Written by Doug Goodnough
It’s always a busy time on campus during the academic year. April is an especially hectic time, when students and faculty are rushing to the finish line of final exams and Commencement.
The Alumni Office is running a race of its own, trying to host current events and plan for future ones all at the same time. And once one finish line is crossed, there is always a new one on the horizon.
Let me share what a “typical” month looks like for the alumni team:
- April 2: The Future Alumni Association partnered with Career Services to host an industry dinner with students and alumni. Young Alumni Programs Coordinator Kaeleigh Di Cello, ’24, helped organize the dinner, which featured alumni from various career fields who had a chance to chat and network with current students. A few internships and job leads may have been forged during the evening.
- April 7: The selection of the annual Alumni Awards means scheduling videos of the honorees. This year, the alumni of the Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity were chosen for the Tower Award for their service to the College. Fittingly, representatives of the house were on site to “shoot” their video at the Phi Sig Pavilion, which was a fantastic partnership between the Phi Sigs and the College.
- April 8-10: The 50/60-Year Plus Reunion was another memorable experience for all involved, with nearly 40 alumni coming back to celebrate their reunions. From touring campus to participating in the annual Spring Convocation, our guests got a chance to experience Hillsdale in the present, while taking time to reconnect with classmates and memories of the past.
- April 11 & 18: The first Alumni Day of Service had our nine regional alumni chapters choosing improvement projects at local schools as well as on main campus over two weekends. Director of Alumni Engagement David Bassett helped organize the effort that saw alumni from around the country serving their local communities.
- April 15: The inaugural Alumni Day of Giving was a 24-hour fundraising extravaganza directed by Associate Director of Alumni Annual Giving Braden VanDyke, ’21. We had fun working with nearly a dozen campus partners to raise funds for their particular causes. Live video interviews included a trip to the Homestead Project (formerly Glei’s Orchards), the McAvoy Natatorium, and the Mu Alpha House, to name a few. While the numbers are still coming in, there were more than 370 gifts totaling more than $120,000! Thank you to those who made a gift!
- April 16: Jan and Bill Brodbeck, ’67, ’66, again graciously opened their house for a senior wine-tasting event. The Alumni Office is so grateful that the Brodbecks host this event, which is a student favorite every year. It is yet another opportunity for our students to connect with alumni.
- April 18: The Gina Relays returned to the Hillsdale campus, and the Legacy Dinner followed in the Biermann Center. The nasty weather did not deter a crowd of nearly 200 people from attending to celebrate the track and field and cross country programs. This year, the program honored the late Gina Van Laar Lanser, ’88. Her former coach and mentor, Diane Philipp, ’82, shared an emotional and touching tribute of Hillsdale’s only cross country national champion.
- April 21: Another day, another alumni award video shoot. This time, we traveled to Columbia, Mississippi, to chronicle the life and career of Duane “Dutch” Van Fleet, ’73. The decorated Vietnam War hero who served for more than two decades in the U.S. Marines was in full military dress when we showed up at the door. He is this year’s recipient of the Elizebeth Smith Friedman Freedom Award, and he is more than deserving. What a story.
- April 25: Alumni spoke, and we listened. When news that the Old Snack Bar (also called the Union, according to some) was going to be replaced by a new Admissions Welcome Center after Commencement, alumni lit up our social media channels with memories. So, we decided to make one more. The Alumni Snack Bar Farewell Luncheon was quickly organized as part of the College’s All-American Hometown Celebration, and more than 150 alumni showed up to say goodbye to what was once a campus favorite. And yes, the College will find a way to save the tabletops. Stay tuned.
- April 30: The last stop on the 2025-26 Alumni National Tour was in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where nearly 20 alumni turned out to connect with the College and with classmates. The 2026-27 Tour kicks off later this summer.
If you didn’t have a chance to connect with the Alumni Office at one of these events, we have plenty more opportunities in the months ahead. If you’re near Hillsdale’s campus at any time, or if you’re close to one of our stops on the National Tour, we’d love to see you!
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s senior director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in April 2026
