowing I had to be prepared for our comprehensive discussions, I mastered the subject in a very different way than if I had been in the traditional classroom situation. So well, that I tested out of the human physiology course at medical school,” Hodge said.

Hodge graduated with degrees in biochemistry and biology from Olivet College. Then, he went to medical school at a larger university and achieved his dream of becoming a physician.

Preparing for Life, Not Just for Testing One of Hodge’s priorities as the new chair of the Olivet College Board of Trustees is to lead the board in its work to meet the strategic outcomes of “Olivet College 2030: Vision for a Prosperous Future.” Growth, quality and value are at the heart of the strategic plan, which Hodge believes will lead Olivet College to a more secure future.

“Olivet College has to continue to grow. We need to design programs that meet students where they are in the world and support them. We need to retain and grow quality faculty and staff who focus on the whole student — the social, emotional, mental and physical development of each student regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. We must prepare students for life — not just for testing,” Hodge said. “We must also create value for the students. I learned critical thinking and how to examine problems from multiple perspectives.

In addition, my parents' lessons of working hard, being of service to others and showing love of humanity were reinforced during my time as a student. These lessons lead me every day, even now,” Hodge said.

WINTER 2022

15

GOOD FORTUNE DISGUISED AS BAD LUCK John Morrison isn’t your typical undergraduate college student. He can build a house; lay a concrete floor; fly a drone to gather data on the extent of cherry orchard infestations; identify fish swimming in lakes and streams; talk wildlife management, chemistry and biology; and shoot clay targets.

This 24-year-old transfer student now has his sights on becoming a veterinarian.

Thanks to the Edward P. Speare Biology Scholarship, Morrison is well on his way to reaching his goal without having to worry about how he’ll manage the cost of tuition. And, thanks to the relationships Morrison has built with his science instructors, he’s confident he’ll be prepared for veterinary school and beyond.

Morrison’s story parallels that of Tim Hodge’s (pages 14-15): a student from a rural community set on becoming a doctor and thinking Olivet College would be a stepping stone along the way. However, once relationships with faculty began to take root, like Hodge, Morrison knew Olivet College was the place for him.

“I wanted to be a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officer. I first attended a community college in northern Michigan and earned an associate degree in freshwater science,” Morrison said. “I planned to attend a college in the Upper Peninsula to complete my four-year degree and then work for the DNR. However, before the start of the semester, I learned that certain classes wouldn’t be offered if not enough students registered, and I also realized that even if I completed my degree, a job as a DNR officer was not a guarantee.”

Morrison returned home to Quincy, in Branch County, and began exploring biology programs at some midsize universities in Michigan to prepare for veterinary school. However, after visiting the colleges, and as orientation approached, Morrison still wasn’t 100% sold. And then the pandemic struck. “My family has a saying: Good fortune is disguised as damn bad luck.”

Arthur Morrison, John’s older brother, is a graduate of Olivet College and encouraged his brother to check out the school. “I knew what I wanted, and I didn’t think Olivet, a small school that I thought focused on business, would be able to give me what I needed in its biology program to prepare for vet school,” Morrison said.

Then he met Leah Knapp, DVM, professor of biology. “She’s the one that got me here. I trusted what Dr. Knapp said about

16

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

the quality of the biology program and how the smallness of the College is a benefit to students. She spoke to the personal relationships students and faculty can build, which is important in difficult fields, like the sciences, where you’re likely to need some help outside of the classroom.”

Morrison received an email outlining his scholarship and financial aid package shortly after. The Edward P. Speare Biology Scholarship is awarded to outstanding juniors or seniors majoring in biology or environmental science. The scholarship is named in honor of Dr. Speare, a beloved Olivet College professor who taught biology and other science classes from 1950 to 1994.

“Not having to worry about tuition has allowed me to concentrate on my academics. I know once I get into vet school that I’ll have loans. It’s a relief knowing my loans will be that much less thanks to the Speare Scholarship,” Morrison said.

Morrison's icing on the cake was learning that Olivet College has an Outdoor Recreation and Competitive Clay Target Team.

“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, but people in my age bracket never had the opportunity to compete when in high school or college. So, it’s something I couldn’t pass up. I’ll never have that opportunity anywhere else,” he said.

When asked to sum up his Olivet experience, Morrison said, “I like it here. When you have your instructor’s telephone number to call or text if you need anything, that’s something.

That’s the reality here.”

Morrison will graduate in May 2022 with a degree in biology.

