Blog

I want to help kids with problems that I have struggled with in the past, and hopefully make their lives better. ... Beyond that, I don’t know how my life will turn out. I can only hope that I am successful, and that I make a small difference in the world.

There may have been some gentle arm twisting, but when all was said and done, Joan (Swinehart) Talmage and Ted Siller were more than happy to come on board to co-chair the Class of ’68 50th Reunion Gift Committee.

When Tracy Kipfstuhl, ’90, was looking for a college, her mother set a limit: She had to choose a school that was no more than 2 hours away from their Cleveland home. Two older sisters went east, to Walsh and Mount Union. But Tracy wanted to be different, maybe even a little defiant. So she went the opposite direction to the school that was two hours to the west and landed at Heidelberg.

Within the many facets of the university, Greek life has been the most influential. I am a member of Sigma Tau Nu, a men’s fraternity founded in 1949. I joined the group in the fall of 2015, and I must say, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made while at The Berg.

Many have heard the story about the professor who went to a student’s dorm room to conduct class when the student failed to show up one day.

As a tuba player himself, Clarence Assenheimer may have had a fondness in his heart for low brass instruments that he passed down to his son, Paul.

My favorite part of the community here is that everyone knows each other and it’s very inclusive. I remember when President (Rob) Huntington greeted me by my name I was shooketh because that is something I would never experience back in Malaysia.

My dad joined the Marine Corps before I was born so the military lifestyle is all I’ve ever known, but I wouldn’t have wanted to grow up any other way.

During her days as a Heidelberg music major, Dana (Miller) Willman, ’89, was placed at Seneca East Schools for her student teaching. Little did she know then that Seneca East would become her permanent professional home

The end of the spring season in 2015 was the most memorable time so far. Hosting the OAC softball tournament, the OAC baseball tournament and the NCAA Softball Super-Regional in consecutive weekends was a whirlwind.

Speaking at events like Opening Convocation and HYPE has allowed me to achieve a level of confidence that I had never dreamed possible.

I went to Tianjin, China, for the whole month of June 2017. Working with students whose primary language is not English definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. Because of that, I feel like I have grown professionally as a future teacher.

Knowing that I am a part of such a ground-breaking and spirited group on campus brings joy to my heart and I know that the music traditions I am forming will stay for decades to come.

During my first day at Heidelberg, I believe I taught my "Teaching of Writing" course. I'd taught it before at another university but had always had more than 20 students in the course. At Heidelberg, there were seven students. I enjoyed being able to check in with each individual in the room and get to know them and check that they understood the expectations for the following meeting.

There may be debate as to when it started, but there’s no denying the spark in the eyes of soon-to-be newlyweds and long-time ‘Berg supporters Donna (Fischer) Overholt ’57 and Larry Clausing ’59

I have made some of my best friends here and have been lucky to come across faculty members who truly care about me.

During Mike Weisend’s college visit to Heidelberg, he was searching for an elusive biology professor as he contemplated a major in physics or biology. The nowhere-to-be-found professor, Dr. Bob Murray, was eventually located in a dark room, singing and strumming his guitar with students. "From that moment, I knew this was the place I wanted to be. That was the way I hoped I could interact with faculty. It was so cool," said Weisend, ’87, now a renowned neuroscientist. The folk-singing biology professor, a faculty icon who is now retired, may have been the catalyst, but there was much more that Weisend discovered at Heidelberg. That encounter, though, did set the stage for four productive undergrad years that led to master’s and doctoral degrees in behavioral neuroscience from the University of New Mexico.

“Sweet Alma Home” is a little bit sweeter this time of year. " At least once a day, I think about the words or I sing it or listen to it, so it’s a part of my being," says Ed, who returned to campus for Alumni Weekend to again organize and conduct the Alumni Choir. For the past 20 or so years, a collection of former Concert Choir members has relived their glory days by performing at the annual Alumni Weekend luncheon. Early on, the draw was the chance to once again sing for the legendary Dr. Ferris Ohl. Ed understands that; he was among those singers. He also understands that he now stands where a giant of Heidelberg music once stood, and that’s not only humbling but a huge honor.