‘Berg President Rob Huntington described the annual Givers Gala – which celebrates alumni and friends for their philanthropy to Heidelberg through major gifts, estate plans, and lifetime giving – as “date night with 160 friends.” These are truly some of the very best friends a university could ever have.
“This is a celebration of gratitude,” Rob said. “These are the people who have said ‘I love Heidelberg. I care about Heidelberg, and I want to make this legacy a part of my life.’”
Held Thursday night in Wickham Great Hall, the Givers Gala marks the official kick-off to Alumni Weekend. It is our opportunity to say thank you.
Opportunity Makers for students
Donors heard from recent grad Mikayla Sage, a biochemistry major with minors in business administration and biology, representing students who are the grateful beneficiaries of scholarships and endowed gifts from ‘Berg alumni and friends honored at the Givers Gala.
As she began her remarks, Mikayla’s message became abundantly clear: Donors make dreams a reality.
“Every class I took, every place I traveled, every dream I pursued was made possible because of donors like you who believed in students like me,” she said.
Reflecting on her Heidelberg story, Mikayla remembered an admission counselor going above and beyond to connect her with scholarship opportunities to help offset the cost of her degree at a level of care she didn’t find at any other school. That set the tone for her Heidelberg experience.
As the recipient of the Dennis P. Riley Scholarship for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mikayla said she came to understand the she received the same experience that was the basis of the scholarship Dennis established – a way to thank Heidelberg for setting him on the right path, providing him with outstanding mentors and an enrivonment to learn and grow. “I am beyond grateful for that experience,” she said.
It’s been that way since Mikayla stepped foot on campus as a freshman student-athlete (volleyball) four years ago. “From that moment, I felt something special about the ‘Berg community. I knew it was a network that would grow with me, not just for four years, but for life.”
And it’s the place where she found her passion and her true home – the Chemistry Club. Mikayla rose to leadership of the club and is especially grateful for the travel opportunities established by alumnus Joe Stearns and his wife, Brenda, which allow Chem Club students to travel to professional conferences and other opportunities.
Through Chem Club, Mikayla was able to travel to Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, San Diego, and her personal favorite, New Orleans, to attend the American Chemical Society national meetings. “Those trips were more than just fun. They were transformational,” she said. “They exposed me to the science industry beyond textbooks and labs.”
“These moments wouldn’t have been financially possible for me without your generosity,” she told the donors. “They broadened my horizons and brought my education alive. Your support gave me experiences I get to carry with me for the rest of my life.”
She continued, “On behalf of all Heidelberg students, past, present and future, thank you to all of you for being Opportunity Makers. Thank you for creating possibilities that stretch far beyond what we can see today. Your generosity doesn’t just change college experiences; it changes lives. Believe me – it changed mine.”
Mikayla’s heartfelt message was followed by a video from a series of ‘Berg scholarship recipients who also expressed their gratitude to donors. Next week, she begins her professional career as a quality control chemist at GFS Chemicals in Columbus. She is also enrolled in Heidelberg’s PlusOneAdvantage® MBA program, starting this fall.
More to celebrate
Always a highlight of the Givers Gala, the Heritage Society Pinning Ceremony also took place last night. The Heritage Society includes donors who have arranged endowments or deferred gifts, or those who have remembered Heidelberg in their estate plans. Since it was created in 1995, the Heritage Society has grown to 768 members strong!
This year, we were pleased to welcome two of the Heritage Society’s newest couples, Dr. Larry Roper ‘75 and his wife, Dina Lindquist, and John and Miriam (Beelke) Whetstone, ’65 and ’66, respectively. Both couples have recently created student scholarships, and we thank them.
Board of Trustees Chair Kathy Geier ’78 greeted Givers Gala guests and shared a toast to them. In addition, Rob presented the Trustee Distinguished Service Award to alumnus and Trustee Bill Landess ’95 (see accompanying web article). The dinner event was organized and emceed by Ashley Helmstetter, Vice President for Advancement, Alumni, and Community Relations. The evening concluded with the singing of Sweet Alma Home, led by Ed Ayers ’71 with accompaniment by Professor of Music Emeritus Vicki Ohl ’72. Piano entertainment was performed by music major Cole Miller ’26.