Tell Your Story

I am a senior on the football team and the president of Alpha Xi Omega, also known as ELITE. In my time here in Olivet I have seen nothing but growth. I have grown physically, which if you’d met me my freshman year, you clearly can see, but also mentally, and I can thank Olivet for that. I’ve seen friends grow, I’ve seen this campus grow, and I’ve seen this community grow. Our institution itself has grown as when I enrolled, it was a college, but in May I will be graduating from a university. As we look around, we see the growth in our community, with things like the Cutler Student Center, which was once McKay Gym, which has given us an opportunity to further connect with those around us. We look across the street from Cutler Event Center at the Blockhouse, which was once the Lamplighter. It has given us an opportunity to grab a bite to eat, play video games, and connect with those around us.

Although the growth is shown in the new buildings that were built and renovated, the real growth comes from the connections and conversations that we can have in these spaces. We are essential to each other’s growth. I know that we feel this way as a university when I see the attendance at rallies like the It’s on Us rally and ELITES’s Black Lives Matter March. The engagement from clubs, Greek organizations, sports teams, and the student body has grown every year that I’ve been here to see it.

Peers, professors, coaches, and the Olivet community members will be essential for your growth here as a student and, more importantly, your growth as a person. In terms of peers, there is a guarantee you will build a connection with a fellow student or group of students in which, naturally, you will learn from each other and grow together.

In my case, my fraternity helped catapult my growth as I was around individuals who did nothing but teach me things and give me tools to help me grow. In terms of professors, build relationships with your professors and other faculty. Use those office hours that they have available. I built relationships with professors who helped me with my organization and procrastination, two things that were holding me back from growing as a student. For our student-athletes, coaches are extremely important for growth, as coaches have seen many different types of students and have seen the results of what happens when students have bad habits. Many of my coaches have taught me lessons directly and indirectly, which have helped me grow as a man.

There are two things about growth that are certain, it is inevitable, and it is unpredictable. My challenge to you all today is not to be afraid to grow. We would never grow as a society if no one came forth with ideas that they thought no one would listen to. Take that idea you’ve been thinking of seriously, go out and make friends, go all in on the hobby you really enjoy, let go of all the weight on your shoulders from past experiences, and do whatever is necessary for you to grow. Be the person to induce that growth for yourself and those around you!

I am a senior at the University of Olivet studying Fitness Management with a concentration in Business. I play for the Men’s Soccer team and am an active member of the Phi Alpha Pi Greek society, which is heavily connected to the business world.

During my time at school over the past four years, I have learned a lot about myself and others and what it means to grow and develop as a human being. A professor told me recently that humans become wired in their self-beliefs about who they are and how they perceive the world at the age of seven years old. She also stated that challenging our limited beliefs is a great way to open up our minds and develop a stronger sense of ourselves. In college, we are met with challenges and adversity every day through classes, our social life, our independence away from home, and the hardships of being thrown into a whole new world. When I first came to this college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do until sophomore year after changing my major three times, and that’s okay. I struggled constantly in my personal life throughout my years of college, and that’s okay. I had days where I was sick, I had days where I was mentally tired, I had days where my friends and I would fight, I had days where I simply just did not want to do it, and that’s okay. A part of growing and developing as a human involves hardships; it builds character. I am not saying this means your life has to be miserable for optimal growth, but it’s one of the hard truths of life that sometimes things just won’t be easy.

In the first few weeks of school, you will realize, if you haven’t already, that we all live in close quarters. You will learn diverse perspectives where many people will come from different values and beliefs that can help you develop a new sense of the world. The individuals you surround yourself with may quickly become your strongest support system when faced with different challenges. These people will become your best friends and make your college experience a lot more enjoyable and, more importantly, a whole lot easier. There are friends I met here, who I now call brothers, who will be standing there at my wedding because they mean that much to me since being here. The experiences, the memories, the good and the bad, will be shared on campus. Creating these bonds is important because it’s how we can help ourselves and others grow as individuals. 

Not only will the friends you meet here help you grow as an individual, but other students like myself and the amazing staff and faculty around campus understand what I have shared with you all today. They have the tools, the knowledge, and the experience to guide you through whatever adversity you may face in your time here at school. They are more than willing to lend a helping hand, but they can only help if you allow them. Always know that you are not alone and the community here will help you grow to achieve all your ambitious desires!

After growing up in the small town of Olivet, I can only hope that other students will cherish the community that has been built here. Some of my favorite moments have been spent in this town, and my biggest accomplishments have been achieved here at The University of Olivet.

As an English major with dreams of working in the publishing world, Olivet has offered me a massive opportunity to do just that. As the 2023-2025 Editor-in-chief of the student-run literary journal, The Garfield Lake Review, I have learned more than I could ask for. I have grown in my ability to be a leader, work alongside fellow students, and create a journal that the university can be proud of.

The faculty and tightly knit community have done nothing but help push me towards achieving exactly what I have always dreamt of doing. I have been offered many opportunities to grow in my academic achievements and personal goals.

Any person who dreams of becoming who they have always wanted to be will find a path to follow at The University of Olivet.

When I first arrived at Olivet in 2020, I was terrified! I came here as a business major, and needless to say, there was a lot of perceived pressure and expectations I had coming into college. What type of person did I want to present to the world? What if I don’t fit in? What if I struggle? I felt like I needed to be polished and a perfect representation of who I wanted to be right out of the gate. Because, after all, first impressions are everything, right? Well, that’s not always the case, at least. With that mindset, I wasn’t holding space for myself to grow and develop into the person I am today and will be in the future.

Throughout these four years, I’ve had the pleasure of growing alongside the University and the wonderful people who make the seemingly impossible possible. There have been countless ups and many downs, but no matter what, we prevailed. No longer a girl but a woman, and no longer a college – but a university! As time went on, I realized these people and experiences were like the great oaks that pepper our campus. Some are the leaves that come and go with the seasons, some are branches that break off in a bad storm, but others are the roots that keep us grounded and inspired to persevere.

We often face obstacles and challenges that make us question our path. However, these moments are crucial because they test our resilience and our determination to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. It’s easy to feel discouraged and easy to get in your head, but in these times, we must dig deep and find the strength to pick ourselves back up. It will not be a journey that we have to take alone. Find your support system and cherish it because your 100% won’t always look the same from day to day. Once you realize that every setback is an opportunity to learn and adapt, you get the chance to come back stronger. Growth means stepping out of our comfort zones; it’s about taking those risks and embracing the unknown that lies before us. It’s about believing in ourselves even when the odds seem to be stacked against us. When we challenge ourselves we discover new strengths and capabilities that we never knew existed before. We must remember that the greatest achievements often come with the greatest risks. 

Growth is a continuous process! We know it’s not the destination but the journey that makes a person who they are, and your individual story makes you stand out from the rest. As we develop into the people we’ve always wanted to be, we must constantly seek knowledge, strive for improvement, and remain open to new experiences. We must surround ourselves with people who inspire us, who challenge us, and who support our dreams authentically. As you go into the 2024-2025 semester, remember growth is messy yet beautifully terrifying. We may not know what the future holds, but we can’t let that stop us. Start now. Start where you are. Start with fear. Start with pain. Start with doubt. Start with what you have now.

Start and don’t stop. As the great poet Shane Koyczan once said, “The seed never sees the flower.”

