Realizing Our Best

Conducting research in microbiology has been an academic highlight for Hannah DeRespiris, a senior pre-med major at UD. This hands-on experience tops her personal list of academic achievements, and it might not have been available without the support of UD donors during One Day, One Dayton.

Last spring during the day of giving, UD supporters made 377 gifts totaling more than $120,000 to the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Fund for Excellence, and this allowed Dean Danielle Poe to direct funding to summer research opportunities for students like DeRespiris through the Dean’s Summer Fellowship program. The college helped 89 students conduct summer research through the program, and Poe hopes to double that number for more students like DeRespiris.

“I never thought I’d be involved in undergraduate research,” said DeRespiris, who experienced the benefits of the program while working with Yvonne Sun, associate professor of microbiology. “Dr. Sun is awesome. Conducting research with her has definitely challenged me to think. It’s made me a better student, more responsible and a better critical thinker overall.”

That’s saying something for the pre-med major and honors student who has already been accepted to medical school. She’s been active in service, completed the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, had leadership roles in Alpha Epsilon Delta, and has even been an active member of the UD Dance Team, regularly performing at UD Arena — which she describes as surreal.  

According to Sun, UD students like DeRespiris have helped change the way she thinks about research.

At the University of Dayton, Sun sees research as an opportunity to mentor students and engage them in ways that can’t be done within the classroom. Sun explained that students at UD, especially high-achieving ones like DeRespiris, have a ton on their plates with service, activities and organizations. They are also under the impression that they can’t make any mistakes, especially students wanting to attend medical school. Research provides students with the opportunity to fail and learn — about the topic and about themselves as active learners.

Sun re-envisioned how she would mentor students in a more holistic way. The result has been a win for everyone involved. With a team of over 15 undergraduate students, Sun provides a learning environment to tackle real-world problems. “I still want to solve huge issues in human health, and we are,” said Sun. Their current research is studying how certain bacteria respond to their environment so that these bacteria can be controlled and more people protected. 

The work has immediate benefits, too. DeRespiris’ research was included in a published, peer-reviewed article, which helped her stand out in her medical school applications. And it wouldn’t have happened without the assistance of donors. For that, she is thankful. And so is UD.

“The College’s operating budget doesn’t have enough margin to provide these opportunities for students,” said Poe about the summer research positions. “But I know that when we give these opportunities, we’re at our best. Philanthropy allows us to realize who we are when we’re at our best.”

World Cup and Well-Being

Is the World Cup connected to well-being? In the updated space for the Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center, the answer is: yes.

Among the services MEC provides are academic support and coaching, cultural exploration and multi-ethnic education. And over the past six years, the number of underrepresented students served by MEC has tripled.

Another resource provided for students is a place to gather, study or just be. The space MEC calls home had no functional upgrades in 10 years, but part of the recent MEC Refresh included ensuring the space continues to meet the needs of its students.

"Thanks to the One Day, One Dayton funds, MEC has been able to transform our MEC lounge, or what we like to call our family room," said Camila Sánchez-González, a senior biology major.

While the majority of the One Day, One Dayton MEC funds went toward grants to students for experiential learning expenses, funds were also allocated to provide upgraded technology for the MEC family room as part of the MEC Refresh. For example, a new monitor replaced an old broken projector and whiteboard. Students use the monitor daily for multiple purposes, like giving presentations or watching movies.

"You can tell the value of the space based on the appearance of the space, and we want to make sure when students come here that they understand they're valued in that," said Merida Allen, associate dean of students and executive director for MEC.

So what does all this have to do with the World Cup and well-being? Whether one calls it soccer or football, the World Cup, which takes place every four years, is one of the most watched sporting events in the world. And Flyers are among those donning team gear and cheering in front of the new monitor in the MEC family room.

"They're watching World Cup soccer and also building community — for some students, even across cultures," said Allen. "We're seeing students come in culturally like 'my team, my country. This is my sport.'"

While students were in the space to watch the matches, staff members took the opportunity to chat with them, asking about their classes, the holidays and their well-being, building relationships and learning how to best assist students. "The student focuses everything we do," said Allen.

"The student focuses everything we do."

And the staff continually works to know what students need, through talking with them and conducting assessments. Feedback from students in 2019 indicated they wanted upgrades to the space, including painting the walls. So MEC again utilized One Day, One Dayton funds to add a fresh coat of paint to the walls as the students requested.

"Given the new technology and paint updates, it has allowed for students to use the space more efficiently and frequently," said Sánchez-González. "It's amazing the impact that a few renovations can do to a space as special as MEC."

Funding excellence and opportunity

Ryan Rotsching felt his passion for engineering wane after his first year, but support from UD alumni and friends helped him relight his fire and find interest by bridging engineering and entrepreneurship.

Rotsching, a sophomore in engineering, was one of four students who participated in the Innovation Center's first summer engineering innovation program, which was supported by donors of the School of Engineering Dean's Fund for Excellence on One Day, One Dayton. The program provided an immersive internship for the students in innovation and entrepreneurship before their sophomore year.

"Before this experience, I hadn't even considered entrepreneurship," Rotsching said. "I just thought if I do engineering, I go straight into working for a company and do that my whole life, not start a company or bring my own products to market. I was questioning if engineering is really what I want to do with my life, if I enjoy this enough and if I am going to be good enough to be able to do this professionally. And then, once I did this program, it solidified that this is the right path for me."

Summer was full of opportunities as students in ETHOS immersions applied, grew and honed their engineering skills while consciously serving communities across the world. Experiences for 55 students were supported by donors to the Dean's Fund for Excellence during One Day, One Dayton.

Alexandra Cline, a senior in engineering, set aside money to participate in an international ETHOS immersion and hoped it would be enough. Thanks to donor support, she didn't have to worry long. Cline completed her immersion in Quito, Ecuador this summer with Engineers in Action providing the surrounding communities with long-term, thoughtful and culturally-aware engineering.

