Written by Doug Goodnough
Since we are starting a new year, I always like to reflect back on the year that has been. I’m also a fan of lists, and I love building those based on a variety of criteria, depending on the subject.
For the purpose of this blog, let’s go with a list of “12 interesting alumni I met for the first time over the course of 2024.” Here we go (in no particular order or ranking):
- Ed Swanson, ’60: In theory, I met Ed way back when I was a student and a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity more than three decades ago. He was a longtime member of the DSP alumni control board and someone who always was engaged with the house and the College. Many years later, I interviewed him for an alumni golf profile and learned his interesting life story.
- Anna Cannon, ’22: It was an over-the-phone meeting, but Anna is a great example of a bold young alumna who is on a mission—literally. She is in the middle of her second year teaching at a Chaldean Catholic school in Iraq. Brave is the first word that came to mind, and also inspirational. She’s a great example of the type of person Hillsdale College is sending out into the world.
- Kristen Tomasic, ’08: Kristen was one of the organizers of the Chi Omega 100th Anniversary celebration at Homecoming. I had a chance to catch her full story, and it’s a good one. An award-winning event planner for a prominent hotel chain, she has made the successful transition as a business manager for CDW, which develops marketing strategies for businesses using artificial intelligence. She’s living the life in downtown Chicago.
- Chester Marcol, ’82: Technically, his class year was 1972, but Chester’s path back to Hillsdale was long and winding. Last summer, I was able to get him to return to campus for the first time in more than 40 years to tell his story, which included life as a star NFL placekicker and all the good and bad that came during and after his pro career. We were blessed to feature him in Aretê, our athletic donor update, and his cover story was one of the most powerful you’ll read.
- Darrel Morton, ’64: Just a good person who had an interesting journey to Hillsdale, right from the start. Hitchhiking to campus as a freshman, Morton came to Hillsdale on a track scholarship and eventually built a family legacy here. His daughter graduated from Hillsdale, and several grandchildren are current students. He made it back to celebrate his 60th anniversary in April during the annual 50/60 Reunion.
- Joe Hardenbergh, ’24: I may be cheating just a bit here, since he was technically still a student when I met him. However, this Marine-in-training who finished off a stellar college baseball career was as impressive of an individual as I’ve met. If the dictionary had a picture under the definition of “student-athlete,” Hardenbergh would be it. As a former Chargers baseball player, I can’t say how proud I am to have him represent the program.
- Wolfgang Krenzer, ’02: OK, he wasn’t one of my alumni profiles from the past year. But he probably should be. Wolfgang joined us for the inaugural Alumni Phonathon last summer and shared his interesting background. The Air Force veteran drove up from his Findlay, Ohio, home to help call alumni for two consecutive nights. And all for his love of the College, not to mention some tacos and the best breakfast bacon in town.
- Beth Deer Walker, ’87: Another person I’ve probably met before this year, but I was a lowly freshman and she was an accomplished senior while we were students at Hillsdale. Now, she is a West Virginia Supreme Court Justice who shared her wonderful story with us during an episode of the White & Blue Alumni Podcast. I expect nothing less from Ronda Deer’s daughter.
- Charles and Megan Mahan Gandee, ’07, ’09: A charming couple from rural Virginia who opened their home to us to share their story of starting a winery. We felt spoiled tasting their Prelude Wines lineup, and a charcuterie tray of meats and cheeses will get you everywhere with me. A great Hillsdale family!
- Mark Kellogg, ’82: He attended our Lansing National Tour for a Lugnuts baseball game that never was, but he shared his Hillsdale and career story with me. He’s a football player who was also the valedictorian of his senior class. Not sure how many times that’s happened in Hillsdale’s 180 years, but after speaking with him, I can certainly see why.
- Elizabeth Cotner Glennon, ’08: I met Liz in Chicago for a National Tour event. She is a content strategist, editor, and writer with 15 years of agency experience in content marketing and journalism. I always like to meet someone who was on the Collegian staff, especially someone who has a journalism background. I just wish the Dow Journalism Program had been around when I was a student.
This is just a small sampling of the alumni I was able to meet last year. I can’t wait for 2025 to get started! Happy Hillsdale New Year!
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s senior director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in January 2025
