May 2023

Hometown Hillsdale: Kelly Lantis, ’86

The love for Hillsdale, Michigan, and Hillsdale College runs deep in the Lantis family. Kelly Stewart Lantis, ’86, proudly stated that 19 of her family members have attended the College, including her parents, her husband, and all four of her children. For 35 years, Kelly and her husband, Jeff, ’86, have happily called Hillsdale home.

Net Gain: Kathy Heimbuch Heckert Caldwell Loved the Balance Hillsdale College Offered

As a nationally ranked high school tennis player, Kathy Heimbuch Heckert Caldwell, ’91, had many college options. In fact, she was looking at several large NCAA Division I tennis programs when her father suggested shifting her focus a bit. When she came to Hillsdale’s campus, she fell in love.

So You’ve Committed to Hillsdale. Now What?

After taking pictures, buying a sweatshirt, and telling all your relatives about your future alma mater, these are the next steps you should take to prepare for the move to college.

All In On Hillsdale: Haley Strack, ’23, Eager to Give Back After Life-Altering Experience

“I fell in love listening to Dr. Spalding and Dr. Meehan talk about the good, and Shakespeare, and how everything relates back to modern political culture,” Strack said after attending the Statesmanship Weekend for prospective students at the Kirby Center in Washington, D.C. “I cried in the coat closet at the Kirby Center, called my mom and said, ‘Make the deposit. I’m going here.’ Then I was all in.”

Out of the Ordinary: From Meeting Presidents to Surviving 9/11, Family Still Comes First for Kipling Oren

There is nothing ordinary about Kipling Oren, ’94. From his advocacy for helping children with brain disorders to his unique history of meeting former presidents to surviving the tragedy of 9/11, there’s more than meets the eye.

Stopping and Looking Around

The Alumni Office is coming off the completion of the Alumni National Tour, the 50/60-Year Reunion, and most recently the third annual White & Blue Weekend and the Alumni Awards Banquet. Continually amazed by Hillsdale’s graduates, Doug Goodnough, ’90, highlights alumni accomplishments and news.

It’s the Little Things

Hillsdale College students must sign the Honor Code during their first few days on campus. What does that commitment mean for how they spend their next four years?

Leader in the Making: Former Two-Time Captain Frank Isabelle II Now Leads in the Insurance Industry

Frank Isabelle II, ’89, doesn’t have any championship trophies sitting on his mantle from his tennis-playing days at Hillsdale College, but he fondly recalls his athletic experience saying, “It was just good camaraderie.”

Shooting for Excellence: Pieraccini Credits His Hillsdale Experience for Teaching Career

When Lucas Pieraccini, ’20, he arrived on campus, he got his shot at the team’s first travel competition. The result? Not one miss out of 100 trap targets. Four years later, Pieraccini helped the Chargers win two national championships, numerous other competitions, and served as a two-time team captain.

Pursuing Everyday Beauty

At Hillsdale, in order to develop our character and intellect, we pursue beauty. But what does that look like for a college student living life between dorm room, classroom, and dining hall?

Hillsdale Action Shooting: The Making of a Powerhouse

Gregory Clement, ’23, says his Hillsdale Action Shooting experience was “overwhelmingly positive.” This spring, Hillsdale captured a national championship at the Scholastic Action Shooting Program’s Collegiate Nationals, hosted in Talladega, Alabama. The Chargers claimed first place in the Centerfire division and took second in the 1911 division.

Hometown Hillsdale: Connie Erholtz Continues to Contribute to Her Community

She is known to many in the Hillsdale community as “Miss Connie.” Although she retired years ago after teaching three decades in the classroom, Connie Copp Erholtz, ’63, is still making a big impact on her local community.