My hope for future students is that they take advantage of the opportunities that Olivet offers them! I am so grateful for everything that I have been able to do in my time at Olivet because it has taught me so much about myself and has introduced me to some of the most influential people in my life. I would not be who I am without Olivet.

When I first came to Olivet, I had a hard time transitioning. I lived in the same small town all my life and was surrounded by the same people all the time. Entering college, I knew only one other person before moving in! Knowing what I do now, I wish I had seized the opportunities presented to me sooner than I did, but better late than never. Once I overcame the fear of the unknown, I began to truly find who I am and made deep, meaningful connections and relationships with people.

At Olivet, I participated in two sports, joined a Greek house, and was a part of six different campus organizations. I have held two jobs within the college, as well as an external internship that I obtained due to the ability to have close connections with my professors. I am forever grateful for all I have learned, accomplished, and experienced at Olivet!

The University of Olivet has changed my life and helped me build a career that I dreamed of.

From the tight-knit campus environment to the beautiful four-season campus, Olivet has given me everything I wanted from my college experience. The numerous opportunities to get involved on campus, like sports, clubs, and Greek life, make Olivet feel like home. Building a community with faculty and friends has been extremely rewarding and has paved the way for the life I want to live. The people are what you remember the most about Olivet. I cherish the memories I have made over these four years!

I have always wanted to be a teacher, and the university has helped me create this path specifically for my future. The faculty in the music department created specific music education classes for me so I would be able to teach music to others. The Teaching Pathway program has also set me up for success in the future. It has given me countless opportunities to get involved in the classroom and practice my skills to prepare me for my future career in education.

Olivet is continuing to grow and build futures for hopeful students! The new student center and education program are just the beginning of making Olivet an even more impactful university.

Olivet and everyone here want to see you succeed. It’s home. I genuinely do not know where I would be today without The University of Olivet!

In 1955, the student center at Olivet was in a couple of rooms in the basement of the main administration building. It was a coffee shop with tables and chairs. I rarely went there because I did most of my socializing in the Phi Alpha Pi house. There were some classrooms on the third floor of the administration building. The MacKay Gym held the athletic offices, a reception area, the basketball court, a hallway for trophies, and all the physical education classes. At the far end were three or four handball/racquetball courts. Seats for the basketball games were on the second and third floors of the gym. There were two dorm rooms above the handball courts. Each room had a bunkbed and a single bed. I lived there one summer with two other students and worked on refinishing the floor of the basketball court.

Dole Hall was the only dining room for all students. There was a big room for socializing, some offices, the women’s dorms on the upper floors, and a small bowling alley in the basement. My first student job was dishwashing. I quickly told the football coach I hated handling dirty dishes and needed a different job. I was then made the dining room manager. In this role, I assigned work responsibilities to other students, made announcements, and led the blessing. We had to “dress up” for dinner – men wore a shirt and tie, and women wore dresses or skirts.

Dr. Spear was the faculty member I interacted with most. I was a biology major because of the influence of an excellent high school teacher. At Olivet, Dr. Spear WAS the science department. He taught all the sciences except for physics and chemistry. During my time there, he was working on his PhD. Students were invited to his house to help him collect data for his thesis. Mrs. Spear gave us snacks while we were counting fish for his research.

Many of my memories of Olivet involve my membership in the Phi Alpha Pi fraternity. I have maintained friendships with guys I pledged with in 1955 – almost 70 years ago! When we were pledges, we had to wear some sort of plastic hat at all times. We also had to complete a scavenger hunt and eat “fake” food. During my summer of living in MacKay Gym, I learned about the underground tunnels that housed the heating pipes for all the buildings. I organized a “raid” on the girls’ dorm using the tunnels to unlock the dorm doors. It was all in good fun. My punishment was to clean up the gym after the Homecoming dance, even though I was Homecoming King!

Olivet College took a chance on a first-generation immigrant boy from Detroit who could play football. They helped me with tuition and taught me how to learn. The trajectory of my life would have been totally different without the influence of Olivet. My involvement with Phi Alpha Pi has helped me stay connected to the campus over the years. I wouldn’t change a thing!

“He’s smart enough but doesn’t seem to try very hard.” Year after year, that was the standard comment made by teacher after teacher to my parents about my efforts at school. I must agree.

Of course, “not trying very hard” resulted in mediocre grades, so when it came time to apply to colleges, my “cruise-control” philosophy of education left me with limited choices.

At first, I didn’t do any deep thinking about what college to attend beyond realizing I wasn’t going to an elite school. Dad and I went to visit MSU’s campus in East Lansing. Those days, the only route from Kalamazoo to East Lansing was to travel 35 miles east to Marshall on the new interstate highway, I-94, and then go north on U.S. 27, a two-lane highway that spanned the distance from northern Michigan to Miami, Florida. We only needed to use about 50 miles of the road to get to MSU, but along the way, 12 miles north of Marshall, a serene sight caught my eye. U.S. 27 went right through the tiny town of Olivet, also bisecting the campus of Olivet College. I couldn’t quote one fact about the school, but the first sight of the old, stone buildings, several with spires and bell towers; the maze of huge, ancient oak trees; the quiet college square just off the highway; and the leisurely pace affected by students carrying books made me want to know more than its location in middle Michigan. 

Dad and I continued on to MSU, where I took an entrance exam, toured around campus a bit, and stopped at a bookstore for a sweatshirt. On the way home, I asked him to stop at Olivet and see if there was some information for us to take and read. I went home with an application and a pamphlet about the school. I read the entire pamphlet from front to back three times. 

I received an acceptance letter from MSU, but I couldn’t get the quaint, quiet school, set on a hill among oak trees, out of my mind. I knew others who had gone to big schools like MSU and U of M and loved the bustle, but I also knew some who had forged into the masses of students and activity and gotten lost, literally and figuratively. They didn’t succeed as just a number on a 30,000-student campus. I couldn’t shake the idea that I would be one of the losers. The idea of a small campus, less than 1,000 students, small classes, and the promise in the pamphlet that the professors were on call for all students, inside and outside of class, was reassuring. All professors lived in or around Olivet and often held seminars, dinners, salons, and symposia in their homes. All that, plus a chance to get involved in various campus activities, was compelling. I didn’t see any of that happening at MSU.

I graduated from Olivet in 1968 as a political science major with English and history minors and took off to Kentucky for law school. After a few years, my path changed, and I worked to become a teacher. I didn’t learn much about education as a profession at Olivet, but I learned how to learn and evaluate situations to make good decisions. Learning isn’t just regurgitating facts; it is the ability to apply thought processes to problems and walk away with viable solutions. I got that at Olivet.

No regrets about any of my college choices––even when my “cruise control” method of scholarship didn’t render many options. 

Olivet has helped me grow and find myself for who I am and what I want to be. As a Music Major, the music staff have helped me countless times and were always there to advise and ensure we had all the knowledge and support we needed. Especially going into the educational field, my professors pushed beyond barriers to ensure we were taught and shown everything needed as future educators.

