Published April 11, 2026
Special thanks to all who participated in Commit to Witt on March 19! Tigers came together once again to lead Wittenberg to a second-straight record-breaking Commit to Witt Day of Giving. Alumni, faculty, staff, students, friends, and families demonstrated their firm belief in Wittenberg’s mission and life-changing liberal arts education through their gifts totaling $1,137,661 from 1,537 donors, surpassing last year’s total of $1,104,818. Donors were able to double their impact by taking advantage of special challenges and matches, unlocking more than $400,000 for the University they love. To learn more, click here. Although Commit to Witt 2026 has concluded, you can still make an impact on current and future Tigers by making a gift here.
Honors Convocation
Wittenberg celebrated the achievements of students and faculty during the annual Honors Convocation in Weaver Chapel, April 10. Rebekah Lebold of Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Hailey Mulvihill of Florence, Kentucky, were named Alma Lux. The 2026 Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching was presented to Richard Phillips, associate professor of biology and director of environmental science. Assistant Professor of Biology Kunal Chatterjee received the Omicron Delta Kappa Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, and Matt Collier, professor and chair of biology, was named Academic Advisor of the Year. To see all the award-winners, click here.
Trio of Students Selected for the Peace Corps
For a school of its size, Wittenberg has historically sent a high number of graduates to the Peace Corps, and this year is no exception, as three members of the class of 2026, Emmalee Do, Jack Miller, and Lexie Minard, have been chosen to serve abroad. Do will serve in the Kyrgyz Republic, while Miller and Minard will serve in the African nation of Lesotho.
Combating Community Hunger
The 32nd annual Empty Bowls fundraising event was held on campus, March 23. In the last three decades, this highly popular event hosted by Wittenberg has raised $743,986, which equates to 4,183,308 meals for those in need in Clark, Champaign, and Logan counties.
Dr. Christian M. M. Brady has been connecting with alumni and friends, sharing updates from Wittenberg, 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.
Bestselling Author to Present Lecture
Jeff Hobbs, New York Times bestselling author of The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace, will present the Fred R. Leventhal Family Lecture titled “Race, Class, and Identity in American Universities: How Students Experience School – And One Another.” Free and open to the public, the event will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 in Weaver Chapel. A Q&A and book signing will follow the lecture.
Oral History Project: Amanda Clapp '03
Our alumni say that some of their best memories and lifelong friendships started at Wittenberg University. The supportive community helped them develop into the people they are today. As a student, Amanda Clapp ’03 built friendships that have endured time and encouraged her to reach her full potential. She keeps in touch with many of her friends and colleagues from Wittenberg. Amanda participated in many student organizations and played lacrosse. She also was a tour guide for the Office of Admission. Her time on campus helped her to grow and become more independent, as she explored her passions through her major in communication and minors in philosophy and political science. After she graduated from Wittenberg, she went on to law school and now works as the president and attorney for Neola, an educational consultancy that helps school districts set direction through policy. We’re grateful for alumni like Amanda, who has supported Wittenberg throughout the years with a gift. To join her in supporting the University, make a gift today.
During Commit to Witt 2026, more than 50 alumni and friends stepped up to support Wittenberg with a challenge to encourage their peers to give. Joshua Butler '20 was the youngest alumnus to issue a challenge during the University’s annual day of giving on March 19. Inspired by Witt Wed couple Steve '85 and Beth Brownlee Rizzi '85, Joshua issued a challenge and matched gifts made in support of the Department of Political Science, up to $1,000.
“I wanted to give back because of the immense value I place on my liberal arts education. I also deeply appreciate the University's leadership and the ongoing efforts being made to ensure Wittenberg's long-term survival in these challenging times,” Joshua said. “Steve and Beth Rizzi have issued a challenge over the past few years. I hoped a matching challenge from me would encourage other alumni to step up and support the political science department.”
At Wittenberg, Joshua majored in political science and minored in computer science. His classes challenged him to develop strong critical thinking and communication skills, and he is grateful for several of his professors, including Dr. Ed Hasecke '97, Dr. Bin Yu, Dr. James Allan, and Dr. Adam Parker.
He first met Steve Rizzi during a mathematics/computer science colloquium at Wittenberg during his senior year. “I had dinner with him after his presentation,” said Joshua, who also participated in the Witt in Washington (Lutheran College Washington Semester) program. “A few months later, I started working for him at PAR Government Systems.”
Today, he works as a senior lead software engineer for Booz Allen Hamilton, which acquired PAR Government Systems. He leads the development of a product line for military/defense, law enforcement, and first responders.
“My time at Wittenberg was essential in preparing me for my career. The critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills I gained from my political science degree have been my absolute greatest assets in advancing into technology leadership,” Joshua said. “In our changing world with the rise and development of Large Language Models (LLMs) and general AI tooling, the liberal arts and soft skills are almost more valuable than the technical skills in many ways.”
We’re grateful for young alumni like Joshua whose achievements highlight the strengths of a liberal arts education. But we’re also thankful to him for encouraging his peers to give during Commit to Witt with a challenge. If you missed Commit to Witt, you can still make a difference by giving here.