He is concentrating in premedical studies with a focus on veterinary medicine and minoring in environmental science.

His goal is to open a large animal practice back home in Branch County.

Talented students, like Morrison, are able to realize their dream of earning a degree because your gift to the General Scholarship Fund improves access to affordable educational options. No matter the size of your gift to the General Scholarship Fund, it is put to use immediately to attract successful students to Olivet. If you would like to make a lasting impact and perhaps honor a loved one or former faculty member by creating an endowed scholarship, contact Vicki J. Stouffer, CFRE, vice president for advancement, at vstouffer@olivetcollege.edu.

Photo: The opportunity to be a part of the Outdoor Recreation and Competitive Clay Target Team is one reason John Morrison came to Olivet College. Last fall, the team placed fifth in the SCTP Collegiate Nationals held at the Cardinal Center in Marengo, Ohio.

| A DVA N CE M E NT

Dear Friends of Olivet College, Traditionally, college annual reports are full of numbers that measure the funds raised and the impact of the gifts given, as well as highlight significant events over the last year. Though it was a significant year in so many ways, last year proved to be anything but traditional. As the new vice president for advancement, my tenure started in July, and I wasn’t here for the year of remote work and Zoom meetings.

Although the Olivet community couldn’t spend time together, that doesn’t mean there weren’t shared experiences — social distancing comes to mind.

Throughout the 2020-2021 year, the Olivet College community continued to support their school. The fact that giving was strong in a nontraditional year with no in-person events says so much about the value placed on an Olivet College education, our students’ potential and the College’s strong financial management.

Thank you for your support; we are grateful for your unwavering partnership and investment in our initiatives. I invite you to look over the last year’s fundraising results and give yourself a congratulatory pat on the back. Then, look over “Vision for a Prosperous Future,” the 2030 strategic plan, and allow yourself to dream about the bright future it promises for Olivet College. Follow our progress on our website and through alumni newsletters in the months and years ahead.

I look forward to meeting you at an upcoming alumni event in your hometown or the next time you are on campus.

Sincerely,

Vicki J. Stouffer, CFRE Vice President for Advancement

WINTER 2022

17

| FI N A NC I A LS

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (all amounts are in thousands) NET ASSETS

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Total Assets

61,240

58,477

60,466

61,002

58,030

Total Liabilities

12,870

15,203

16,402

14,332

13,773

Total Net Assets

48,369

43,274

44,064

46,670

44,257

ENDOWMENT FUNDS

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Beginning Net Assets

18,845

18,430

18,239

17,291

14,352

Contributions/Additions

190

288

117

183

1,068

Investment Return, Net

4,239

906

862

1,448

2,304

Assets for Expenditure and Expenses

(836)

(779)

(788)

(638)

(433)

Total Endowment Assets

22,439

18,845

18,430

18,239

17,291

PHYSICAL PLANT

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Land and Land Improvements

2,577

2,456

2,347

2,154

2,154

Building and Building Improvements

49,416

48,854

48,469

45,884

44,121

Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment

11,324

11,052

10,909

9,741

9,313

758

758

758

758

758

-

-

-

946

818

Accumulated Depreciation

(35,045)

(32,987)

(30,940)

(29,064)

(27,307)

Net Physical Plant

29,030

30,133

31,543

30,419

29,857

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Total Revenue

43,586

38,166

36,453

39,969

38,030

Total Expenses

38,490

38,956

39,059

37,555

34,971

Total Change in Net Assets

5,095

(790)

(2,606)

2,414

3,059

STUDENT AID

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

College Scholarships, Fellowships and Grants

15,572

16,111

14,312

14,120

12,750

Federal/State Programs (Including Pell)

2,546

4,292

4,066

4,199

3,532

18,118

20,403

18,378

18,319

16,282

Library Books and Collectibles Construction in Progress

Total Student Aid

18

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN STUDENT INSTRUCTION, SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT FY 2021

SUMMARY OF REVENUES FY 2021

14%

Investment Return, Net $6,116

5.4% Other** $2,350

62.4%

Tuition and Fees $27,219

SUMMARY OF EXPENSES FY 2021

40.5%

3.7%

Fundraising $1,597

14.5%

** Includes: $1.9M of Payroll Protection Program loan forgiveness; $619K of HEERF II funding to offset expenses related to COVID-19.