The memories that I’ll cherish most would be when I first walked on this campus and when I created a new family here. Getting involved on campus really helped me create connections and get leadership experience. I will be forever grateful for the teachings and opportunities that are offered here because they helped open the door to making connections and moving to the next big thing. During my freshman year, it was slightly challenging with COVID-19 still around and not being able to do a regular school year, but Olivet persevered through it all to make sure we got a great college experience and stayed safe and healthy at the same time. Being from out of state, too, was really challenging as I was very distanced from my family and knew nothing of Michigan other than Olivet. However, Olivet made sure to make me feel welcome and went out of their way to ensure I was comfortable in this new environment. As soon as I stepped foot on this campus, I knew this was the college for me. The professors, staff, and faculty work extra hard and go above and beyond for all students every day to ensure we are becoming our best selves.

My hope for future students is they get the same kindness and even more resources during their time here. I hope they’ll thrive and grow into their purpose and continue their journey to find out who they are. Everyone should take advantage of everything Olivet has to offer. It will definitely take them into the future. The best advice I can give would be to never give up, always learn something every day, and take it one day at a time. As I prepare to graduate, I hope Olivet and everyone who is connected will continue to thrive and grow as an institution and support each other every day!

The University of Olivet is not merely a place of academics; it is a place where dreams take root, aspirations find wings and friendships that last a lifetime are forged. Within the confines of these walls, generations of students have sought knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment.

As I reflect on the journey that has brought me here, I am reminded of the unique essence of our small town. Our town is not just a location on a map; it is a close-knit community where neighbors are friends and friends are family. Our school stands as a beacon of hope, a source of inspiration, and a catalyst for positive change.

At the university, clubs unite like-minded individuals, creating connections and networking opportunities. The clubs foster community, belonging, and the pursuit of passions, skills, and experience. Combining them with academic studies cultivates discipline and time management. Joshua Gillespie, the advisor for HASSA, has played a pivotal role in my introduction to the organization. From the beginning, he has stood out as someone who warmly embraces newcomers and actively extends invitations to join his initiative. His welcoming arms and genuine enthusiasm create a sense of belonging and eagerness. Dr. Todd Long is the advisor for the Black Student Union. His approachability, openness to new ideas, and willingness to listen have created an environment where I always have a place. Both advisors go beyond their titles; they embody a spirit of leadership, mentorship, and inclusivity. Their initial gesture of extending a welcoming hand has impacted my journey within the Olivet community and set the tone for how I plan to live the rest of my life.

This institution has always aimed to provide a well-rounded education beyond books and classrooms. The University believes in nurturing academic excellence and engraving values that shape responsible and compassionate individuals. Here, students are encouraged to think critically and embrace diversity in all its forms.

As we move forward, we do so with purpose and determination. Our small-town university may be modest in size, but it boasts an abundance of passion, talent, and potential. Together, we will continue to build a future where knowledge knows no bounds, innovation flourishes, and our graduates become ambassadors of positive change in our town and beyond.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the success of The University of Olivet. I hope students embrace the opportunities ahead, united in their pursuit of knowledge and community. Together, we shall make our small-town university a shining example of academic excellence and a nurturing space where dreams come to completion!

I was fortunate enough to be a student of Emily Byrens. She was my music theory teacher and choral conductor. As a brand new freshman music education major, having her music theory class at 8:00 a.m. and never having had theory before, I had an exceptionally difficult time at the beginning of my first semester. After my first two arduous weeks, I spoke with her after class and shared my difficulty with her. In her matter of fact and profoundly meaningful way, she shared the following advice… “Pay closer attention in class, stay out of your own way, and ask immediately when you have a question.” I took this advice, and within a semester I became the theory tutor! She had an incredible impact on me on how I teach my current students.

At the beginning of 2012, my senior year of High School, I was lost and unsure of my hopes of playing college football. I had the academics to attend any school, but I also had hopes of playing college football. Olivet was the only school that gave me a chance to fulfill my hopes and dreams!

On October 5th, 2013, my sophomore year, I ruptured my Achilles during a football game against Alma College while playing wide receiver. My dad lost his job the week before this tragic incident happened, so I had no insurance covering my medical expenses. Ryan Shockey was the Head Athletic Trainer at the time of this event, and this was his first year as our head trainer. On October 7th, Ryan called me to his office to set up my insurance so he could set an appointment for my MRI test to confirm the tear in my Achilles. My insurance was declined due to my father’s release from his job. I left the office depressed, but Ryan told me everything would be okay. My father and my mother called me later that day, and they both prayed for me over the phone and told me to believe that God will make a way. On October 8th, Ryan called me and told me to come to his office for some good news. Ryan told me that Olivet’s Secondary Insurance Program would help pay for my medical expenses so I could complete the MRI testing and surgery. When he told me the news, I praised God for that moment and looked forward to getting my Achilles repaired!
Not only was I rehabbing my Achilles, but I was also rehabbing my spiritual and mental relationship with God.

My faith and my patience with God became stronger after this tragic event. Olivet was the place that allowed me to be someone great and fulfill my dreams when other schools counted me out. Nine months after I rehabbed my Achilles, I was cleared to fully participate in all football activities. I came back my junior year and won 2nd team All-Conference, 1st team All-Conference my Senior year, and the 2015 MIAA Championship my senior year. It’s almost as if the injury made me a better person and football player after my comeback. But I couldn’t have done it without God, my family, Ryan Shockey, my coaches, my teammates believing in me, and Olivet College for giving me a chance! That is my Olivet story.

Being part of the Olivet College community has impacted my life by proving a safe place for connecting with individuals who support educational and professional growth. As I reflect on my undergraduate year’s, I have created and maintained several relationships with individuals from different societies who have been a blessing with job leads and continuing education recommendations. To me this is the best part of being part of a great community, building relationships and networking .
I first became involved with the Olivet College community by working a work-study at the “KC”. This place, back in 2010, was the place to be. Alot of human connection took place at the bottom of the “KC” for social and educational purposes.

My hopes for future the future students is that they contribute to the community by being kind to one another and lending a helping hand in the community when needed.

I was rewarded a BA in English by Olivet College in 1970. I still remember English classes taught by Leo Hendrick and William Buchanan in my years there. I earned a Master’s in English at Western Washington University in 1976. I worked full-time as an English teacher at Milwaukee Area Technical College starting in 1996. My classes were full from that point until I retired in 2013.

Twenty-three years after graduating from Olivet, I still have several friends from those years that I communicate with regularly. I even visit some of them fairly regularly!

My years at Olivet were special. My years after my years at Olivet College have been enhanced by the relationships I formed at Olivet.

I arrived on the Olivet College campus in 2007 as a transfer from Tiffin University. I transferred to play football and majored in Education. My hope for future students is that they reach out to our alumni network. There are a lot of us doing wonderful things!

The Olivet College community helped me with life structure which is greatly needed in life.

I graduated High School in 1958. I chose to work in a factory that provided a living wage at the time ($3.05 vs $ .75 per hr.), and I liked the job. That worked well for a year. Then an efficiency expert came by and opted to eliminate the position. I then collected unemployment for months and finally landed a job in a family-owned donut shop. I soon realized that this job had no future.

At that point I decided to start applying for college. I had no idea what career path I would take. My HS transcript was less than desirable as I was only a C student and failed two math classes my senior year. I started applying at smaller state schools all of which would accept me on probation. Finally, someone mentioned Olivet College in Michigan. I was somewhat familiar with Michigan as my family had vacationed there. The idea of a liberal arts school in another state appealed to me. So, we came and visited. I loved the campus and the surrounding area, so I applied. I was accepted, on probation.