"Going on the immersion on top of the other things I've done on campus has helped me grow as a person and find my path," Cline said. "ETHOS helped me learn to be a leader. I liked it so much I now work at the center and am applying for the UD Master of Public Administration program to continue human rights in engineering work."

Support also happens throughout the school year. In the Multi-Ethnic Engineers Program, where students explore and grow in their field while building community, 30 students received scholarships, too.

Tyrone Smith Jr. is a junior studying engineering and MEP scholarship recipient from Atlanta who is involved with a number of local and national student organizations in addition to working as a School of Engineering Student Ambassador to help guide prospective students and their families. He's looking forward to starting a co-op with Messer Construction this spring, but this involvement is only afforded to him thanks to scholarships and financial support.

"It allows me to keep coming back to UD year after year," Smith said of the scholarship. "It's meaningful — it allows me to be involved on campus and not have to lose focus on my education because of finances."

The flickers of inspiration and lifting of financial burdens are jumping-off points that help students define who they are and what mark they will leave on the world. Thanks to donors of the School of Engineering Dean's Fund for Excellence on One Day, One Dayton, students across the school are having these life-changing opportunities.

Wall Street Comes to Brown Street

Providing campuswide access to one of the world’s leading financial newspapers is one way that One Day, One Dayton donors made an immediate impact for students at UD.

In a collaborative effort funded by donors and driven by the School of Business Administration, University Libraries and the Davis Center for Portfolio Management, UD has partnered with The Wall Street Journal to provide full digital access to WSJ.com and the app, as well as podcasts, newsletters and teaching tools to the entire campus community. The Wall Street Journal provides targeted coverage of the current business environment, specifically in the financial markets.

School of Business Administration faculty initiated the idea of subscribing to The Wall Street Journal and One Day, One Dayton donations brought the idea to fruition. “We surveyed the faculty, and nearly 90% said they would use the resource in class if they had it. I look forward to all the innovative ways the faculty will use this subscription to add value to the learning experience,” said Trevor Collier, dean of UD’s School of Business Administration.

Lecturer and Director of the Davis Center for Portfolio Management Daniel Kapusta is especially excited about the new subscription. “In the Davis Center we plan to use The Wall Street Journal subscription to help us pick the right investments for the Flyer Investment Fund, which is the student-managed portion of the UD endowment fund,” said Kapusta.  

He also plans to use the subscription in his classroom to connect finance concepts to real-world events. “Access to articles and podcasts offers tremendous teaching opportunities. I’m very thankful for the donations that made the subscription possible and for the collaborative efforts of the University Libraries, the Davis Center and the School of Business Administration to benefit the entire campus community,” said Kapusta.

And while the subscription is of special interest to business students and faculty, any current UD student or employee has access to the complimentary subscription at no cost to them. Once registered, students have access until graduation. After graduation, students have a 90-day grace period of access and can continue a personal subscription at a discounted rate.

University Libraries staff believe all UD students benefit from seeking multiple sources and perspectives on the news that they consume. “Access to reliable and professional reporting through complimentary subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal is a great asset to UD students, faculty and staff. Reading The Wall Street Journal’s coverage of business, economics, and U.S. and international news can add invaluable insight to classroom, experiential and co-curricular learning in many fields of study,” said Bridget Retzloff, assistant professor and digital pedagogy librarian.

The subscription could even help students be more successful in interviews for co-ops, internships and ultimately their first job after college. “Reading The Wall Street Journal helps students become fluent in using industry language and stay abreast of current events — both of which make an impression in an interview,” said Collier.

The Wall Street Journal subscription is just one example of how One Day, One Dayton continues to benefit the campus community long after that one day has ended. “When alumni and donors support UD on One Day, One Dayton, they help all students succeed,” said Collier.

Finding New Heights Thanks to Donors

Little gets Flyers nation fired up like a victory, but behind every victory are student-athletes who need a little help to stay focused on what matters most: their grades and game.

“I’m working on directing my curve and slider. Before TrackMan the pitches were the same, and we were trying to differentiate the movement as it approaches the plate,” said Mark Manfredi ’22. “Now I’m getting more depth with those pitches.” TrackMan is cutting-edge technology that helps batters improve their swing and pitchers improve their pitches. Every major league team uses this equipment to help their players develop, and now UD does, too.

When donors give to Flyers athletic programs, they join the mission of the University's coaches, support staff and leadership team to fund programs, initiatives and efforts that keep student-athletes at the heart of every decision.

“We want them to leave our University and say they had a great experience at Dayton,” said Neil Sullivan, vice president and director of athletics.

“We want them to leave our University and say they had a great experience at Dayton,” said Neil Sullivan, vice president and director of athletics.

For example, funding from One Day, One Dayton, the University of Dayton’s giving day, allowed the baseball team to purchase the TrackMan system in 2022 which helped Manfredi. Donors also help purchase training equipment that gets athletes back in action sooner following an injury and provide access to the healthiest food options available so athletes can fuel their bodies. They even help cover the costs of better flights so athletes can attend more classes before leaving for a road game. And that’s just the beginning.

For Manfredi, technology like the TrackMan system has been instrumental in helping him take his pitching skills to the next level. He has his sights set on playing baseball in the minor leagues, and one day, the majors, a goal he believes is closer thanks to the training and access he found at UD.

“College sports is going through a once-in-a-generation period of change,” said Sullivan. “There will never be a more critical time for our fan base, partners and donors to be aligned with our initiatives. Our donors ensure that UD remains competitive and relevant … they help us to be a high-performing athletic department athletically, academically and socially."

Paving a Road to Success

“Law school is stressful because you’re trying to keep up the fast pace of learning,” said Ricky Murray ’22. “Donors allow students to focus on their studies instead of the financial burden. That’s a big part of what helps University of Dayton School of Law students produce high bar passage and graduation rates.”

For law students like Murray, graduating from law school is the culmination of a dream. But it doesn’t mean it is time to celebrate. Many don’t realize that students still have one big hurdle to overcome before they can be attorneys — passing the bar exam.

The bar exam is important for anyone who wants to practice law and it’s only offered twice a year.