Student Instruction, Support and Engagement $10,464

TOTAL $38,490

TOTAL $43,586

Auxiliaries $6,307

27.2%

Scholarships $15,572

11.7% 2%

Fundraising $773

Auxiliary $4,496

8.2%

Instructional Support $3,159

10.5% Athletics $4,026

We thank you!

It is with sincere gratitude that we thank and recognize our Lifetime and Annual Giving donors.

These individuals and organizations continue to support Olivet College through generous financial contributions that are vital to sustain our programs and initiatives. This year’s Honor Roll listing has moved online and can be found by scanning the QR code to the right or by visiting www.alumni.olivetcollege.edu/honor-roll.

WINTER 2022

19

| BE M O R E . DO G O O D. — 2021 YEAR IN RE VIE W

TOP MILITARY FRIENDLY SCHOOL

OLIVET COLLEGE IS NATIONALLY RANKED

Olivet College was named a 202122 Top 10 Gold-Level Military Friendly School by VIQTORY Media. Olivet ranked fourth for private schools not offering a doctorate degree. The College was also named a 2021-22 Military Spouse Friendly® School by VIQTORY Media, one of only 194 colleges or universities nationwide selected for the ranking. Military Friendly serves as a standard to measure an organization’s commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community.

U.S. News and World Report ranked Olivet College 17th as a “Top Performer on Social Mobility in the Midwest” and 45th on the “Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest” list in the 2022 Best College Rankings. The Top Performer on Social Mobility ranking is in its third year, and Olivet has earned a spot in the top 20 for all three years. Social mobility measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants.

The College was also designated as a 2021-22 Gold-Level VeteranFriendly School by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. The Michigan Veteran-Friendly Schools Program recognizes academic institutions committed to supporting the needs of veterans and militaryconnected students.

WE’RE RANKED!

Olivet College was also included in Washington Monthly’s 2021 College Guide and Rankings, earning a spot on the regional “Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: Midwest” list and the nationwide “Bachelor’s Colleges Ranking” list.

Olivet was ranked No. 56 overall on the “Bachelor’s College Ranking.” In the sections that make up the ranking, Olivet was noted as No. 52 in the category of service and No. 61 in the category of social mobility.

OLIVET COLLEGE

By U.S. News and World Report and Washington Monthly

COMETS DEDICATED TO SERVICE LEARNING

In April 2021, Olivet College students attended a weekend service trip to Port Austin where they volunteered at a local historical society and food bank. The trip was the first to occur in 14 months due to health and safety guidelines imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the fall semester, students attended two more service trips to Port Austin as well as additional trips to Tennessee, Philadelphia and Detroit. In addition, many projects were completed locally on Service Day in September. During the event, students worked in campus gardens, cleaned headstones in the Olivet Cemetery, performed maintenance at a local park and much more.

20

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

INSURANCE STUDENTS EARN NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

(Top Row L to R) Kaylene Candela, Meredith Dearing, Elizabeth Fisher and Alexis Hanchett. (Bottom Row L to R) Delaney Peters, Justin Ruehs, Allyson Sears and Zoie Walters.

Three Olivet College Master of Business Administration (MBA) students were awarded scholarships by the Spencer Educational Foundation, including Kaylene Candela, CPCU; Meredith Dearing, CPCU, AIS; and Justin Ruehs, CPCU, ARM, AU, CIC, AAI, MBA. In addition, five undergraduate students earned Spencer Ed scholarships, including Elizabeth Fisher, Alexis Hanchett, Delaney Peters, Allyson Sears and Zoie Walters. Spencer Ed is a nationwide organization focused on assisting students majoring in risk management, insurance, business and actuarial science. Scholarships range from $5,000 to $10,000.

In addition, the MBA program continues to reach a wider audience of industry professionals. In fall 2021, Olivet’s MBA program sponsored the In2Risk Conference for insurance professionals, which included the annual celebration of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) conferees. The CPCU professional designation is one of the most prestigious and difficult designations in the insurance and risk management industry.

RN-BSN PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS EXPAND

CJP PROGRAM ACTIVE IN INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS

The Criminal Justice Professional Degree Program offers law enforcement professionals a convenient pathway to complete a bachelor’s degree. Olivet College is active in several local and national industry organizations, including the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police and National Fraternal Order of Police University (NFOPU). The NFOPU is a consortium of colleges and universities that provides members with varied learning programs, including online courses that accommodate the unique requirements of a working law enforcement officer’s schedule. Representatives from Olivet College connected with a wide range of law enforcement professionals at the NFOPU biannual convention in Indianapolis in August 2021.