I arrived on campus in August of 1960. The task now was to complete my required classes for a Liberal Arts degree. I failed my foreign language and science requirement my first semester. I immediately took them over and narrowly passed them. Because the liberal arts curriculum required the arts, I had success in two subjects, history and art. I chose to major in art and minor in history while working on a teaching certificate. I graduated in the spring of 1964 and accepted a job of creating a curriculum in a junior high school in Muskegon, Michigan. I taught there for 29 years and retired in 1993.

It was years later that I realized Olivet gave me the opportunity to succeed. I would have never survived in a larger school. My good fortune was my personal relationship with my professors, smaller class sizes, and most of all the personal attention I received because I was a person worth knowing. Not just another number.

With most sincere appreciation,
Carl Luther ’64

Olivet College has great professors, such as Cynthia Noyes and William Hagerty from the Social Sciences Department. They contributed a lot to my college success, and I am truly thankful for both of them! They taught me how to “Critically Think,” a skill set I have used as an educator and juvenile mental health specialist. I hope future students will take advantage of all resources Olivet College has to offer. The College truly aids in getting a great education!

I wasn’t the best student in high school. It took me an extra senior year to even graduate. My teachers often told me I was smart but didn’t apply myself. I had no plans for college, as I barely made it through high school. I did odd jobs here and there to make ends meet. When I was 25, I made a bad decision to go the route of being a thief. Obviously, this was not the brightest move! After I got arrested, I contemplated life and why I chose to do that. I went to see Dr. Laferriere, a psychologist. During our sessions, she commented on how smart I was and wanted to know why I didn’t go to college. I answered, “no one will accept me.” Her reply was, “If I could get you into college, will you go and apply yourself?” I jumped at that chance and said yes. She was a professor at Olivet College, and the college was running a program at that time (I don’t know if it still exists) to take a chance with people just like me. I had to write an essay on why I thought I would be a good candidate. This was in late summer, and all the “spots” were already filled, but Olivet decided to take a chance on me. So I, a 25-year-old, who really needed to be on campus to keep my head straight, sold almost everything I owned and went to Olivet College.

The experience there was interesting! I was a late admit, so I had the smallest “room” in Blair Hall. I don’t remember the number, but before I graduated, I’m pretty sure they turned it into a closet. On my first day, I met up with someone that was also in the same situation as me about being given a chance. He ended up being one of my best friends ever. The program we were in was very strict on the classes we took the first year to give us the best chance for success, so he and I were in the same classes. The one I remember the most was writing. The best part about it was Rob (my friend), and I would often collaborate on the topics we would write about. It was a blast! Fast forward five years (five because I was so close to a triple major) I graduated. Two exceptions occurred in order for me to accomplish this. One was we had to create a class to satisfy the requirements because the two majors were similar. I worked with the staff, and we created a Sound Reinforcement 101 class. I was also short one world history class that wasn’t being offered until the following year. UGH, I didn’t want to go to college for six years! I was told I could take the class if the professor were willing to teach it that year. I wish I could remember his name as he really changed my thoughts on History! It ended up being one other person and me in the class. The professor had us each take a chapter to read (I would take chapter 1, and the other student would take chapter 2). Then, during the next class, I would talk about what I read for 15 min, we would all discuss it, and how it relates to today, then the other student would do the same with his chapter. It was crazy fun, and I learned more about history than I ever have before! Now I live on the Discovery and the History channels.

Not only did I graduate, but I also did so with a 3.87 GPA. Remember, I barely graduated high school, with a GPA too low to mention. I moved on with life and am now a Senior DevOps Engineer with Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan. Almost daily, I think of how lucky I was to have Olivet take a chance on me! The College gave me the drive and education I needed to be a happy, successful person and not in jail, which is where I was headed.

It’s hard to say how one’s life was affected by taking one path versus another at ANY crossroad in life, but I will always treasure the decision that took me to Olivet College. At 79, I still have clear memories of so many instructors who showed a personal interest in me and classmates whose friendships I value to this day. My story since graduation in 1967 was perhaps best told by the profile prepared when Olivet awarded me the Distinguished Alumni Award on May 4, 1985.

Since then, my life has been a dizzying kaleidoscope of adventures, setbacks, and successes, too numerous to summarize. But it’s clear to me that Olivet College was certainly a major influence on my life.

In the early 2000s, a company formed to “digitize” old-fashioned “family albums” (cumbersome analog photos, videos, clippings, etc.) and created the website everpresent.com. Through them, I was able to post some of my work samples. One of them is a 1993 “Telly (Oscar) Award” video titled “The Possible Dream.” This video was requested by the U.S. DOJ and introduced by then-Attorney General Janet Reno. It is the work of which I’m most proud!

I decided on Olivet over the state universities because I was in a three year high school with 2300 other students. I felt like I was only a number and I wanted to be me. Initially my parents weren’t behind me but after the first year they saw the difference because I was the good student they wished for earlier. I didn’t have professors at Olivet, I had people who made me want to learn and excel. Drs Speare, Fleming and Roberts in biology and Drs Gruen and Chang in chemistry made me into the student I was and by my junior and senior years my grades proved it. But more than that, the community at Olivet was like an enlarged family. I didn’t pledge a fraternity and was not looked down on. I didn’t play any sports but I went to every game I could. Dorm life was so great I never thought about another way of life. In summary, if I had it to do all over again I wouldn’t change a thing. I still miss Olivet and stop in whenever I can, which is not often enough because I l ive in Kansas. I support Olivet because they supported me. I hope every student feels at least part of how I feel about the best college in Michigan.

Each year as the leaves begin to change, as promised by Dr. Homer, I think of my OC home under the tall oak trees that protect its diversity beneath. The town of Olivet is tiny but my experience in its giant world changed me, improved me, educated me, and created a future for me to explore with new, wide open, eyes. My hope for future students is that they embrace the countless opportunities, rarely available on larger campuses, see them and use them to grow into the people they are meant to be. Then, as they sit in their empty rooms during the final move out lost in the memories made, I hope they keep them and the friends who have become family in their heart. Keep them close, let them guide your future.

OC instilled in me the values of individual and social responsibility; I was even on their commercial saying the line “I am responsible for treating all people with respect.” It wasn’t just a line; I was determined to live out those words in everything I do. I was held accountable for my actions (of course I screwed up from time to time) and learned to be a responsible adult while attending OC. Service Day promoted community service, which is still a big part of my life. I spent 8 years helping run an organization in Haiti, and currently serve on my church’s special needs Equine therapy team, am a greeter at church, and volunteer at Hannah’s Home for homeless and teen mothers. Since attending Olivet, I’ve been involved in serving in at least one organization. This is rewarding in itself, but knowing that a small selfless act can impact the greater community is something that I will never forget from my days at Olivet. I hope that future students find family and community while attending OC, and that they go into the world as responsible young adults and productive members of society.

