Hometown Hillsdale: Louise Van Aken Worms, ’71
Written by Stephanie Gordon
Louise Van Aken Worms, ’71, spent over 30 years in the classroom impacting the lives of young children in and around Hillsdale County. (I had the privilege to be one of those young children in the early ’90s.) Louise has continuously embodied a kind spirit for children and the Hillsdale community, which she actively supports to this day.
The early childhood education major grew up on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio, and attended an all-girls school for grades 7-12. She called this education a “family tradition.” She went against the grain of her sisters when it came time to choose a college. “My father’s sister had come to Hillsdale College in the 1930s,” said Louise. “Hillsdale was not so far from home, and it was co-ed. I was interested in both of those aspects.”
After an eventful campus tour in March of 1966 (post-Slayton Arboretum UFO sighting), Louise applied to Hillsdale and was accepted. “I remember that night, and my dad walked in the door after work with the checkbook in his hand ready to send a deposit to Hillsdale to hold a place for me there,” laughed Louise. “He was so excited and it was a done deal.”
During Louise’s early years at Hillsdale, Mary Randall Preschool Director Elizabeth Dickinson, better known as “Miss D,” inspired Louise to become a teacher. “I spent a lot of time at Mary Randall Preschool and had a wonderful experience and relationship with Miss D, who was among the best,” Louise said. “I enjoyed the literature that was available to the children and how Miss D related to the students. And she brought her students along to become successful teachers.”
In addition to spending time at the preschool, Louise was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and enjoyed giving campus tours to prospective families. She also met her husband, Steve Worms, ’75, at Hillsdale. “Steve had an interesting path to Hillsdale,” Louise said. “Steve wanted to attend Hillsdale after high school, but it was not an option when he was awarded a full scholarship to play baseball at another college. He was not happy there, so he dropped out of school to join the Marines.”
Steve eventually made his way to Hillsdale College, but could only afford to attend one semester per year. He attended Hillsdale while he could afford it, then went home to Detroit to work to pay for more schooling. He and Louise married in 1974, and Steve graduated the following year. “After my graduation, I knew I wanted to teach, so I accepted a teaching position at Addison Community Schools,” she said. “I was there for 13 years before transferring to Hillsdale Community Schools in 1987.”
Between teaching at Addison and Hillsdale Community Schools, Louise and Steve welcomed two sons—Jason, in 1979, and Bill, in 1982. Steve first was hired to be a social worker for the Hillsdale County Intermediate School District. Soon after, he became a probation officer, and eventually, a referee for the Hillsdale County Juvenile Court, where he spent his career.
She and Steve enjoyed raising their children so close to the College. “We (still) live near the College, and we were blessed to raise our children in a great neighborhood full of young children and families of professors,” said Louise. “Our boys were able to walk to Mauck School, and it was just a fun neighborhood for everyone. We still enjoy living near campus to attend events and we’re just a short walk to the downtown area.”
Louise spent her time at Hillsdale Community Schools teaching various elementary grades, but landed on teaching third grade for several years. She retired from the school in 1999, and then taught for five years at Karan Jenkins Preschool in Hillsdale.
“I really enjoyed being with children,” Louise reflected on her time in the classroom. “I loved sharing books, and I loved seeing the children learn and figure things out. It was very rewarding.”
Currently, Louise stays active in various organizations within the Hillsdale community. She is a member of the Hillsdale Garden Club and the Hillsdale Woman’s Club. She is also a Hillsdale College Woman Commissioner and an active supporter of the Mitchell Research Center. Through the Garden Club, Louise became involved with Mrs. Stock’s Park, one of her biggest passions.
“Mrs. Stock’s Park is so peaceful,” she said. “I love it there. Every Thursday morning—spring, summer, and fall—I work with others at the park to help keep it looking beautiful. I don’t have the best green thumb, but I know what Creeping Charlie (a weed) is, and I can pull that out with a passion.”
After so many years of service and dedication to the Hillsdale community, Louise and Steve still enjoy calling Hillsdale home. Outside of delighting in retirement and supporting their community, they enjoy visiting their sons and grandchildren, who live nearby in Indiana. “Life is good,” Louise smiled. “We are very happy.”
Stephanie Gordon, a lifelong Hillsdale native, is the managing editor of the Virtue and Valor: The Official Blog of Hillsdale College. She is married to chiropractor, Dr. Matt Gordon, and has three children – Eloise, Flora, and Jack. When she has a spare moment, she enjoys paleo baking, floating on Baw Beese Lake, and breaking a sweat at the gym.
Published in December 2023