Since 2018, Olivet College’s RN-BSN Program has partnered with Kellogg Community College (KCC) to provide a pathway for students to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Olivet after earning an Associate Degree in Nursing at KCC. The College recently founded partnerships with Oakland Community College in Bloomfield Hills and Henry Ford College in Dearborn to provide pathways for students to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Olivet. More partnerships are currently underway, including out-of-state partnerships.

In addition, partnering foundations have provided scholarships for RN-BSN Program students at Olivet College. In 2021, the Towsley Foundation awarded $20,000 in scholarship money to four new RN-BSN Program students. The scholarship was applied directly to the cost of tuition and fees and gave students the chance to prepare a real-world healthcare plan by assessing community needs and promoting health and quality of life.

WINTER 2022

21

| BE M O R E . DO G O O D. — 2021 YEAR IN RE VIE W

HIRAM ARCHER STUDENT SUCCESS ACADEMY REVITALIZED

The Hiram Archer Student Success Academy was revitalized from the Hiram Archer Society initially founded in 2016. The program offers a mentorship and support group for students of color on campus, including travel opportunities, speaking events, campus events and much more. During the fall semester, students enjoyed excursions to Chicago and a Detroit Pistons game, as well as a celebration of soul food and weekly discussions on relevant topics surrounding race, career planning and more.

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES AND EVENTS EXPANDED

In August, the Student Engagement Team launched a new app for current students. The app includes information on clubs and scheduled events, the ability to RSVP or check-in at events, opportunities to connect with fellow users, and access to courses and a personalized calendar.

In addition, a career readiness workshop series was hosted to help students develop resumes, explore their passions and practice interviewing skills. Other recreation events throughout the fall included intramural sports like volleyball and dodgeball, Fun Fridays, scavenger hunts, movie nights, and outdoor adventure trips and activities.

A VIBRANT GREEK COMMUNITY

Olivet College’s Greek community offered new and unique experiences to build leaders within their societies and advocate for a safe and healthy Greek culture. In September, a Greek Leadership Retreat gave more than 20 participants the chance to hone their leadership abilities and practice new skills. In addition, the Intersociety Council held Greek CommUNITY Week with events that included fun games, educational posters on hazing prevention and a service project.

22

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

OC CAMPUS SNAPSHOT

Photo by OC Student Audrey Helfrich WINTER 2022

23

| CO M E T SP O RTS

FOOTBALL

MEN’S SOCCER

Rosendale

Barnett

The football team won each of its four non-conference games and split the six Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contests to finish the 2021 season with a 7-3 overall record. The Comets have now posted a winning season in seven of the last nine years.

Nine players earned All-MIAA honors. Sophomore running back Cortaveon Barnett of Indianapolis, Indiana; junior offensive lineman Christopher Beck of Milan; senior defensive lineman Alonzo Grigsby of Taylor; senior defensive lineman Ta’Mar HeartWilkins of Saginaw; and senior tight end Seth Young of Jonesville, were All-MIAA First Team selections. Sophomore return specialist Akeem Benjamin of Houston, Texas; senior defensive lineman Jeylin Rogers of Lansing; senior offensive lineman Andrew Sikkema of McBain; and junior punter Brendan Sine of Charlotte were All-MIAA Second Team honorees.

Senior Joshua Rosendale of Dimondale earned AllMIAA Second Team honors. He ended his career tied for third all-time at Olivet with 26 goals.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Mullin

Barnett rushed for a single-season school record of 1,320 yards on only 115 carries to lead all of NCAA college football with an 11.48 rush yards per carry. He scored 17 total touchdowns to give him 102 points, which is the second-most in school history for a season.

Senior Drue Mullin of Coldwater finished her Olivet career ranked in the top five in service aces (fourth, 97) and digs (fifth, 1,151).

In the last game of the season against Finlandia University, the Comets won 79-6 to break the single-game scoring record. In addition, Barnett rushed for a single-game record of 326 yards and junior kicker Samuel Roose of Laingsburg set a single-game benchmark with 11 PAT kicks made. Olivet’s 686 yards of total offense ranked second all-time for a single game.

WINTER SPORTS

Winter sports — men’s and women’s basketball, men’s volleyball, wrestling, and men’s and women’s swimming and diving — are all under way. You can follow all the action by visiting www.olivetcomets.com or on social media under Olivet College Athletics. Many events are also streamed for fans who want to watch the event from home.

