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Flyer Pride

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Flyer Pride

Staff • August 18, 2026

Where life is blue and chapel red.

A white dog wears a University of Dayton Flyers collar.

BECCA STAUDTER HOLBROOK is a teacher at Northmont Middle School in Clayton, Ohio. “My kiddos know I am crazy about Dayton!” she said.

CHERYL NEFF FAHRIG ’01 comes from a big family of Flyers, so naturally her basement reflects her ultimate UD pride.

“My dear friend MEG ROBERTSON ’95 is a Flyers superfan. She created these shirts! We sure do miss UD, especially on St. Patrick’s Day.” JULIE VALEANT YENICHEK ’97

CHRISTINA Phillips DUFFY ’87 shared that her husband, RICHARD DUFFY, has a prosthetic leg that is UD Flyers themed. Now that’s fandom.

MARIA RAPONI GABBARD shared that her father, JOHN RAPONI ’72, has had probably the biggest collection of UD Flyer license plates. Wow.

DONALD E. PATTERSON ’78, the former mayor of Kettering, Ohio, has had this ultimate Flyers license plate for 15-20 years. He said, “I won't give up in my lifetime. Well, maybe for right price, LOL.”

DAVE FORTKAMP ’87, JACKIE SCHMERGE FULLENKAMP ’82 and MARK FULLENKAMP ’82 have taken their Flyer pride on the road. Mark said, “We have a robust group of Flyer Faithful here in Florida (The Villages). We often pass many more golf carts that look just like ours!”

How many Flyers hockey jerseys are too many? Asking for a friend. PETER KING ’77

Show us your Flyer pride. Make us gasp. Make us laugh. Make us say, “Only a Flyer.” We need you to show us that big Flyer energy. Ridiculous. Outrageous. Unhinged. Send it in: magazine@udayton.edu.

A version of this article appears in print in the Summer 2026 University of Dayton Magazine, Page 4. EXPLORE THE ISSUE — MORE ONLINE

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