“For students, it’s the ultimate goal,” said Micheline Kidwell, the director of bar preparation and associate professor of academic success at the University of Dayton School of Law. “If they go through law school but are unsuccessful with the bar exam that could mean that job offer may or may not be there, and that can derail the trajectory of their career.”

That means when selecting a law school, most prospective students are looking at the support law schools offer and the bar passage rates of its students when deciding where to go. The University of Dayton Law School’s rich curriculum and a wide array of co-curricular activities prepare students to thrive in diverse areas of legal practice, but none of that training matters if students can’t pass the bar exam.

“So many of our students go on to do amazing work, and we want to support them and their ability to do that,” said Kidwell.

“So many of our students go on to do amazing work, and we want to support them and their ability to do that,” said Kidwell.

The University of Dayton School of Law has adapted to stay ahead of trends that provide students with bar passage support. Changes include more courses during their third and final year of law school geared toward helping them pass the bar exam. UDSL graduates also have access to postgraduate programming that includes more than just quiet places to study and access to their professors. UD’s Road to Bar Passage program provides benefits such as housing stipends, free healthy breakfasts and lunches on weekdays, and interactive study sessions — mostly covered by the Dean’s Fund for Excellence through One Day, One Dayton donations — to address the basic needs these students might have so they can focus on becoming the best lawyers they can be.

“People think you need to be top of the class or cutthroat in law school, but you can’t be an island when you eventually work at a firm or for a prosecutor’s office,” said Murray. “The University of Dayton School of Law was cooperative, and that made it easy to come in and find your people.”

And focusing on the students’ needs is making a difference. Eighty percent of UDSL students who took the Ohio bar exam in July 2022 passed, the fourth highest passage rate among the 10 law schools in Ohio.

“Once they graduate they’re technically no longer our students, and we can say we’re done and good luck. But instead, we continue to take care of them,” said Kidwell. “They’re forever part of the UD community, and UD takes care of people.”

Camp Blue

Every amazing journey starts with that first step, and students who attend Camp Blue at the University of Dayton begin their college journey with confidence — and about 100 new friends rooting for their success.

Camp Blue is a one-week leadership and orientation program that welcomes students to campus before classes begin and prepares them for success. It’s an opportunity to learn leadership skills, make connections and friends, and get comfortable in the UD community. And, thanks to 170 donors last spring to the Student Development Fund for Excellence during One Day, One Dayton — UD’s day of giving — more students with financial need received scholarships to participate.

“Camp Blue gives students the opportunity to come to campus without the pressures of classes and finding their way around campus on their own for the first time,” said Noah Chatman, assistant director of student transitions and family programs. “And the students do more than make friends. It’s also a first-year leadership experience where they attend leadership courses and compete in leadership challenges.”

James Brown IV, a first-year student from Canton, Ohio, said the experience helped him find a strong group of people who care and look out for each other.

“I was nervous about going to college, and Camp Blue was a good opportunity to get familiar with campus, move in early and make a few new friends before everyone is flooding onto campus,” said Brown.

After Camp Blue, Brown became a Co-Pilot during his first semester. Co-Pilots is a peer health-coaching organization in which students help other students normalize conversations about emotions, break down stigmas, focus on personal development and promote a healthier lifestyle within the University of Dayton community.  

In addition to learning about leadership styles and opportunities, Camp Blue participants also get into the swing of service at UD. One day during the week, they go out into the Dayton community for different service projects, and at the end of their week, they join the Blue Crew to help the rest of the student body get moved into campus. In effect, Camp Blue attendees become the first-year UD experts for the rest of their class, which can help a lot that first year.

Christopher Taylor, a first-year student from the Atlanta, Georgia area, chose to attend Camp Blue to start school with good connections and good friends while learning about campus. Finding out about campus resources was a smart move.

“One of my craziest experiences that hit me hard was my first quiz in college,” said Taylor. “I completely failed. But one thing Camp Blue taught me is that Dayton has so many resources to help you out and pick you up when you’re down.”

Taylor talked to his professor, who quickly became his favorite, and took advantage of tutoring resources. “I went from having that first failed grade to a 94% in the class,” he said at the end of the semester.

Both Taylor and Brown hope to become Camp Blue counselors next year to help more students experience the same positive start at UD that they had. For Bill Fischer, vice president of Student Development, that’s a true testament to the effectiveness of the programming.

“Gifts to Student Development really help our students thrive — allowing us to augment funding from our budget to support high-impact initiatives and programs,” said Fischer, whose son and daughter both attended Camp Blue before their UD careers. “They both met and established friendships at Camp Blue that they kept for all four years while they were here at UD.”

“Camp Blue scholarships allow more students to participate, and that makes for an incredibly meaningful experience for all students,” said Fischer. “My daughter and son truly had transformational experiences here at the University, and Camp Blue was the first step toward that.”

Breaking Away Thanks to Scholarships

When Macy Purdy ’24 recounts the journey that brought her to the University of Dayton, it starts like many others.

“There are four stoplights in my town. Most pursue a trade or go into the Army upon graduation,” said Purdy. “I believe I’m one of only four in my graduating class to go to college outside of New York.”

But the similarities end there. Purdy’s journey is her own and for her, education isn’t only about being in the classroom. The future CPA deliberately puts herself in situations she could only dream of back home.

“I really just want to push myself as much as I can, not only academically, socially and personally,” said Purdy. “I believe that in order to excel, I also need to put myself somewhere where I have the ability to grow.”

On campus, Purdy is involved with Flyer Consulting, the Hanley Sustainability Fund and the accounting fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi. Beyond Dayton’s borders, she has completed a summer internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Miami and plans to return to its offices again in 2023 for another internship. She is also on track to study abroad for a semester in Ireland.

And while those experiences have helped Purdy grow, they come at a cost.

“I think it's very important to weigh how much you're spending with what you're getting in return,” said Purdy. “Going to the University of Dayton is an investment in your future that not only betters you as a person but also gives you a seal of approval that's going to open a lot of doors.”