24

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

CROSS COUNTRY

Mendham

2020-21 ACADEMIC HONORS

Peters

The men’s cross country team placed fourth at the 2021 MIAA Championship for the second-best finish in school history. Junior Chase Mendham of Coopersville led Olivet with a 21st-place finish (of 114 runners) and had a personal-best time of 26:34.37. The women’s team was eighth at the MIAA Championship. First-year student Abbey Peters of Olivet paced the Comets, finishing 41st of 126 runners and completing the 6K course in 25:8.30.

Seven of Olivet's 10 women's sports and one men’s team earned the honor. The women's tennis team had Olivet's highest GPA at 3.73, which tied for seventh among the 109 MIAA teams honored. The women's soccer team posted a 3.68 GPA, followed by women's golf at 3.67 and women's cross country at 3.56. The women's volleyball was next at 3.54. Both Comet swimming and diving teams earned the honor, with the women posting a 3.51 GPA and the men recording a 3.39 GPA. The softball team rounded out Olivet's honorees with a 3.35 GPA.

NEW COACHES

(L to R) Kenny Brokaw, Michaela Hamilton and Peter Sabiiti Olivet College welcomed three new head coaches to the Comet family — Kenny Brokaw for men’s volleyball, Michaela Hamilton for softball and Peter Sabiiti for women’s basketball.

HOMETOWN TICKETING PARTNERSHIP

Eight athletic teams received the 2020-21 MIAA Team GPA award. This award is presented annually to the conference teams who post a 3.30 or higher cumulative grade point average for the entire academic year.

One hundred fifty-seven student-athletes landed a spot on the 2020-21 Academic Honor Roll. Fourteen student-athletes — Ben Compton, Jaden Costa, Dean Failer, Miranda Gale, Patrick Gault, Brooklyn Holley, Keanalanimeleo'kekai Kunz, Audrey Lama, Cameron Lemon, Crystal Lettinga, Mia Parker, Paige Poulter, Chelsie Smith and Kassidy Zmikly — earned the honor each of their four years at Olivet.

Olivet College Athletic Director Haley Diringer announced a new partnership with Hometown Ticketing to serve as the Athletic Department’s online ticketing home.

The partnership allows fans to purchase tickets for athletic events in advance, using either their smart phone or computer. Upon arrival at the venue, the person presents a printed ticket with a QR code or a QR code on their phone. Fans can also download the Hometown Ticketing Fan app to their phone. From there, guests can search for Olivet College and purchase tickets. The tickets are stored in the app and shown for entry to the event.

Fans from both Olivet and the visiting team are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. There is a fee for using this service; however, the actual ticket cost has been lowered online, so the total cost of a ticket remains close to the previously charged amount.

Current Olivet College students, faculty and staff members do not need to purchase tickets and will be admitted free of charge for all regular season contests. They can simply show up and present their OC identification card at the entrance table. Guests of Olivet College student-athletes have been given a code to enter in the shopping cart to reserve their free tickets.

WINTER 2022

25

| ALUM N I A S S O C IATIO N

Dear fellow alumni, It is my pleasure to write to you in this edition of Shipherd’s Record as chair of the Alumni Council, Board of Trustees member, frequent guest player in the Marching Comets band and avid supporter of our alma mater, Olivet College. As we ring in a new year, we recognize the opportunities ahead of us and a few changes in the Office of Alumni Engagement as well.

Beth Romeo ’12, former senior director of alumni engagement and annual giving, left the College in December 2021 to pursue a new position. I’d like to thank Beth for her contributions to the College during her tenure, and I’d like to take a moment to celebrate the team’s accomplishments, like hosting the first-ever virtual Running Night, the MLK Day celebration, opening of the Comet Career Closet, #GivingTuesday fundraisers and connecting with many alumni near and far.

This past October, we celebrated Homecoming 2021 in-person with a series of fun events. It was wonderful to see so many people come together to reconnect and support Olivet College. Homecoming was a wonderful display of our Comet pride and yet another reminder of why we stay connected.

Remember, there are many ways to enhance your alumni experience: Stay informed on social media and read our bi-annual alumni magazine, Shipherd’s Record, for happenings on campus, updates on your fellow alumni and upcoming events.

Return to campus with your peers and attend programs and events. Connect with us if you are interested in serving as a guest speaker.

Remain involved by volunteering as a Class Captain or at future alumni events.

Wishing you a prosperous and joyful New Year!