Olivet College gave me opportunities I had never had before. In high school, I was reserved and distant from most students seeing as how I felt lost in a sea of too many people. I had a couple of instances where I tried to “put myself out there,” but it was not enough and it certainly did not last long. Compared to Olivet where it did not take me long to get along with a few people and more importantly, more people just knew me in general. My involvement in Olivet’s music program immensely helped with these connections since a marching band regularly requires communication and corroboration. Soon I was finally being recognized and even sought after because we started acting more like a family than just friends. The band program opened new doors for me socially and ultimately made me feel better about myself. I became more confident and have made lasting friendships. While I was not involved with much else on campus, there were always other musicians around, and eventually, those friends would introduce me to their friends causing my friend group to expand exponentially by my sophomore year.
Besides the opportunity to become part of a community at Olivet College, I was given performance opportunities which are very important to any artist trying to perfect their craft. I was trusted in the various ensembles I participated in and I was offered a few opportunities to play for campus-wide ceremonies towards the end of my senior year. These instances meant a lot to me and taught me about real-world performing outside of a practice room. This was not the case at my high school because I could not compete with all of the other musicians who found ways to grab our director’s attention more than I could. These opportunities have made me grow more as a person and find some self-confidence along the way. Now, if nothing else, I feel ready to try new things because that is all college ever was for me, and I thoroughly loved every second of it.
As for addressing future students, I say that you must make a pledge to yourself before you get involved in anything. The pledge is, “be comfortable with the uncomfortable,” said by our own Olivet College president, Steven Corey. This made me realize that leaving my comfort zone is something I need to do for myself as well as understanding that life is usually more enjoyable when I do. It also justifies the situations when you feel unsure of yourself and have trouble finding some confidence to try something new. This pledge to yourself will force you to keep pushing to be your best self and will slowly build your trust within. Take it from someone who was too afraid to try anything but still did, and never regretted a moment of it after all. I wish you all the best of luck finding that confidence and inspiration within yourself because Olivet College is the perfect place to help you do that, if you let it.

I had the choice between several large universities and Olivet College. After making visits the several schools, the more personal atmosphere and smaller class sizes at Olivet made a huge difference to me. I’ve never looked back.

Becoming part of the Greek system resulted in a number of lifetime friends, and the relationships I was able to build with the professors were special. I came to Olivet with the intention to major in Physics, but as part of the All College Curriculum, I was exposed to other subjects that fascinated me. Dr. Art Stevens, in particular, was notable in this regard. He had a way of making the Political Science subject matter fascinating, and more importantly, challenged you to think and form your own conclusions. Dr. James Moyer did much the same in the field of Economics. It’s a skill that’s served me well for a lifetime.

The ability to have personal relationships with the faculty, at least for me, greatly enhanced the learning experience.

Long story short, despite my initial intent, I ended up with majors in Economics and Political Science, and a minor in Business (technically, I had enough hours for a Business major too, but couldn’t share elective credits between Economics and Business), which were perfect fits for my ultimate career. I worked at State Farm Insurance for 35 years before retiring in 2013, the last eleven as a Vice President in their Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington, IL. I was heavily involved not only with the insurance side of the business but spent a number of years working on legislative issues as well. During this time, I was also a member of the Economic Club of Phoenix.

All three of my principal subjects of study served me well during my career.

Another plus was the opportunity to participate on the baseball team during my time at Olivet, become a member of organizations such as Omicron Delta Kappa and Alpha Chi, and serve in leadership positions as a member of Kappa Sigma Alpha.

I hope the kinds of experiences afforded me by Dr. Stevens, Dr. Moyer, and others remain for future students. They created an atmosphere where critical thinking was encouraged, open discussion was the rule, and students were allowed to form their own conclusions. It’s a great way to learn.

I’m sure there isn’t enough space to encompass my Olivet College experience fully! My journey started in high school when I attempted to select a college to attend. I was hopeful that I would receive a football or track scholarship. Michigan Tech, CMU, and FSU all voiced interest. However, my mind was made up when Barry Larkin, track coach at Olivet College, drove three hours to Hale to spend the night visiting my home and then drove an additional two hours to see me run the next day. Olivet couldn’t provide me with a scholarship, but they demonstrated how much they cared about students and the lengths they would go to see students succeed.

While I have no outstanding football or track stories to share, I can say how grateful I am to have been able to play both sports during my freshman year. I made so many friends during that time! I also chose to pledge Phi Alpha Pi. The pledging process was no joke, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Shortly after joining, our frat house burned down, and we immediately came together to help rebuild. Our brotherhood was so unique, even during highly competitive pledge games. The relationships I made have lasted. I have so many fun memories, including intramural sports, frat parties, frequent trips to MSU, and sharing typewriters. We even managed to make it to class because it was important (we also had to keep our parents off our backs, ha!).

I’m eternally grateful for my years at Olivet and am blessed to have made that selection. I could write for hours about my adventures and life experiences. Oh, the stories I could tell! If there’s one message I would share with future students, it would be to come to Olivet College! You won’t be lost among a million! Olivet will become your family.’

Olivet gave me the chance to become a student and being a part of the Olivet community has had an incredible impact on me. Coming out of high school I had good grades but my ACT Score was not that good. I was given the opportunity to join the Comet Opportunity program, which allowed me to demonstrate my ability to complete the task. During this time, I formed enduring bonds with members of the faculty and staff, including Larry Smith, Larry Colvin, Dr. Linda Logan, and the late Dr. John Homer. Though there wasn’t much to do on campus, I discovered that I needed to be a part of various organizations like ELITE and the Black Student Union. I held leadership positions in these two organizations, which helped mold me into the person I am today. Future students should be aware that Olivet is what you make it, which means that your experience will depend on the effort you put forth to have a wonderful experience. Additionally, when you enroll at Olivet, get involved in something, look for an organization that you fit with, and give it your all. When the four years are up, you’ll be able to see how worthwhile it has been.

I fell in love with Olivet College’s campus. From the time I sent that little information card back to the college to the first time I visited and after my graduation, the faculty and staff made it a point to stay connected with me. Coming from my hometown of Chicago where three million people live, it was so nice to experience the true small-town feeling. At first, I actually felt awkward when people said hello on campus, but I thought it was so nice and so different from Chicago.

After graduating from Olivet in 2007 I wanted to stay connected in various ways. Marty Jennings reached out to me back in 2017 and proposed that I join the Alumni Council. This opportunity presented itself at the right time in my life since it allowed me to stay connected to the college after graduation. I was also able to bring my professional experience to the table. I have interviewed students for scholarships, spoken on an alumni panel, and even spoken to students in a seminar on what challenges they might face after graduation in the professional world.

My hope for Olivet’s future students is that they come to explore what the college can offer. Really immerse yourself in your studies but also in extracurricular activities such as student groups, student jobs, or sports. Take risks and think outside of the box. The world is a big place and we need innovators and most importantly kind and authentic people.

Olivet College was and still is an important part of my life. I met Preston in 1962 and got married in 1964 and we were married for 43 years before he passed from cancer.

My sorority Soronian sisters are still an important part of my life with many of us still seeing each other on a yearly basis. We try to get together at Homecoming and spend a few days in the summer at a home on a lake.

John and I met on a cruise ship and married several years ago. We spend a lot of time on the water, just as Preston and I used to. I went back to being a substitute teacher a few years ago as there is a strong need in Naples.Florida.

I am happy for those who are attending Olivet College. Lifelong connections are made and a lot of the information has carried on in my memory over the years.

Barb Stockman and I took French with Monsieur Laniel and now we have reconnected in Florida in Alliance Francaise of Naples. We have both been on the board to promote the French language, culture and food.
I hope that the students take advantage of the 4 years as it is an experience that will not be repeated in life.

