Written by Doug Goodnough
It was a marvelous trip. Eighty-something alumni and friends took a leap of faith to make the very first Alumni Europe Tour from June 4-14, 2026.
The 10-day pilgrimage had a World War II focus, with a particular emphasis on former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The trip started with a tour of London, Oxford, and Blenheim Palace in England. Then after a boat ride across the English Channel to the beaches of Normandy, the grand finale was a day in Paris.
With Dr. Tom Conner as our guide, along with travel extraordinaire Al Philipp handling all the details, we couldn’t have been in better hands. “Doc,” the retired history professor and World War II author and expert, provided the historical context for every stop on the trip. It was truly a lifelong learning experience, with a lot of fun and food along the way.
For those on social media, we documented our journey each day with an “Alumni Postcard from Europe” post on our Facebook page. Let me share some trip highlights here:
- What set the tone for the trip was hosting a small group of London-based alumni for a reception on the first night. The mix of Londoners with some early arriving tour members was a unique opportunity to engage and reconnect. Our first International Alumni Tour event was in the books, and it was a success.
- Our tour group leaned on the more “seasoned” side of our alumni base; however, all eras were represented on the trip. Sue Stoner Hayes, ’61, and Susan Payne Woodrow, ’62, proved that age is just a number. The group appreciated their spunk and wisdom. Then there was Grace Gainar, one of the newest members of the Class of 2026. She and her brother, Gabe, ’23, made the trip before moving on to the next chapters of their lives. Grace is studying for the CPA test and will start an accounting job this fall near her home in Cleveland, Ohio, while Gabe is finishing up at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. The future is in good hands.
- It seemed every stop on the trip increased in awe and importance. That was certainly the case when the group rolled into the quaint French town of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, in Normandy. There, we entered La Maison de la Libération (House of Liberation), a historic retreat and veteran center. Greeting us was 102-year-old Harold Radish, a World War II veteran who survived a Nazi prison camp. The former Brooklyn teacher shared his story and then met with each and every one in our group. What a thrill and honor! It was a living history experience that I won’t soon forget.
- Our journey to the sands of Utah Beach, where 82 years ago was a D-Day battlefield, was sobering. However, the trip to the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach had more of an air of reverence to it. Some of our group took time to pay our respects to Frank Moran, a former Hillsdale College student who was killed on June 15, 1944, in the Battle of Normandy. He is one of more than 9,300 American soldiers buried there. Never forget.
- One of the unexpected benefits of the trip was the bonds of old friendships renewed and some new ones forged. The Alumni Team’s hope for the trip is that it would engage alumni with each other and the College. Based on the feedback we’ve received, we think it was mission accomplished. Many commented that it was nice to be able to travel with like-minded people. There is something to the shared Hillsdale College experience that really was highlighted on this trip.
- As an interesting side note: We used the popular communication app WhatsApp to message within the group. It proved both helpful and entertaining at times—even after the trip was over!
The Alumni Team is already in talks to schedule more of these trips, and I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities. We are ready, willing, and able to make these trips of a lifetime, one year at a time.
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s senior director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in June 2026