Sincerely, Susan “Sue” M. Topping ’77, CPA Alumni Council Chair

26

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

ALUMNI EVENTS The Office of Alumni Engagement is excited to announce plans for a return to an in-person event series in 2022! Our team is working hard to create a schedule of events that will bring us together again in the New Year.

Upcoming Events:

JAN.

FEB.

21

16

Artist’s Reception featuring Deborah Rockman: “The Past is Present”

Founders Day

MARCH

2

Alumni Meetup Hosted by Walt Parker ’58 in Ocala, Florida

MARCH

4

Artist’s Reception featuring Scott Smith: “A Curious Backyard Community”

MAY

21

Commencement

STAY UP-TO-DATE

Stay up-to-date on all the news and events at Olivet College. Scan the QR code at the right or visit www.olivetcollege.edu.

COMET TO COMET REFERRAL The single greatest way you can help ensure our “Vision for a Prosperous Future” is to refer prospective students.

Introduce a high school student where you live to your alma mater today by making a preferential referral of a prospective Comet.

Scan the QR code at the right or visit www.olivetcollege.edu/contact to complete the online form with the high school student’s information.

WINTER 2022

27

HOMECOMING

2021 O L I V E T

C O L L E G E

highlights

28

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

WINTER 2022

29

| C L A S S N OT E S

1970s

Tom Moe ’70 was honored for serving 50 years in athletics. He was presented with a plaque at the boys and girls varsity track regionals on May 21, 2021, at Sweetland Stadium. Tom’s coaching career began in 1970-1971 with freshmen basketball at Olivet College. Following this, he was involved in basketball, golf, track and Moe football for all grade levels in Constantine.

He was also a track volunteer from 1970-1996.

Pamela Heos ’77 served as the director of development and donor relations at Olivet College through 2021. She will be returning to her seat on the Olivet College Board of Trustees in January 2022. Pam has enjoyed engaging with alumni, developing relationships and fundraising for the College. She Heos extends a special message of thanks to those who have supported Olivet College through their donations and volunteer efforts.

Sue (Best) Morgan ’79 retired from her role as human resources manager in August 2020 in Castle Rock, Colorado, after 35 years in the field. Since retiring, she has continued to hike Colorado’s famous “14ers” and has taken up watercolor painting.

Dave Shufelt ’88, a member of the Olivet College Board of Trustees and owner of the Kalamazoo Football Club (Kalamazoo’s semi-professional soccer team), helped coordinate a COVID-19 vaccine event in June 2021 with Bronson Hospital and the Chivas, a visiting soccer team from Mexico. At the time, the team’s doctor explained that Mexico was further behind in the vaccination process, making the event a very important opportunity to receive the vaccine for the 12 Chivas soccer players.

Shufelt

1990s

Dan Davis ’90 was named the first-ever head coach of sprint football at Midway University located in Midway, Kentucky.

Davis

Morgan

Spencer Byrd ’91 was named the K-12 principal of DeTour Area Schools located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Spencer also serves as the high school athletic director for Cedarville-DeTour.

1980s

Vern Hazard II ’83 shared a virtual presentation on May 17, 2021, called “Champions of Hope.” This presentation offered ways to create social, emotional and academic safety, and build an intentional culture through reframing, gratitude and forgiveness.

Tom Shaw ’88 has received the National Junior College Athletic Association George E. Killian Award of Excellence. He is one of just two 2020-21 recipients of the award and is the only recipient from a Michigan school in the award’s 15-year history.

Shaw 30

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

Byrd

2000s

Melody Betts ’04 appeared in the season premiere of “Chicago Fire” on NBC. The episode aired on Sept. 22, 2021.

Betts

Harger Boal ’04, coordinator of disability services at Northern Michigan University (NMU), earned a Director’s Challenge Coin from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency for his service to veterans at NMU during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robbie Johnson ’18 and Kelsey Knight ’19 were engaged on Sept. 18, 2021.

Johnson/Knight

2020s

Boal

Hannah Jorgensen ’20 helped coach the Lady Rain BCP cheer team to a national championship in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Hannah was a member of the Olivet College cheer team.

Matthew Brawley ’04 accepted the position of athletic director at Niles High School.

Elizabeth (Putney) Chachaj ’08 accepted an administrative assistant position in the registrar’s office at Lansing Community College.

Chachaj

Russell Fried ’08 accepted a position as a rural carrier for the United States Postal Service in Northville, and he is the union president of the Southeast Michigan Rural Letter Carriers Association.

