Indiana State University announced its 2022 March On! Award recipients as Steve and Gloria Bailey; Dr. Robert and Susan Guell; Jack and Joyce Rentschler; and the company Endress+Hauser.
Indiana State University announced its 2022 March On! Award recipients as Steve and Gloria Bailey; Dr. Robert and Susan Guell; Jack and Joyce Rentschler; and the company Endress+Hauser.
The March On! Award has been presented annually since 2015 to recognize exceptional alumni who assist in the advancement of Indiana State University.
“We are grateful to these March On! honorees, whose generosity to Indiana State University will impact generations of students,” ISU President Dr. Deborah J. Curtis said. “We are so proud to honor their dedication to ISU at the President’s Dinner.”
Said Andrea Angel, Vice President of University Advancement and CEO of the ISU Foundation: “The March On! Awards are so special because these honorees really make a lasting impact on our campus and alter the experiences of our students for the better. I am always excited to recognize such a selfless group who are instrumental in the continued success of Sycamores, especially this year as we garner support for the Be So BOLD fundraising campaign.”
The honorees will be recognized November 4 at the second annual President’s Dinner with ISU’s Distinguished Alumni Award honorees and others receiving awards.
Award recipients include Laura Wittman, who is receiving the John P. Newton Spirit of ISU Award and the Student Nurses Association, which is receiving the Student Philanthropy Award.
The John P. Newton Spirit of ISU Award honors alumni who demonstrate a deep commitment to Indiana State. The award was established in 2010 to honor Newton’s longstanding dedication and service to the university.
Wittman, a 1993 graduate of ISU, has been a vital member of the ISU Foundation Board and one of the most loyal fans of Sycamore basketball. She has been instrumental in the curation of the Wittman Speaker Series, bringing riveting guests to ISU’s campus to discuss anthropology, archaeology and the liberal arts.
"We are lucky to have Laura’s support at every sporting event and university outing she attends; at her core, she is a cheerleader for all things ISU,” Angel said. “Her passion and enthusiasm for Indiana State is unmatched. I cannot imagine a more fitting individual for the John P. Newton Spirit of ISU Award.”
The Student Nurses Association has dedicated its time, talent and treasure to better the lives of Sycamores. The group volunteered at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s; organized a stress clinic during finals week; a food drive for Catholic Charities; assisted with job placement for graduating students; and supported current student nurses with study sessions.
The group’s members did that while maintaining their own academics and job placements during a global pandemic.
“This is the second year the Student Philanthropy Organization has had the honor to recognize a student organization that is making a true difference on campus,” Angel said. “The Student Nurses Association has dedicated their time to enhance their program’s experiences and provided resources to the surrounding community; they are doing great work to build a culture of philanthropy at Indiana State.”
Bios of the March On! Award winners:
Steve and Gloria Bailey
Steve Bailey is a 1970 graduate of the College of Technology. He and his wife Gloria are avid supporters of their alma mater. Steve is a director on the ISU Foundation Board, and the couple is heavily engaged with COT.
In addition to their considerable donations to COT, Steve is on the Dean’s Advancement Council, while Gloria has been involved in an experiential learning project for the Interior Architecture Design Program.
In 2020, the Baileys were inducted into the Knowledge Level of the Book and Torch Society, which signifies lifetime giving ranging from $100,000-$499,999.
Dr. Robert and Susan Guell
Bob and Susan Guell have strong ties to Indiana State. Bob has been a professor of economics for nearly 31 years and Susan has worked in the Division of Finance and Administration for 11 years.
Bob received the President’s Medal — the highest award for ISU faculty — in 2017. The Guells established the Faculty and Staff Bridge the Gap Scholarship. In 2021, the couple donated $100,000 toward its furtherance and other priorities on campus.
Jack and Joyce Rentschler
Jack and Joyce are ISU alumni (1955 and 1954). After graduating, both went on to have successful careers in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before purchasing Rentschler’s Standard Truck Plaza in 1973.
Avid supporters of Sycamore Athletics, the couple donated $50,000 in 2018 to renovate ISU’s football practice field, now known as the Rentschler Practice Field, and $300,000 on 2022’s Give to Blue Day to support athletics, the Alumni Association, and the Bayh College of Education.
Endress+Hauser
Endress+Hauser is an industrial equipment supplier based out of Greenwood, Indiana, that works closely with the College of Technology to create opportunities for students by offering them internships that progress into full-time positions.
Recently, the company partnered with the Scott College of Business to offer assistance to a wider range of scholars and further support the career success of ISU students.
Along with experiential learning opportunities, Endress+Hauser has provided significant donations to support student scholarships and faculty support.
Photo of Steve and Gloria Bailey
Photo of Bob and Susan Guell
Photo of Jack and Joyce Rentschler
Photo of Endress + Hauser
Photo of Laura Wittman
Media contacts:
Mark Alesia, Director of University Communication
(C) 812-229-8020
mark.alesia@indstate.edu
Dianne Powell, Associate Director of University Communication
(O) 812-237-8764
(C) 812-878-2131
DianneFrances.Powell@indstate.eduf