I graduated from Olivet College in 2003 with a degree in business and received a finance certification from the Association of Finance and Insurance Professionals in 2018. I attribute much of my success to what I learned from Olivet in and out of the classroom and on and off the soccer field. Olivet shaped me. It molded me. It grounded me. I’m incredibly proud of Olivet College and the time I spent there as a student. I’m grateful for the professors who invested in me and taught me more than what was printed in the textbooks.

Following my time at Olivet College, I became a certified personal trainer, a salesman at my family’s auto dealership, and eventually worked myself into my current role as President of Seelye Auto Group.

Seelye Auto Group has received numerous prestigious accolades, including being named among the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation (2022), the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in Western Michigan (2022 and 2021) and the Top 101 Companies to Work For in the Nation (2021). The business received the Torch Award for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan and multiple Edmunds Premier Five Star Dealer Awards, Edmunds Five Star Dealer Awards, and Top Rated Dealer Awards. For me, these awards speak volumes about the quality of the group’s services, and most importantly, how our employees are treated.

I feel it is a great privilege to be able to give back to my community. I am deeply involved in activities with local military veteran organizations as a tribute to my grandfather who served in the U.S. Marine Corps. I also run an internship program that affords students experience in automotive services. Additionally, I serve as a youth leader at my church, serve on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan, and have volunteered as basketball and soccer coach within my local community.

One of my most important commitments is ForeverStrong, an organization that strives to honor the victim and survivors of mass tragedies through family and community events and the development of a memorial. The cause is particularly meaningful to me because my dealership was one of the sites of the deadly Kalamazoo shootings of February 20, 2016; tragically, two victims, Richard and Tyler Smith, lost their lives there.

My greatest victory came in 2006 when I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior. My purpose was revealed, and it set me on a path to leadership that positively affected my growth spiritually, personally, and professionally. I was supported by my parents, wife and kids, and coaches whose positive influence benefitted me tremendously.

I started my career in higher education at Olivet College, where I received a strong foundation in understanding servant leadership. Because of the excellent mentors who taught me the concepts of individual and social responsibility, I was able to progress in my career, work with a passion for serving students, and retire as a community college president. Who would have thought that being given the opportunity to serve as an RA at Olivet College would have made such a difference! I am eternally grateful for my time at Olivet, and for all of the faculty, staff, and administrators who impacted my life. My hope is that all students at Olivet can be as lucky and fortunate as I have been. Go Comets!

Reflecting on my time at Olivet College, I’m reminded of so much – the casual and intimate-sized campus, friendships made with other students from all walks of life, and the one-to-one relationships developed with my professors. Combined with a challenging curriculum in a small class atmosphere, these things helped shape my professional and personal character. All of this sits at the foundation of an Olivet College educational experience. I am who I am because of my time spent on that small campus in rural Michigan.

I grew up in a suburban Detroit blue-collar town. With little or no desire to attend a large university, the transition from high school to Olivet College was a smooth one. I was looking for a personalized education that offered community, support, and growth – a place that I could call my own; a place to thrive athletically and academically; a campus with a strong reputation for accepting a diverse population. And that’s exactly what I found at Olivet College.

A proud Olivet College graduate, I’m grateful for what it has done to shape my life. I understand what it’s like to come from a large family in a small town with little financial support available to follow your academic dreams. Fortunately, the emotional and personal support was abundant! With the help of good grades, performance grants and financial aid, I was afforded the opportunity of not only a higher education at Olivet, but to play a sport I loved (football), become a member of a great fraternity (Phi Alpha Pi), and even experience a professional semester my senior year in Washington D.C. My English major has served me well in my professional life as a marketing employee, manager, and agency owner.

In owning a small business-to-business marketing agency specializing in the highly competitive and fast changing high-tech market, I often think back to those times at Olivet – the educational and personal lessons learned, the struggles I overcame, the opportunities provided. From a young man from a small town with hopes of playing football, getting a strong education, and tapping into my passions to successfully running my own business – I owe a great deal to Olivet College and my experiences gained.

It begs the question: How can I give back to a place that gave me so much?

I choose to support Olivet College each year and have established a legacy gift to help future students accomplish their goals. My hope is to give to others the opportunities allotted to so few. My financial support is not a testimony to me but rather a testament to Olivet College and the education and life skills it offers. The real question is this: If alumni like us don’t offer financial assistance and support to current and prospective students at Olivet, who will?

Throughout our lives, our individual character and resolve is sure to be tested – especially with today’s cultural and socioeconomic divide. As alumni, we can provide financial stability to Olivet College – the same place that taught us values and instilled in us the role(s) we play as socially responsible adults and as citizens of a great country. We have the chance to pay it forward. May we continue to live the Olivet motto. May we be more and do good for our future Comets. Let’s make a difference. Support OUR college and its mission.

Join me in providing future generations with the opportunities that we, too, were once given. I encourage you to support Olivet College through annual gifts and consider making a planned gift to help our future Comets thrive in the years and decades ahead.

Tim Hodge was like many first-year students coming to The University of Olivet 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 [The University of Olivet], I liked what I saw. I thought, ‘This has to be the place,’” said Hodge.

In 1979, Hodge began classes at The University of Olivet. He planned to spend two years at the University 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.

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 The University of Olivet. 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.

“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 The University of Olivet 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 The University of Olivet. Then, he went to medical school at a larger university and achieved his dream of becoming a physician.

One of Hodge’s priorities as the new chair of The University of Olivet Board of Trustees is to lead the board in its work to meet the strategic outcomes of “[The University of Olivet] 2030: Vision for a Prosperous Future.” Growth, quality and value are at the heart of the strategic plan, which Hodge believes will lead The University of Olivet to a more secure future.

“[The University of Olivet] 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.

A small decision can make a large impact. Just ask Tammy Walters ‘80, The University of Olivet alum, employee and donor. She agreed to temporarily fill a job vacancy at UOlivet’s Housing department, something she expected would only last for a season or so. She ended up in the position for nearly 20 years.

Of course, that wasn’t Tammy’s only experience at The University of Olivet. When she was just a high schooler in Delton, UOlivet’s small size was appealing to her. She was very active as a student, participating in sports and several extracurricular events. She found outlets for her interests at The University of Olivet, and she felt that it was a place where she could be noticed and make a difference.

Of course, that wasn’t Tammy’s only experience at The University of Olivet. When she was just a high schooler in Delton, UOlivet’s small size was appealing to her. She was very active as a student, participating in sports and several extracurricular events. She found outlets for her interests at The University of Olivet, and she felt that it was a place where she could be noticed and make a difference.

Most of all, Tammy was interested in UOlivet’s journalism program. That helped her make the decision to enroll, and she started attending classes in 1976. She majored in communications, with a concentration in public relations. Tammy joined the Sigma Beta sorority, forming connections that would last for decades.

Tammy was impressed with how much interest professors showed in her college career. “Dr. Willis Selden was my mentor,” she recalled. “He was amazing and taught me that I could pursue whatever goal I wanted. He also taught me that, in journalism, truth and honesty are incredibly important.” Given her interest in journalism, it seemed natural that she would forge such a strong connection with a journalism professor. Less expected was the impression that biology professor Dr. Speare left on her. Even though her major and career interests were far removed from biology, Dr. Speare helped instill a strong work ethic in Tammy. “I knew he would call on me every class period, so I better know my stuff! He also made me sit up front.”