Alicia (Barton) Curtis ’09 was appointed the assistant principal at Jackson High School.

Jorgensen

Fried

2010s

Christine (Moulton) Pedder ’11 joined the Olivet College faculty as an assistant professor of health and human performance.

Hanannah Horn ’12 completed her Master of Administration in justice and security from the University of Phoenix.

Doug Potter ’14 and his team had their paper, “Protracted, Intermittent Outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka Linked to a Restaurant — Michigan, 2008–2019,” published by the CDC. Doug is the environmental health supervisor at the Health and Community Services Department in Kalamazoo.

Katie Thelen ’14 completed her Master of Science in agriculture at Murray State University.

Horn

Audrey Lama ’21 accepted a position at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) as a graduate assistant for the MICUPBEAT Program housed in the Academic Success Partnership at EMU. In this program, she will assist and mentor underserved transfer students to help them earn their bachelor’s degree.

Lama

good news?

HAVE SOME

Share it with us at: www.olivetcollege.edu/classnotes You can also scan the QR code, fill out the form, attach photos and send right from your phone!

Thelen

WINTER 2022

31

| CL A S S N OT E S

Births

Casey (Barnes) Benson ’12 and her husband, Josh Benson, welcomed their daughter, Aria Benson, on Nov. 9, 2020.

Marriages James Frego ex ’81 married Susan Allen ’85 on Aug. 28, 2021.

Frego

Benson

Nick Linseman ’08 married Sarah (Claxton) Linseman on May 14, 2021.

Kelly (Stephens) VanSyckle ’12 and Tyler VanSyckle ’13 welcomed their daughter, Lilyth Anne VanSyckle, on July 7, 2021.

Linseman

Stefanie (Lang) Smith ’15 married Mitchell Smith ’17 on Oct. 2, 2021.

Jason Barbosa ’16 married Claudia (Crampton) Barbosa ’18 on Sept. 24, 2021.

Smith

VanSyckle

Samantha (Tennyson) Fick ’14, and her husband, William Fick, welcomed their fourth child, Harper Vivian Fick, on April 22, 2021.

Ashley (Harwood) Young ’18 and Maurice Young ’19 welcomed their son, Andre Maurice Young, on June 25, 2021.

Fick Barbosa

Ashley (Curtis) Garcia ’16 married Kody Garcia ’19 on July 10, 2021. Michael Hutchins ’18, Ashton Osborne ’20 and Katie Priest ’20 were part of the bridal party.

They are all members of Alpha Lambda Epsilon.

Garcia Young

32

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

Tom Hall ’16 married Kinslea (Blouin) Hall ’19 on May 29, 2021.

Hall

Zachary Kitzmiller ’16 married Maddie (Carr) Kitzmiller ’17 on Oct. 9, 2021.

Taylor (Gorr) Lenz ’16 married Callan Kitzmiller Lenz on Aug. 14, 2021. In July, Taylor also celebrated her five-year work anniversary with the Olivet College Marketing Department. She serves as the Lenz assistant director of communications and was awarded the 2021 Staff Appreciation Award.

CJ Miller ’17 married Jillian (Johnson) Miller ’20 on July 31, 2021.

Miller

Molly (Renfroe) Sherman ’17 married Preston Sherman on Aug. 14, 2021.

Adam Walle ’17 married Crissta (Ames) Walle ’18 on April 3, 2021.

Sherman

Justin Madar ’16 married Ashlynn (Grubb) Madar ’17 on Aug. 21, 2021.

Walle

Cameron Bazin ’18 married Taylor (Molnar) Bazin ’18 on July 31, 2021.

Madar

Ryan Anderson ’17 married Allison (Goward) Anderson on July 10, 2021.

Braden Black ’17 married Tess (Gailhouse) Black on July 17, 2021.

Black

Bazin

Anderson

Rachel (Stoneburner) Henry ’18 married Russ Henry on Sept.

25, 2021.

Chris Talbott ’19 married Rachel (Casey) Talbott on Aug. 7, 2021.

Henry

Chanler Carmer ’17 married Sheyanne (Smith) Carmer on June 16, 2021.

Talbott

Carmer

HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS? Submit your story online at www.olivetcollege.edu/classnotes

WINTER 2022

33

| C L A S S N OT E S

In Memoriam

William “Bill” Saybolt III ’64 passed away on May 17, 2021. Bill was a dedicated alumnus and served as a Class Captain for the Class of 1964. He was also a member of the Kappa Sigma Alpha fraternity.

