Hillsdale Alumni Newsletter Archives

Living the Island Life

Ben and Keren Casciani Ten Haaf, ’04, ’04, are living out their personal version of Fantasy Island. The couple owns and operates Lizzie Lu’s Island Retreat, a vacation home rental business with nearly 30 vacation home rental properties on Anna Maria Island, on Florida’s Gulf Coast near Bradenton, Florida.

Reminiscing in the Sunshine State

The Alumni National Tour event in Ft. Myers, Florida, turned into a mini-reunion for the Class of 1967. Four class members attended the gathering on January 15, and each had an interesting story to tell.

Pumping Iron and Raising Bucks: Annual Lift-A-Thon Boosts Chargers Football

The Chargers will conduct the 43rd annual Lift-A-Thon at 7 p.m. on March 9, 2023, in the JAM Weight Room in the Roche Sports Complex. Former All-American offensive lineman Mike Broome, ’82, called the Lift-A-Thon “the culmination of a significant shift in the history of Charger football.”

Hometown Hillsdale: Pam Heckel, ’98

Having spent most of her life in Hillsdale County, Pamela Blonde Heckel, ’98, appreciates all it has to offer—the familiarity, the landscape, and the small communities. The art major and athlete grew up on a hog farm in nearby Litchfield, Michigan, and after a brief sojourn out of state, returned home with her husband, Dr. Christopher Heckel.

Scorer Supreme: Call from MSU Coach Helps Bring Tim Kissman to Hillsdale

Hillsdale College can thank Tom Izzo for Tim Kissman, ’94. The former Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and all-conference honoree went on to become Hillsdale’s second all-time leading scorer, and finished with a career 61.2 percent field goal percentage, second in program history.

Embracing Challenges: Parker Fox, ’12, Sees “Tons of Potential” in Phoenix Alumni Chapter

Lawyer Parker Fox, ’12, embraces Hillsdale College’s motto of Strength Rejoices in the Challenge in every aspect of his life. Despite the frenzied schedule of family life, Fox is helping to organize a Hillsdale Alumni Association chapter in the Phoenix, Arizona, area.

Continuing the Family Business: Hank Prim, ’17, an Emerging Leader in South Dakota Law Enforcement

Hank Prim, ’17, a supervisory special agent and training administrator for the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, comes from a law enforcement background. For Prim, staying in law enforcement and being part of crafting what policing is going to look like for the next 50 years is very meaningful.

Sign It and Send It In!

Each finals week, hundreds of students receive handwritten Christmas cards from alumni. The originality and creativity that some put into their messages to students are worth sharing. One alumni even penned a special letter that he called a “Finals Study Break Option/Field Trip.”

Happy 178th Birthday, Hillsdale!

As Founders’ Day approaches, it’s easy to reflect on the College’s past that’s filled with notable accomplishments. From students fighting for the Union, to Elizebeth Smith Friedman and undefeated football teams, Hillsdale has remained true to its founding nearly 200 years ago.

New Beginnings: Jillian Kay Melchior, ’09, Heads to London with The Wall Street Journal

With a gentle nudge from her grandfather to consider a career in journalism, Jillian now reports for The Wall Street Journal. With hard work, persistence, and dedication, Jillian has made her mark in the journalism world.

The Pioneers of WHIP

After 50 years, Eric Licht, ’74, remembers his Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program (WHIP) fondly. The program had a dramatic impact on his life, and Licht went on to spend the next four decades working for conservative public policy efforts.

Fully Engaged: David Bassett, ’12, Returns to Help Alumni Better Connect to Hillsdale College

After exploring several educational and career paths, David Bassett, ’12, eventually discovered his place was with his alma mater as the College’s new director of Alumni Engagement. Bassett is ready to help other alumni better connect to both the College and fellow graduates.