After graduating from UOlivet in 1980, Tammy worked for small publications. She balanced work with raising two sons. She remained connected with the university, largely due to her sorority relationships. In 1990, she returned to UOlivet, finding work with audio and visual equipment. She got a job in the mail room shortly afterward. Professionally, she was trying to “put in (her) time,” as she said it, hoping to take on positions with more responsibility.

She moved on to Conferences and Scheduling in 1992. A few years later she learned of a temporary vacancy in the Housing department. A natural fit, Tammy ended up working in Housing for nearly 20 years. The job gave her more direct interaction with students. “I communicated with new and returning students regarding their housing, I enforced housing policies and matched up roommates,” Tammy recalled.

In 2014, Tammy moved to the Physical Plant. There, she manages student employees, works with finances and helps coordinate several of UOlivet’s events and programs.

Tammy believes that maintaining a strong connection to your past is a valuable part of life. “Giving back is important. Being a member of a community and investing in that community is important. Never forget where you came from or how hard you worked to get where you are. Don’t forget to thank those that helped you.” The University of Olivet gave her great opportunities, and she wanted to ensure it could do so for future generations. As an employee, she has seen the positive impact the university has had on many students, including her sons.

She also keeps in touch with Sigma Beta. She spent more than a decade as an adviser to its sisters. “I am kind of a link between old and new,” Tammy said. “It’s an amazing way to connect the past to the present.” Her connection with the sorority goes beyond any professional or volunteer position, however. She still meets up with her sisters, many of whom are her closest friends, and just recently returned from a trip with several that she has known since their undergraduate days.

Tammy certainly gave back to The University of Olivet with her time and energy. But in the early ‘90s, not long into her employment at the university, she felt a desire to do more. That’s when she made another decision: donate what she could to UOlivet. Others in her situation may have put off giving until they were working their “dream job,” but Tammy knew what she wanted to do, and saw no reason to wait. Experiencing UOlivet as an employee had given her a new perspective. She had a greater understanding of the university’s many needs. She also gained a new appreciation for The University of Olivet’s importance to its community.

Tammy is also a firm believer in The University of Olivet mission of individual and social responsibility. “It’s seeing what needs to be done and doing it,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if that is picking up trash, reminding someone that they did not clean out the van or praising a student for their good work.”

And when deciding to support the university financially, she saw a need to support UOlivet’s community service programs. Community service and volunteering have always been a part of Tammy’s life, and she believes it’s important for students to experience services opportunities in other communities, states and countries. “It gives you a sense that there is a broader world out there. Everyone is not the same nor do they live under the same circumstances. It helps to break down barriers and give you a clearer sense of what is beyond your back door.”

She observed that, while the university was always involved with the community, the amount of programs and their scope only grew over time. According to Tammy, the school has considerably more focus on community service now than it did when she first set foot on campus in the mid-‘70s. That trend is something she decided to help along.

Tammy knows that donating can seem like an intimidating commitment, but she encourages everyone interested in UOlivet to give, regardless of amount. “[The University of Olivet] came from humble beginnings, and we are the first to understand that not everyone is able to give the same amount,” she said. “The reality is that every dollar adds up.”

To Dr. Sharon Hobbs, success is a combination of passion, skill and finding the right fit. Throughout her life, she has maintained passions for human behavior and helping others. She has put that to use in both her career and during her close involvement with The University of Olivet, which she has worked with since 2005.

Sharon accepted the invitation to serve on the board of trustees because The University of Olivet mission of individual and social responsibility aligns with her personal mission. “We make choices in our life that impact us as individuals and as citizens of the world. Individual responsibility means that you take ownership of your choices, what you do and who you are. Each individual needs to evaluate what role they play in their community and greater society. You are socially responsible if you make decisions for yourself that embraces the good of society. We cannot be self-absorbed so that we do not see our role as social beings and take the actions that make the lives of all better.”

A clinical psychologist, Sharon has dedicated her decades-long career to improving lives. She has a particular interest in children, young people and family relationships. That interest helped her connect with Olivet.

“I had visited UOlivet a couple of times,” Sharon recalled. “But a friend who was on the board and knew my work and commitment to young people asked me to consider being a trustee of the [university].”

Ever since becoming a trustee in 2005, Sharon has been involved with UOlivet. In addition to her role on the board, she is a member of the Women’s Leadership Institute Advisory Council, which has helped to develop several programs and events, including the Cultivating Women Leaders Event, that provide resources, training and encouragement for young women seeking leadership roles.

“I have always been socially active. I look at the things in my surroundings that I do not believe are in the best interests of those who don’t often have a voice, and I ask, ‘what can I do,’ not ‘what should they do.’ I am not passive about my life or about my role professionally or as a citizen of the world. … I use my resources, time and financial gifts to do what I believe is true to who I want to be and is responsive to my community.”

As for why she has continued to work with the university for more than a decade, “I love [The University of Olivet] and its values. It is committed to each student’s success, and it expects – demands – that each student think about how they can give back to the community. I have been able to meet and work with a lot of the faculty and they have been wonderful.”

Sharon said that she believes financially supporting UOlivet is part of a trustee’s responsibility. But it goes beyond obligation for Sharon. She speaks of her contributions in a matter-of-fact, humble manner. “My gifts to the [university] are for humanitarian purposes. … I am not a large donor because I don’t have the finances to do so. However, I give what I can regularly.”

After earning her Ph.D. in clinical psychology, Sharon made her way to Michigan from New York. Sharon found work at MSU, working as a psychologist in the Department of Pediatrics. She opened her own office shortly afterward, and has been working as a clinical psychologist at the Abbott Road Center for the Family in East Lansing since 1992.

Sharon manages therapy sessions for patients, working with individuals, pairs and groups. In addition to therapy, she works with family court cases. She offers her professional opinion and assists with evaluations regarding parental custody of children and visitation rights.

Sharon’s passion for her profession shows in the time she spends working. When discussing the biggest professional challenges she’s ever faced, she responded, “Not enough hours in the day. I have a big practice.” It also shows in the strong personality she displays while working. “I’m honest…I don’t permit myself to be bullied,” said Sharon, adding that she has particularly relied on that strength during court dealings.

Sharon said that her passion and refusal to back down helped her to a successful psychology career. But while those traits may suggest someone determined to go it alone, she also noted the importance of a strong support system. “I owe my success to the people that have pushed me forward and believed in my talents and skills.”

Although Sharon found her career path early in life, she said there’s more to success than feeling strongly about a subject or profession. Finding a practical use for talents and interests is an essential part of the equation. “Your goal is to appropriately assess your abilities and pursue an education and career that you are positive about that reflects your abilities and passions.”

And that’s why The University of Olivet is so important to her. “[The University of Olivet] sets in motion the development of moral character and a value system that is respectful of all people. This generation and all future generations need to be passionate about working for the good of mankind.”

Dave Cutler ‘65 is MAD. And he wants you to be MAD, too – motivated, ambitious and driven. “It’s surprising what you can achieve, both as an individual and as a team, if you dig in and work hard,” the long-time supporter of [The University of Olivet] said recently.