Dr. Kiyoko Cho ’41, professor emeritus at International Christian University (ICU) and holder of the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, passed away on April 12, 2018. She was 100-years-old.

Lenore Sternlight ex ’45 passed away on March 4, 2021, at the age of 97.

Cho

Robert Towne Jr. ’51 passed away on July 22, 2021. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Alpha fraternity.

Towne

Gerald “Jerry” Ringe ’66 passed away on March 8, 2021, at the age of 77. He was a member of Phi Alpha Pi and the Olivet College football team.

Lynne Meservey ’67 passed away on May 10, 2021.

Mary Traphagen ’69 passed away on July 17, 2021.

Gretchen (Stocker) Lawton ’56 passed away on Jan. 12, 2021. Gretchen was married to Harold Lawton ’58 for 66 years.

Cynthia (Martin) Mitchell ’58 passed away.

Martha (Vos) Bondy ’61 passed away on May 19, 2021.

Meservey

Green

Jackman

John Nyboer ’63 passed away.

With great sadness, we share the tragic news that beloved Professor John S. Homer, Ph.D., was killed in an auto accident on Dec. 11, 2021. His Olivet College family learned of his death as Shipherd’s Record was going to print. Dr. Homer joined Olivet in 1979 and taught economics courses.

Among his many achievements, Dr. Homer received the Drs. Gorton and Peggy Riethmiller Adviser of the Year Award and the Drs. Gorton and Peggy Riethmiller Teacher of the Year Award four times. Four students who received the Donald A. Morris Award, given each year to the top five graduating seniors, chose Professor Homer as his/her most influential faculty member during their career at Olivet.

Three graduating classes chose him to be the Homer baccalaureate speaker. Dr. Homer positively impacted thousands of Olivetians with his caring demeanor, quick wit and love of teaching, and he will be greatly missed.

34

SHIPHERD’S RECORD

Theresa “Terry” Jackman ’80 passed away on July 8, 2021.

Lawrence “Larry” Conlon Jr. ’85 passed away on Aug. 27, 2021.

Cagle

Ringe

Leon Chism Jr. ’72 passed away on Aug. 2, 2019.

Joe Cagle ’61 passed away on Aug. 26, 2021. He was a member of Phi Alpha Pi and the Olivet College football team.

Judith Green ’62 passed away.

Saybolt

Chism

Armand Horst ’12 passed away on Sept. 2, 2021.

Horst

Beloved professor and friend, Dr. Art Stevens passed away on Sept. 18, 2019. Dr. Stevens served as an FBI agent from 1943-1956 and then a professor of history and political science at Olivet College from 1956-1982. He loved teaching and maintained lifelong Stevens relationships with his students. Dr. Stevens is survived by his wife, Charlotte Stevens, who remains an avid supporter and friend of the College.

NEW STUDENT CENTER

PLANNING MOVES FORWARD

The proposed Student Center is a pinnacle project for Olivet College. Unfortunately, planning for the new Center was temporarily paused due to the pandemic. So, it came as good news when, at the Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 15, 2021, the College was authorized to proceed with its plans to become construction-ready for the Student Center. The hope is that the College will break ground on the Student Center in late summer 2022.

“The students and staff of Olivet College are thrilled that planning for the Student Center is back on track. We are grateful to the Board of Trustees for their support and are eager to take steps to make the site construction-ready,” said President Steven M. Corey, Ph.D. “As our alumni are aware, the campus lacks a central space where students can converge in a vibrant social setting. The new Student Center will create an exciting, inclusive place for Olivet’s diverse student body to intermingle. When completed, the Student Center will be a hub of lively and spirited activity for our students, alumni and guests.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW STUDENT CENTER Vicki J. Stouffer, CFRE Vice President for Advancement 269-749-7535 vstouffer@olivetcollege.edu

The Center will be constructed on the current site of MacKay Gymnasium and will seamlessly connect to the Upton Recreation Center. The classic identity of the College will be maintained through Georgian revival-style architecture.

Designed to provide ample opportunities for students to work and spend time together, the Student Center will include a spirit shop, casual dining facilities, gaming and social areas, work and entertainment spaces, and more.

WINTER 2022

35

Office of Alumni Engagement 320 S. Main St. Olivet, MI 49076

COMETS REACH Students reach their goals. Alumni reach their communities. The College reaches for new heights.

Together, we reach for the future.