“Going to the University of Dayton is an investment in your future that not only betters you as a person but also gives you a seal of approval that's going to open a lot of doors.

For her, and other students like her, that’s where scholarships make a difference.

“I'm very grateful for my family situation. It's a lot better than a lot of other people,” said Purdy. “But I do not think I would be able to go to UD, or have the opportunities I do, without donors.”

Purdy is the recipient of three scholarships. One is the Ernst & Young Accounting Scholarship, which helps accounting majors who have a grade point average of at least 3.0 and plan to join a national public accounting firm after graduation. She is also a Mark and Jane Nocito Scholarship recipient, a fund that supports UD students with financial needs, especially those who are accounting majors. And her summer internship in Miami was possible in part because of the Heffner Internship Endowment, offered through the School of Business Administration, which helped cover Purdy’s housing costs so she could focus on that hands-on learning experience.

“I think what's really important to remember is that it’s not just about monetary gifts being given to students,” said Purdy. “It's also about how they're using that funding to their advantage and bettering the community. Scholarships break a lot of people away from patterns in their life that they were set up to follow.”

Chaminade Scholar Leads Red Scare

Where else but UD would you find a student like Jacob Mantle? He’s a Chaminade Scholar and a leader of Red Scare — as focused on exploring his faith in vocation as he is dedicated to bringing fans to a frenzy under the bright lights of UD Arena. And those are just two of the hats worn by Mantle, who was president of Red Scare last year, and this year is the vice president for external relations.

The recipient of the Dayton Newspapers Inc. Scholarship, Mantle said the scholarship has allowed him to explore more interests at UD, like getting involved with Red Scare and playing cello in the orchestra. He has also worked for the Department of Communication since his sophomore year and is working with athletics communications this year, too.

Throw in an internship over the summer with Crown Equipment and his experience through the Chaminade Scholars cohort for students in the Honors Program, and you start to get a good sense of just how involved Mantle is across campus, and why scholarships that enable students to thrive at UD are so important to the community.

“If I were talking right now to a UD donor, I’d say thank you for your philanthropy and your continued belief in UD."

“If I were talking right now to a UD donor, I’d say thank you for your philanthropy and your continued belief in UD — the academics as well as the college experience in general,” said Mantle. “Personally, I’ve been able to do so much on campus because I haven’t had to worry as much about the financial side, which has been super.”

As a student worker in communication, he’s even weighed in on the hiring of four new faculty members, adding his voice and guidance to the direction of the department. And he’s enjoyed his UD experience so much that, after graduation this spring, he is staying for another year to complete his master’s in communication, too.

“I’m thankful and excited for the challenge of a fifth year,” said Mantle. “The chance to learn more with other students pursuing their passion, and possibly having the opportunity to give back to UD by being a graduate assistant, is something I’m looking forward to.”

Mantle has certainly made the most of opportunities throughout his undergraduate career. “Sometimes I’ve been the victim of spreading myself too thin, but there are so many opportunities to choose from at UD that are worth pursuing.” Like the orchestra, which Mantle joined late in his undergraduate career.

“One thing I love about orchestra, I took from my high school director who said that, ‘music is one of the few ways where everyone’s individual pieces come together to make something super beautiful,’” said Mantle.

You don’t have to stretch that analogy far to see that scholarships that help students like Mantle come to UD are a critical instrument in creating the symphony we call community at UD.

Helping Flyers Fly

The inclusive, tight-knit community feeling he experienced while walking around the University of Dayton campus impressed Juliano Aquilino ’23 — but what really catapulted UD to his top college choice was a tour of the chemistry department’s laboratory.

Aquilino flashes an embarrassed smile when he admits UD was originally his back-up plan. “I had my mind set on a different school, but on the tour of UD I was so impressed by the lab and the research opportunities,” said Aquilino.

And while the prospect of attending UD and utilizing the top-notch research facilities was one that excited Aquilino, he acknowledges that UD may have been out of reach if not for the financial assistance he’s received.

He’s not alone — 98% of first-year students receive some sort of financial aid to offset the cost of attendance.

In Aquilino’s case, some of that financial assistance has come in the form of donor-funded scholarships. But scholarships didn’t simply help get Aquilino to UD, they’ve helped him stay for four years and have the full college experience. “The donor-funded scholarships and financial aid I’ve received have been a blessing. This is the first year I didn’t have to take out student loans — which was amazing,” said Aquilino.

Aquilino has made the most of his time at UD — getting involved in activities like Christmas on Campus and Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-professional health honor society — and, of course, logging hundreds of hours in the lab doing mentored research alongside faculty and presenting that research each year at UD’s Stander Symposium.

He credits Doug Daniels, a research professor of chemistry, for encouraging his desire to do research and getting him involved early in his first semester at UD. “I was still trying to figure out how to separate my whites and darks, and at the same time was getting experience in infectious disease research,” said Aquilino.

Thanks to his strong academic record and his passion for research, Aquilino has been awarded numerous scholarships, including the Carl I. Michaelis, Ph.D., Memorial Scholarship; the Daniel M. Romer, M.D., Endowed Scholarship and the William Dennis Scott Endowed Scholarship.

And donor contributions to the College of Arts and Science Dean’s Fund for Excellence supported two summers of research for Aquilino via a summer fellowship program. The Dean’s Summer Fellowship program provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to conduct summer research in any academic discipline under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Students receive a stipend as part of this fellowship.

Aquilino, who plans to continue his education and pursue a doctorate in microbiology and immunology is especially grateful he won’t be leaving UD with a huge student loan balance. “I’ve been able to attend a great school without accumulating a crazy amount of debt,” said Aquilino.

He is grateful UD has set him up for future success and for the donors for giving him a financial lift when it was most needed. “The impact of donor scholarships is incredible, specifically for students going through hard times. My family would love to help me with school, but they can’t,” said Aquilino.

Investing 107 Hours

Sophomore Caiden Guzman understands the value of time and invests it in making a positive impact on the world around him through outreach and his chosen major.

When Guzman was young, he aspired to become an astronaut. Over the years, he realized he instead wanted to be part of the team making space exploration possible.

