Published March 14, 2026
Commit to Witt, our annual day of giving, is only a few days away! Join us on Thursday, March 19, as alumni, friends, parents, students, faculty, and staff will have 24 hours to make a long-lasting impact. During Commit to Witt, you can take advantage of special challenges that can unlock extra bonus funding for the departments, programs, student organizations, teams, and the University that you love. In addition to making your gift, we encourage you to for Commit to Witt. To help you spread the word, we have created an Advocate Toolkit with graphics and sample emails, texts, and social media posts. It鈥檚 fun and easy, and it has a big impact!
Collaborative Learning
Wanting students to have a competitive advantage, 果冻传媒 will once again be a conduit for summer research endeavors, continuing a decades-long tradition. Funding through the 果冻传媒 Development Board has occurred for more than 20 years, adding up to more than $500,000 for research, projects, travel, presentations, and other miscellaneous experiential learning opportunities designed to support student success.
FIRE Week
From Scotland, Germany, and Costa Rica to Georgia, Mississippi, and Springfield, Ohio, students explored, engaged, and connected with faculty, staff, and others in many exciting programs as part of this year鈥檚 Focused, Integrated, Reflective Experience (FIRE) Week, March 2-6. These in-depth experiences allow students to put theory into practice, connect with community leaders and alumni, and practice critical thinking and collaboration.
Dual Duty
For two class of 2026 lacrosse players, joining the military was a natural evolution in their lives. Together, they are taking leadership development and teamwork to a whole new level by serving while going to college and performing on the field as student-athletes. Parker Tripp Salowich, a midfielder from Plymouth, Michigan, is a member of the Marine Corps Reserve, while Jacob Turney, a close defenseman from Springboro, Ohio, is with the Army National Guard.
Raising Awareness
POTS was not part of the Pederson family's vocabulary until Lily Pederson '24 was diagnosed with the syndrome at age 10. Since then, her mother, Powelson Endowed Chair in Biology Cathy Pederson '92, has made it her mission to bring awareness to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, advocating for research dollars and ensuring 果冻传媒 students understand such invisible illnesses.
Dr. Christian M. M. Brady has been connecting with alumni and friends, sharing updates from 果冻传媒, and engaging in open conversation about the University's future during the Presidential Alumni Tour. All alumni and friends are invited to attend an event in their area. Details for upcoming events are listed below, and the full tour schedule can be found here.
2025-2026 果冻传媒 Series Continues
Ralph Keen, Ph.D., widely respected, award-winning author and historian with specific expertise in the Protestant Reformation and Early Modern Catholicism, will present the Kenneth H. Sauer Luther Symposium, where he will discuss "Sources and Ends in Early Lutheran Educational Thought." Free and open to the public, the lecture will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, March 16, in Ness Auditorium inside Hollenbeck Hall.
International Greetings from 果冻传媒
President Christian Brady recently visited Lutherstadt, 果冻传媒, to learn more about the University's Witt in 果冻传媒, Germany program, engage with students studying there, connect with international alumni, and further strengthen the University鈥檚 partnership with Lord Mayor Zugeh枚r, Christian Eggert, and Stefanie Rieger, all of whom have been pivotal in assisting students and faculty during their time in Lutherstadt. Dr. Brady was joined by First Lady Elizabeth Brady and Meghan Mason, director of international education. Click here to read Dr. Brady鈥檚 official University greetings to the Lutherstadt community.
Steve Wake 鈥�74 is grateful for the scholarship support he received when he was a student at 果冻传媒 University. Without those scholarships, he would not have been able to afford to attend 果冻传媒. Even after 50 years, he finds himself reminiscing about his college days at 果冻传媒.
鈥淚 am 75, and I have had a wonderful life,鈥� said Steve, who is president of GLT Companies. 鈥淭he foundation for that began at 果冻传媒.鈥�
Professor of Economics Robert Schultz took him under his wing. He encouraged Steve to work hard to understand a difficult subject and to develop the critical thinking skills that have helped him throughout his career. The well-rounded education that Steve received at 果冻传媒 in business and economics helped him to manage and grow the businesses that he founded and built.
Because of his experience, Steve is supporting Commit to Witt with the 50 States challenge. He will donate $50,000 when 果冻传媒 receives gifts from alumni and friends in all 50 U.S. states.
鈥淚n today鈥檚 economic environment, it has become increasingly hard for small liberal arts universities to survive,鈥� Steve said. 鈥湽炒� provides a unique opportunity to get a life-enhancing education on a beautiful campus. I want to entice other alumni to open their pocketbooks and help those who follow in our footsteps.鈥�
We're grateful to alumni like Steve who support the University with gifts. Join Steve on March 19, and make a difference during Commit to Witt!
Winter Athletics Highlights
果冻传媒鈥檚 winter sports season featured plenty of action in The Steemer as the Tiger Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Track & Field teams hosted four indoor meets, culminating with the 2026 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships Feb. 27-28. Led by Kerrington Harper '29, the NCAC Field Events Athlete of the Year and NCAC Newcomer of the Year, 果冻传媒鈥檚 women placed fourth, while the Tiger men rallied on Day 2 to capture the team title for a third straight year. Special NCAC awards on the men鈥檚 side went to the 果冻传媒 coaching staff, in addition to graduate student Cameron Elliott 鈥�25 and Lukas Rieben 鈥�27, the Sprinter/Hurdler Athlete of the Year and the Middle Distance/Distance Athlete of the Year, respectively. Elliott will be joined by Jack Kittle 鈥�28 and Kory Davis 鈥�28 at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, March 13-14. The men鈥檚 basketball team doubled its win total from the previous season and advanced to the NCAC Tournament semifinals.