Floyd Akins, Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
Thank you to our alumni, faculty, staff, parents, corporate and foundation partners, and all donors who help make a difference by providing philanthropic support to Otterbein University. Through your partnership and support, we experienced a record year of philanthropy in fiscal year 2026, with more than $16.7 million in donor generosity. This is the highest amount raised in any given fiscal year in the history of Otterbein University!
The phrase “It takes a village” certainly resonated this past year. However, in true Otterbein fashion, I might go a step further and say it took a “quiet, peaceful village” to achieve this success. Yet, we are far from done in our efforts to change the lives of our Otterbein students. Philanthropy is the hallmark of all private institutions, and the stewardship of Otterbein is a shared responsibility of our collective community.
The strength of a university is built over generations by those who choose to care, champion, and invest in its future. Stewarding Otterbein is about preserving what matters most while creating new possibilities for those who follow. The importance of your philanthropic support becomes part of a legacy that will impact students for years to come. Many can point to a professor, mentor, scholarship, team, or experience that changed your life. Simply put, stewardship is gratitude put into action.
In the coming months, we hope more alumni will choose to engage with Otterbein through philanthropy, helping us increase alumni giving participation beyond the current rate of 5% among our more than 29,000 alumni. During your time here, someone supported Otterbein which made your experience possible, now it’s your turn to pay it forward and help our current and future students.
You will begin to hear about our preparation for an upcoming comprehensive campaign to raise the aspirational endeavors of Otterbein’s mission. We will look to all the members of our beloved Otterbein community to join us in stewarding our “quiet, peaceful village” to the highest level obtainable. In the meantime, we have much to celebrate as we honor all the donors who are making a huge difference for Otterbein!
Thank you again for your ongoing support, and we hope to see you on campus soon.
Floyd Akins
Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
akins1@otterbein.edu
614-823-1400
Meet Our Newest Team Member
Lindsey Gale has joined the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement as senior director, philanthropy. For nearly three decades, she has helped donors fulfill their philanthropic wishes through her work with the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, The Ohio State University, Ohio Wesleyan University, and Carnegie Mellon University. Gale is excited to connect with Otterbein alumni and friends in Ohio, the Midwest, and the Southwest in the near future.
Investing in Students, Elevating Futures
The Otterbein students and recent graduates featured in this issue of Towers are benefiting from donors’ generosity through these scholarships and awards:
Vincent Bostick ’26
- Thelma Zellner Memorial Choral Music Endowed Award
- Robert Keelor ’55 Endowed Scholarship
Joshua Goshay ’27
- Helen and Emerson Bragg Scholarship
- Elizabeth D. Sergeant ’53 Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Julianna Grubich ’26
- Maxine French Loomis Scholarship
- Jean A. Rocks Mizia Endowed Scholarship
Hanan Jama ’26
- Fred J. and Ann P. Kull Scholarship
- Daniel C. Thompson Scholarship
Mae Meldrum ’26
- LaVelle Rosselot Scholarship
- Carl and Helen DeVore Memorial Humanitarian Award
Kyle Miller ’26
- Pete Sanderson Computer Science Endowed Scholarship
- Roger Tremaine Memorial Award
- Maurice and Rose Rapkin Computer Science Endowed Award
- Dr. Michael S. Bridgman Mathematical Enhancement Award