“It is the team behind the team that lays the foundation for others to succeed,” said Guzman. “It is what my parents did for me, their parents did for them, and what I have set as the goal for my time at the University of Dayton.”

In his quest to become part of that foundational team, Guzman sought schools offering aerospace engineering degrees. He visited several schools in Ohio that had the program, as well as MIT. After the visits, UD’s program felt right to him.

He and his family talked with several people on campus, including the vice president of enrollment, the School of Engineering dean and an admission adviser who Guzman described as “incredible and caring.” Guzman decided to become a Flyer because he felt cared for from day one and UD’s mechanical engineering with an aerospace engineering concentration was the right fit for him. Another factor was the financial aid package UD offered, which included the Sheehy Memorial Scholarship.

Guzman is grateful to scholarship donors who laid a foundation on which he can succeed at the University and beyond. And the mathematician in him calculated the time given to him by not having to work to earn money, thanks to the Sheehy Memorial Scholarship — 107 hours.

And the mathematician in him calculated the time given to him by not having to work to earn money, thanks to the Sheehy Memorial Scholarship — 107 hours.

He invested that time in several University-based activities. A few highlights include:

• tutoring others as a math and physics tutor for the Multi-Ethnic Engineers Program.
• being involved in outreach activities that benefited inner-city students in Dayton through the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
• winning an intramural kickball championship.

“All of these time-based activities have helped me to build my own social capital and are helping me to change the world around me,” said Guzman.

This year, he also received the Margarita Quintana-Tuss and Mark Stewart Maurice, Ph.D., Scholarship. Guzman intends to keep investing time afforded to him through scholarships in his outreach activities, like he will in his role as vice president for outreach and engagement of the UD SHPE chapter — even while taking a heavy course load of 18 credit hours this fall.

Making a difference in the world and getting an education are both important to Guzman, who shared a quote from Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Guzman is thankful for scholarships, which allowed him time to volunteer while he pursues his engineering education. He said he will do all he can to make his scholarship donors say, “this is a life we helped change, to change the world.”

Finding a New Path After Service

For Kurtis Neiman, the University of Dayton is the perfect place to redirect his future, especially since his path to becoming a Flyer isn’t what most would describe as traditional.

Neiman began his military career in 2011. During his eight years of dedicated service, Neiman was injured, subsequently leading to his honorable discharge. Soon after returning home, he found himself at a crossroads. He was working for the U.S. Postal Service, but that job aggravated his military injury. When he learned he was eligible for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs program called Veteran Readiness and Employment, which would cover 100% of his tuition, he decided to go back to college.

Neiman had previously taken some courses at Sinclair Community College and Wright State University. But if he was going to be a 29-year-old first-year student, Neiman wanted to be a Flyer.

“I wanted to attend the best school around, which is UD,” said Neiman.

"I wanted to attend the best school around, which is UD," said Neiman.

And Neiman’s not alone. More than 400 veteran and military-affiliated students attend undergraduate and graduate classes at the University of Dayton, and the Military and Veteran Programs and Services Center is making it easier than ever for them to focus on earning their degrees.

The University also makes sure to show appreciation for the bravery and service of our military students. Among the planned events this Veterans Day is a special Mass at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception Friday, Nov. 11 starting at 12:30 p.m. A live stream will be available. UD’s Student Veterans Association also hosted a recent 5K run and will attend a national convention in Florida this coming January.

The focus on military and veteran students is getting noticed, and not just by students. UD earned a 2021 Military Times best colleges for veterans designation, the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Collegiate Purple Star Award, and a 2022-23 US News best colleges for veterans designation.

As for Neiman, he is studying graphic design and animation and is on track to graduate in 2026. Eventually, he wants to start a career in television or movie production, so he is considering changing to photography and film.

“I don’t know where I saw it, but I saw a quote that said from your 30s to 40s you’re finding your job, from your 40s to 50s you’re mastering that career and from your 50s to 60s you’re training the next generation,” said Neiman. “I realized I needed to find something that I can master.”

And all of the support he’s found at UD has allowed him to focus on his true goal: a new career to provide for his family. Neiman is a father of two. His son is 5, and his daughter is 1. When she was born, they learned his wife has a heart condition and is now battling heart failure at age 26. Neiman admits he’s facing stresses that most first-year Flyers aren’t.

 “It’s a lot to juggle,” said Neiman. “The workload is sometimes stressful, but it’s doable. It’s one of those things where you have to just sit down, and it might be overwhelming, but you get it done.”

And, no matter the obstacles, Neiman says he will handle whatever comes his way because he is ready to leave his mark on the world.

Committing to UD's Future

For the past 12 years, Bill and Sue Trollinger have made regular financial contributions to the University of Dayton’s academic and athletic programs. It’s a practice they plan to continue even after they retire from their faculty positions — they vow to be donors for life.

“We have a very deep commitment to the University of Dayton,” said Sue Trollinger, professor of English. “We like to say that miracles come out of UD every day.”

The number of faculty and staff like the Trollingers donating to UD has increased in recent years. In 2019, the faculty and staff giving rate more than doubled, thanks to the first One Day, One Dayton — UD’s annual day of giving. The giving rate held strong in fiscal year 2022, with 34% of all faculty and staff (full- and part-time) making contributions — almost double the rate of several peer institutions according to fiscal year 2021 data from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

The gifts this past year included support through Flyer Funder — UD’s official crowdfunding platform for projects proposed by members of the campus community. Compared to the previous fiscal year, the number of faculty and staff donors who supported Flyer Funder campaigns increased by 64% and dollars contributed went up by 74%. For one campaign, faculty and staff accounted for more than half of the donors and 62% of the dollars raised.

For the Trollingers, supporting UD is personal. Bill was on the faculty in the Department of History at UD for several years before leaving for an administrative position at a different university, where Sue was also on the faculty. They realized their futures as academics and partners would best be fulfilled back in Dayton.