Dave is revered throughout the computer industry for his development of several commercial operating systems, including Microsoft Windows NT. Most of the world can’t even comprehend the “what and how” of operating systems, but Dave’s work ethic and high standards have made him one of the world’s top programmers. It’s his time at The University of Olivet that he credits for much of his tenacity, drive and determination in life.

He is as committed to his philanthropic endeavors as he is his work. Focusing his giving on organizations that provide a worthwhile societal benefit, Dave has invested philanthropically in the students of The University of Olivet for more than 20 years.

Motivated

“I grew up in the late 1940s and 50s in a family that worked hard to make ends meet. My father was a low-level employee at Oldsmobile and my mother worked as a nurse for a local doctor,” Dave said. “In 1949, we moved from Lansing to the country and everything changed. Suddenly I was working every day to help grow food for the table and I became the wood cutter for the family stove.”

It’s these early life experiences that taught Dave that if he wanted something in life, he had to work hard to get it. He started earning a paycheck in junior high school, working over the years for a fertilizer company, as a farm hand, and even building barns. His friends couldn’t wait to graduate and close the door on high school, but not Dave. “I knew that getting out of school meant a lifetime of work. I wanted to enjoy high school life as long as possible,” he said with humor.

By 1960, college was becoming more of an option for young men and women from all socioeconomic backgrounds, but it was not an expectation, particularly with ample jobs in the auto industry and farming communities in and around Lansing. As a star athlete, however, Dave looked to college as a way to continue doing what he loved best – playing sports. But high school students did not receive the type of college counseling afforded students today, and with no guidance and little understanding of how to research college opportunities – let alone knowing how to pay for college – Dave accepted that he would go to work right out of high school. “My grades in high school were very good, but without a scholarship to pay for college I couldn’t go,” he said.

“That sounds grim,” Dave admits. “But, as fate would have it, the new football coach at [The University of Olivet] was Stu Parsell. He had been a coach at Dimondale High School, which was in the same league as DeWitt High School, and was impressed enough to recruit me to [The University of Olivet].” Little did Dave know that an academic scholarship to a small college just 38 miles from home would be the first step down a path that would change his life – and the world we live in.

Dave appreciates the smallness of The University of Olivet, which allows for an inclusive and relationship-based community. This spirit of community makes it that much easier for students to experience firsthand the [university’s] mission of nurturing citizens who are individually and socially responsible. “I think 98 percent of going to college is the experience itself. It forms what you become the rest of your life. You can’t possibly learn all you need to know while attending college and the most important thing you can come away with is a life ethic for work, learning and the responsibility you have to take care of yourself,” Dave said.

Throughout high school, Dave was quick to learn that excellence in sports requires hard work, giving it your best effort and a dedication to winning. Unfortunately, he did not learn that same lesson in the classroom. A smart kid, Dave found he didn’t have to work very hard to make good grades. “I pretty much coasted through without ever having to crack a book or study after school,” Dave recalls. “That all changed in college where I quickly found I was starting out at a disadvantage, academically, having gone to a small, rural school. I quickly learned from my professors that they were there to help me learn and that I had to do a significant amount of work on my own without getting hand fed.”

One professor that had great influence on Dave was Louise Hanson. “I was a math major with a minor in physics. I took all kinds of mathematical courses from Louise in subject matters I didn’t even know existed in high school,” he said. “I had to dig out the answers and explanations from textbooks and other math students. I think learning this one skill is what made me so successful later in life.”

Dave’s favorite memory, however, is the 1961 football team that went 8-1. “In 1960, I showed up at the [university] in early August to play football and we suffered through a humiliating season with just a couple of wins and mostly defeats,” Dave recalls. “In the fall of 1961, we began an amazing journey to an unbelievable season. I was the starting quarterback and wouldn’t trade that year for anything.”

It’s this team – Dave’s lifelong friends –  that turned him on to the idea of giving back to his alma mater. It started with a generous donation and his challenge to others to help fund what is now the Cutler Athletic Complex, which is dedicated to the 1961 football team. “Team sports are excellent teachers of life lessons on how to cooperate and get things done as a group,” Dave said.

Graduating in 1965, Dave eagerly began his professional career at DuPont in Delaware. Like most young graduates, his focus was on advancing his career. It would be 25 years before he would return to the The University of Olivet campus.

It was while at DuPont that Dave developed his lifelong interest and career in software and operating systems. He joined Digital Equipment Corporation in Massachusetts in 1971, and in 1988 he found himself in Seattle leading the development of a portable operating system for personal computers that became known as Windows NT.

Over his 52-year career, Dave has produced more than eight commercially successful systems. In 2016, he was named a Fellow of the Computer History Museum for his contributions to computer architecture, compilers, operating systems and software engineering, and in 2007 President George W. Bush presented him with the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation for designing and implementing the “industry standard” systems for real-time, personal, and server-based systems.

It was a 1985 Homecoming event, however, that Dave ranks as one of his top life highlights, even above meeting the President of the United States: the reunion of the [The University of Olivet] 1960s football teams. “It was a short weekend, but it brought back many of the memories of the 1961 football season and how much I really enjoyed the company of friends and teammates,” he said. “I started going back to [The University of Olivet] every year at homecoming to see my old teammates George Pyne, Tom Nesbitt, Charles McPhail, Dominic Livedoti, Larry Spencer and many others.”

It was during these visits that Dave also got to know The University of Olivet board members, presidents, alumni and students, and learned how far the [university] had come since the early 1960s. It was coming home that reminded him of how special The University of Olivet is, and he decided he would do what he could to help advance the mission of his beloved alma mater. Over the years, Dave has generously helped fund athletic programs, the visual arts, the Adelphic Society, and student scholarships. He also established the The Cutler Fellowship in Math, Science and Computer Science. And his commitment to the current Responsible Learners – Responsible Leaders campaign is the largest ever by a single donor.

“At homecoming 2018, I was asked to give a little talk about why I continue to give to [The University of Olivet] after all these years. In the form of a fictional story I come back to [The University of Olivet] and as I drive up the hill, I anticipate seeing the campus, but I find that the [university] is gone. I start thinking about why the [university] is gone and the only thing I can think of is that people had become complacent and had not supported the [university] to the level required to ensure its continued success,” Dave says seriously. “My experience at [The University of Olivet] was so positive and the lifetime friendships I formed were so strong that I don’t want [The University of Olivet] to cease to exist. I don’t want to look back 150 years from now and say to myself, ‘You jerk, if you’d only given a little more the [university] would still be there.’”

The success of the Responsible Learners – Responsible Leaders: 2020 and Beyond campaign will ensure the future of The University of Olivet, and Dave understands its importance. As a leadership donor he knows how vital every dollar is to enhancing the strength, vitality and future of the university, which in turn benefits every student in immeasurable ways. “Every little bit helps. Small gifts tell the [university] and the students that you care.”

When asked what words of advice he’d give today’s university tudents, especially those who are first generation students, Dave said, “Be achievers and do your best in whatever you attempt in life. I like Fred Brooks’ words in the Mythical Man Month. He wrote, ‘There are thinkers and there are doers. Thinkers are a dime a dozen and very plentiful. Doers are rare and valuable. Thinker/doers, however, are very rare and the most valuable of all.’ So, I would also like to pass on a culture of people being doers.”

Without a doubt, Dave is a thinker and a doer – and he’s MAD – and that makes him a very rare gift to all who have the pleasure of knowing him.