When contacted for an interview with UD Magazine, Rick Vogel ’78 and Nancy Spoerl Vogel ’89 didn’t respond with the standard logistics but with an invitation of their own: “Your front porch or ours?”
That’s just the kind of open-door policy that defines the Vogels and their philosophy on faith, philanthropy and all things Flyers. With 39 consecutive years of giving, the Vogels are among UD’s most loyal Front Porch Society members, which helped surpass UD’s participation goal in the We Soar campaign.
And their connection to the University is just as long-standing.
“When I was in grade school, my dad always had tickets for the basketball games, so I was always at the old Fieldhouse to watch the programs,” recalled Vogel, who graduated with a degree in engineering technology. “I took electrical engineering classes in high school and my mother worked for UD [at the time], so it was always the clear choice for me.”
Spoerl Vogel’s path to UD was a bit more winding. As the oldest of nine children, she initially attended Sinclair Community College part time, working full time to finance her studies and raise her children. A scholarship opportunity for Sinclair students aged 24 and up pursuing a degree in education made it possible for Spoerl Vogel to transfer to UD, move to part-time work and earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and, later, a master’s in art education.
“UD was very supportive of me as a nontraditional student. The scholarship made it possible for me to attend in the first place. My counselors made sure I was taking the right classes to graduate. That kind of personal attention meant a lot,” Spoerl Vogel explained.
“The scholarship made it possible for me to attend in the first place.”
A couple of decades later, the Vogels have remained deeply involved with UD, attending countless basketball games with their friends and supporting numerous departments and initiatives from the School of Engineering to the UD Fund. Their greatest passion, he said, lies in supporting student-athletes through the Champions & Scholars Fund.
“I am a native Daytonian and grew up with UD basketball. I feel strongly about supporting institutions that have had an influence on my growth both as a student and as an adult,” said Vogel. “Some of our favorite memories are with our friends at games spending time with one another rootin’ on the Flyers. It just doesn’t get better than that.”
Said Spoerl Vogel: “I [continue to give] financial support to UD because I was a nontraditional student who worked and raised a family while attending UD part time. UD was my educational home for 17 years. Scholarship opportunities helped me … and culminated in [both] an undergraduate [and] master’s degree.”
The Vogels’ dedication to community extends beyond financial support — they are also generous with their time and attention. Spoerl Vogel volunteers with the Ohio Art Education Association and serves as an interpreter at nearby Carillon Historical Park, while Vogel is a member of the Dor-Wood Optimist Club of Kettering, which organizes community events like an annual fishing derby.
“As Catholics, service and giving back have always been a part of our lives.”
“As Catholics, service and giving back have always been a part of our lives, even when money was tight when we were younger,” reflected Spoerl Vogel. “It’s just how we were raised, and that’s something we’ve tried to pass on to our own children and grandchildren.”
For the Vogels, the true reward isn’t the recognition but the sense of community and belonging they’ve found at their beloved university.
“UD has always felt like home to us,” beamed Vogel.
“We want to help create the community we want to be a part of, both at UD and in our own backyard,” added Spoerl Vogel. “If the ‘open’ sign in our window is flashing, you know you’re allowed to come on down.”