Bill returned to a new position in history and religious studies, teaching everything from first-year undergraduate courses to doctoral seminars. Sue soon followed him to Dayton as a lecturer in the Department of English. They married a year later, creating a blended family with four children. In 2009, Sue became a tenure-line faculty member in the Department of English and was tenured in 2012.

“UD welcomed Bill back and embraced me as well,” Sue said.

Bill directs the Core Program, an interdisciplinary undergraduate curriculum in a learning-living community. Sue also teaches in Core, which offers a sequence of courses that fulfill many of the University’s Common Academic Program requirements, as well as opportunities to earn honors credits.

The Trollingers’ giving began with donations to the College of Arts and Sciences and to the Champions & Scholars Fund. They’ve steadily increased their giving each year, directing most of their funds to the Core Program.

“We’ve seen the Core Program transform so many students’ lives,” Sue said.

In recent years, they’ve enjoyed seeing UD from the perspective of their youngest children. Anna graduated in May and is heading to Indiana University Bloomington for graduate work in history; Jacob will be a junior, majoring in philosophy and music.

As they prepare for their family’s future after UD, the Trollingers are working toward solidifying a lasting gift by including UD in their will and estate planning.

“This is our commitment to the University of Dayton,” Sue said. Like the Trollingers, several other faculty and staff members have made a planned gift to support the University. The generosity of this group goes toward sustaining various areas on campus, including academics, libraries, Flyer Promise, Campus Ministry and scholarships.

“We’ve made amazing friends and colleagues through UD, and we’ve seen the transformation in our own children,” Sue said. “It’s been wonderful for our entire family. UD made miracles happen for us.”

Building a Caring Community

The moment Cedric Mwizerwa arrived at UD, he understood what community meant.

Mwizerwa first met fellow students and got to know them during the summer STEM camp on campus. “They wanted to know me, where I’m from, how I do things, what are my methods of studying and different things about my life.” And that was just day one. “People were stopping by saying hi to me, and it was just fantastic. And it continued happening daily. I kept on meeting new people.”

He grew up in Rwanda in East Africa, and his family moved to Houston, Texas, in 2018 before relocating to Centerville, Ohio, one year later where he attended high school. He chose to attend UD because it was close to home and had a good mechanical engineering program.

One of his goals for his first year at UD was to make connections with as many people as he could. When asked about making connections on campus during his first year, he said, “Oh, that is so easy. UD is just an environment of community.”

Throughout his first year on campus, he met even more Flyers by joining the French Club. He also participated in Brother to Brother — a program within the Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center — and took advantage of social activities on campus, like movie nights.

The inclusiveness at UD is something that stood out to Mwizerwa. “I didn’t feel like a stranger even with my accent,” he said. “I felt like I belonged there.” And he wants to show how much he cares by extending that same sense of community and inclusion to others. “I meet international students, and I’m like, ‘Hey, I can help you!’”

During his first year as a mechanical engineering student, Mwizerwa also grew as he learned to help himself by discovering his learning style, finding where to seek help and practicing good time management. He also learned more about what it means to be an engineer. “I discovered what my options are in the field and I was surprised by how many things I could do.”

One of the things Mwizerwa is interested in pursuing is becoming an aerospace engineer and working with things that fly. He enjoyed his solid modeling class, where he learned how to design 3D images on the computer and look at the images at different angles. He looks forward to using the skills he learned in this class in his career.

Mwizerwa appreciates the Berry Family Scholarship he received to attend UD and study engineering. “It means the world to me that I was selected to receive the scholarship.”

This past spring, Mwizerwa and other recipients of the Berry Family Scholarship attended a luncheon where they met John Jr. and Charles “Chuck” Berry, two of the donors behind establishing the scholarship. Mwizerwa was grateful for the opportunity to meet them in person. “My culture is to see them and thank them.”

John Berry Jr. was also glad to meet Mwizerwa, whose personality stood out. “Not only is he a smart guy, but he was very outgoing. Very affable, very engaging.”

Mwizerwa enjoyed meeting with the Berrys and hearing about their own time in college. He also was impressed and thankful that they started the Berry Family Scholarship to help students.

“It’s just such a great thing,” said Mwizerwa. “Their entire family cares about other people’s futures, and I would like them to know that this means the world to me.”

Committed to Catholic Education

Gordon and Joanne Fuchs were educators who believed in providing support where it was needed most. Avid sports fans, they loved UD basketball. But you would be more likely to find them at football, volleyball, or women’s soccer and basketball games because they wanted to make sure every UD student-athlete received the recognition and support they deserved.

If you would call sports their passion, then it is safe to say that Catholic education was their mission. Gordon was a professor in the Department of Teacher Education at UD for more than 30 years, and Joanne taught at St. Charles Borromeo School in the Dayton area. Together they sent all five of their boys (Paul ’95, Stephen ’96, Mark ’97, Phil ’01 and Anthony Fuchs ’02) to Catholic schools for their entire education despite the sacrifices they had to make to afford this.

“Even though we attended UD through tuition remission (as children of a UD professor), it was still a struggle for our parents,” said Stephen. “Especially for K-12. Sending five boys to Catholic elementary and high schools, plus the housing and food at UD … they made those sacrifices because they knew the value of Catholic education. They were committed to that for us.”

Stephen knows that they wanted to help others receive that education, too. As assistant principal at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School in Dayton, he said his dad once walked in with a donation and announced to the office that he didn’t want any of that going to Stephen’s salary; it was to help a student.

The brothers laughed at the memory, but they also note that Gordon would say the same thing to UD because Mark is now a director of environmental health and safety for the University.

The brothers’ laughter spilled over into stories about Gordon taking each son to UD football games where they sat behind Brother Raymond Fitz, S.M. ’64, who was president of the University at the time. According to Phil and Paul, each of the Fuchs’ sons can attest that Fitz is a kind and patient man even after they put him to the test with their inadvertent bumps and kicks as they focused on the concessions and treats instead of the games they attended when they were 5 or 6 years old.

Whether at a football game, in the Chapel or attending Christmas on Campus, UD always remained a focal point for the family because, although the education was important, there was always so much more.

“They didn’t choose to support UD just because of the academic rigor, though that is definitely there,” said Stephen. “It’s the values. It’s the community. It’s the family spirit. That’s what they wanted us to experience.”

Gordon and Joanne wanted future students to experience the School of Education and Health Sciences, too. Before her death, Joanne let the boys know that she wanted $25,000 to go to UD to help a student in the School of Education and Health Sciences. In honor of their parents, the brothers each gave $5,000 to help education students who need the support. 

“Dayton was so special to both of my parents. They made their home there and totally immersed themselves in the UD community,” said Anthony.

“When they were making their final arrangements, they chose a plot at Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, high up on top of the hill that overlooks the UD campus. That is how special UD was to my mom and dad, and how special it is to all of us.”

More Than a Party

For University of Dayton graduates, Reunion Weekend is the preeminent alumni event of the year. From catching up with classmates to exploring parts of campus added or renovated since graduation, there is little doubt that Flyers enjoy a walk down memory lane. But before reminiscing can begin, there is an entire team — including alumni — that has to plan.

Like other Flyers, life pulled Brian Kearney ’95 away from Dayton, and it wasn’t until Reunion Weekend 2015 that he returned. Kearney found the 20-year absence caused his heart to grow fonder of his Flyer roots, so he joined the planning committee for what would have been the Class of 1995’s silver anniversary in 2020.

“It was nice to have the University ask our group what was good,” said Kearney. “They asked what we thought worked well and what didn’t. What did we want to see, and did we have examples from other events that could be incorporated?”

Ultimately, Reunion Weekend 2020 was canceled because of the pandemic, but Kearney says it would have been a nice mix of new-school technology and traditional events, a blend experienced by those who returned in 2022.

“UD is a physical place, but it extends beyond that,” said Kearney. “It’s a mix of the people and the employees and the feel on campus.”

It’s a sentiment that Ummiya Chaudhary ’20 shares even though her class hasn’t celebrated a reunion yet. However, because the pandemic canceled graduation in 2020, the class held a celebration two years later. The festivities were similar to Reunion Weekend, and Chaudhary was part of the planning committee.

“You spend four years getting to know your classmates and you develop a deep bond,” said Chaudhary. “And it wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t come to UD.”

That’s part of why alumni like Kearney and Chaudhary get involved. Reunion Weekend is more than just a party. It is a way to reconnect to the feelings, memories and friends you have from that time of your life.

“When I see alums come back for Reunion Weekend, there is this excitement, especially among the Golden Flyers,” said Chaudhary. “Life brings other priorities to the forefront, so when you have this thing down the road it has importance.”

“Helping Dayton doesn’t just mean writing a check,” said Kearney. “You can make Dayton a little better for the incoming students and fellow alumni by giving your time, too.”

Finding Home Through Service

When she was young, Nancy Riedl ’91 considered herself fearless. It was no surprise that, as a first-year communication student, she took a job calling the generous donors who fund University of Dayton programs and scholarships — people she didn’t know.

So, it caught her off guard when she was a little overwhelmed upon moving to New York after graduation.

“Moving somewhere as an adult was so different than going to UD where I didn’t know anyone,” said Riedl, who quickly found an answer — and a volunteer calling — by turning back to her alma mater. “To feel more connected I joined the New York Metro Alumni Community and my first event was Christmas off Campus.”

Riedl has gone on to serve in nearly every volunteer capacity the University offers, including as leader of the New York Metro Alumni Community and as a member of the University of Dayton Alumni Association Board. She also gives back as a Peer-to-Peer Ambassador.

Her career also evolved. That time she spent talking with UD donors inspired a career as a fundraiser for iconic, nonprofit institutions like the Bronx Zoo and The New York Botanical Garden. Eventually, she ended up in the “space where I belong” as the chief development officer for a New York-based organization called Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter.

She now spearheads a project looking for solutions to the nationwide issue of homelessness among college students. Once again Riedl found her UD experience nudging her toward service and, for the first time, began volunteering directly with current Flyers.

The University’s IACT program pairs UD mentors with current students. One of the overall goals is to help current Flyers develop the creative competencies that many jobs now require. In 2019, Riedl teamed up with IACT students, including mechanical engineering major Ethan Owens ’20, to find real ways to help college students experiencing homelessness in New York.

Owens says his time with IACT and Riedl did more than help him solve real problems with his degree — it helped him find the humanity in his chosen profession.

“Most of the time you’re learning something new on the job that you didn’t learn in school,” said Owens. “Connecting students and volunteers with that real-world experience early on is super helpful.”

And it’s not just helpful for the recent graduates.

“So much of the volunteering I do for UD feels like I get as much out of it as I’m putting into it,” said Riedl. She is still looking for solutions for college students experiencing homelessness but, even with that important mission, Riedl has no plans to slow down when it comes to volunteering at UD because she can set her own availability.

“What sets UD apart is creating citizens of the world and their communities. That fosters people who want to give back so it would be hard to imagine a world without UD volunteers,” said Riedl.

Success Through Sustainable Support

In a year when markets are down, the University of Dayton endowment provides consistent, reliable support to our programs, professors and students thanks to exceptional returns from previous years and the forethought and generosity of donors from generations past. This is exactly what an endowment is designed to do.

The endowment is an intergenerational pact — a contract between the past, present and future of the University. Our community is thriving thanks to alumni, donors and University leaders committed to the long-term success of our Catholic, Marianist mission.

The current value of the endowment, made up of both donor- and board-restricted funds, is $770 million. While this is lower than the $809 million reported last year, the University’s asset allocation plan and investment management performance mitigated the challenges experienced in traditional financial markets. As a result, our long-term investment pool remained stable at $1.06 billion as of June 30, 2022.

“We talk about the endowment as a single number, but it’s made up of hundreds of funds — most of which are restricted to very specific uses, such as funding a particular scholarship or professorship. We report on them together because these funds create a very real base of support — a foundation that the University of Dayton builds on every year,” said Chris Morrison, vice president of University Advancement. “It ensures that we will have consistent and growing support for our most important programs and people despite yearly fluctuations in value because our endowment is focused on creating equity across generations of Flyer students.”

The campus and community are receiving support from the endowment right now — $24.9 million this year — and the goal is to maintain and grow the endowment so that future generations receive the same UD educational value and benefits or better. Unlike an individual investor whose goal might be to maximize profit in 10 or 20 years, Morrison points out that “the endowment is a pool of funds managed for our success during the next 200 years.”

Even in a down market the endowment provides consistent resources. The board of trustees typically approves 3.5% to 5.5% of endowed funds for current use. This balances the need for preserving and growing the endowment while providing consistent funds that can budgeted for current use for our mission-driven initiatives.

In addition to this careful distribution, the board and many donors place specific restrictions on the funds and their gifts. This ensures that the funds will always be used for their intended purposes and are not legally permitted to be depleted by pressures to use the money as a “rainy-day fund.”

Think of it like sustainably harvesting from a forest or preserving groundwater in our aquifers. Cutting too many trees or pumping out too much water may have a greater financial impact upfront, but the long-term effects of overuse result in diminished returns overall.

“It was exciting to announce last year that our long-term investment pool and endowment passed the billion-dollar mark last year,” said Morrison. “That’s a significant achievement that places UD among the elite institutions in the U.S.”

And while annual tuition revenue and donor support fluctuate, which is simply the reality for all of higher education, UD’s endowment provides stable and long-lasting financial support for our students and our mission.

“Those who came before us have ensured our success today because they made gifts to the endowment. We’re benefiting from their generosity and foresight right now,” said Morrison. “It is our responsibility to preserve and grow that support for our future.”

Building a Foundation and Creating New Ones

For Michael DiFlora, the wheels of success started turning early in his career, and while he never attended the University of Dayton, the University was the grease that helped those wheels get going.

When DiFlora graduated from college in 1972 there were more engineers than positions available. The space race had recently ended and NASA, the government agency that had inspired so many for so long, had downsized. Despite that, DiFlora had multiple job offers, but one intrigued him more than the others. True, it paid the least, but it offered DiFlora the chance to do research, something that fascinated him.

“I never took a job for money,” said DiFlora. “I always took it for the challenge of the job.”

Saying yes to the job meant DiFlora began working for James Hoeffel ’59. Under Hoeffel’s patience and mentorship, DiFlora began to build the foundation for the rest of his career. He worked hard, made mistakes, found solutions and learned how to keep meticulous records of all of it.

“When you’re researching you have to keep notes. I didn’t know what a patent log was before that job,” said DiFlora. “I got that experience working for Jim.”

Those patent logs helped DiFlora secure more than 20 patents of his own over the course of his 40-year career. Now technically retired and reflecting on those who contributed to his success, DiFlora thought of Hoeffel and how his guidance helped set so many things in motion for him. 

DiFlora and his wife, Holly DiFlora ’83, decided to fund the James D. Hoeffel Scholarship at UD — Hoeffel’s alma mater and the place where he also taught night classes — to pay it forward.

The DiFlora’s met with Hoeffel’s son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Amy Hoeffel, to talk about the impact they hope this scholarship will make.

“It was very cool to hear about the scholarship,” said Jeffrey, who followed his father into the world of technology and now works for the University of Dayton Research Institute. “He was always engaged in his classes and was not afraid to learn anything. He’s a cool cat.”

But for DiFlora, the goal of this scholarship is to do more than just pay tribute to someone who made a big impact on the trajectory of his career.

“This was a thank you for somebody who was a mentor,” said DiFlora. “Hopefully, someone else says ‘this is a good idea’ and is inspired to establish a scholarship for their mentor.”

A Winding and Unexpected Road

For Erica Reist Bass ’15, the road to her first Emmy is similar to the patient stories she tells — winding and totally unexpected.

During her four years at the University of Dayton, and for a few years after graduation, Bass thought her calling lay in a different profession than video production, even though it had long been something she enjoyed.

“I was worried that if I made my hobby into a profession, I wouldn’t love it the same way,” said Bass. “Would that change everything for me?”

By the time the pandemic was underway in 2020, Bass was facing a fork in the road. Encouragement from family and friends had her thinking that maybe video production could be her full-time career. She had been picking up freelance video work for two years but choosing a new path would mean moving on from the career she’d prepared for at UD.

“I was feeling the pressure that, because I had a degree in something, I thought I needed to do that,” said Bass.

But when the door opened for change, Bass was ready. Those freelance jobs helped her build a portfolio of work that earned her a job at Michigan Medicine as a video producer. Bass works with a small team of video producers and takes the lead on creating videos about cancer patients and the journeys they face. Before every story, Bass gets to know the patient to put together a list of questions for them to answer on camera. She takes those answers to shape and edit the story that’s shared with the public.

“Everything is done with the patient and their story in mind,” said Bass. “I transform their spoken narrative into video format, keeping it true to them and their health journey.”

The first patient story she told was Michael’s. Just days before competing in a triathlon, he learned he had colon cancer.

“He had this moment during the race when things stood still, and he actually processed that he had cancer,” said Bass. “He crossed the finish line, then started fighting his cancer with the same determination. He’s now cancer free.”

A few months later, her co-workers submitted the video she created with Michael for a regional Emmy Award. And, perhaps only to her own surprise, she received a nomination.

Then, she won.

“I’m so thankful for those who never batted an eye and said I could do this. I had the best support in the world,” said Bass.

Even with her first Emmy win, and a few more stories under her belt, Bass isn’t afraid to admit that she’s still learning. She’s excited to keep telling patient stories and hopes that other Flyers learn from her own story.

“It’s OK not to have everything planned out,” said Bass. “It’s OK to change your mind. Be gentle with yourself and know that it’s OK to try something. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out.”

And even though she’s now in a very different place than she expected as a student, Bass says what she learned at UD is still at the heart of what she’s doing.

“UD is a home for storytelling. We celebrated stories already written, and it’s where we shaped our stories without even realizing it.”