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As 2025 comes to a close, we pause with gratitude and celebration, reflecting on what an incredible year it has been for Indiana Wesleyan University. This month, we proudly congratulate the final graduating class of 2025—a remarkable group of Wildcats whose perseverance, faith, and leadership have shaped our community and will continue to impact the world.
We’re also excited to announce the launch of the Wildcat Community Portal, a new digital space designed to help alumni stay connected, engaged, and informed like never before. This platform reflects our ongoing commitment to strengthening relationships across the entire IWU family.
In addition, we celebrate an extraordinary month in Wildcat Athletics, marked by two national championships—Men’s Cross Country and Women’s Volleyball. To alumni of these programs, know that you helped lay the foundation for the excellence we celebrate today!
As we look back on 2025 with gratitude and ahead with hope, thank you for being an essential part of the Wildcat story. We wish you a joyful Christmas season and a hope-filled New Year.
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WILDCAT COMMUNITY PORTAL ANNOUNCEMENT
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We’re excited to introduce the Wildcat Community Portal—a new way for alumni and friends of IWU to stay connected and make your relationship with IWU more meaningful than ever. This secure, personalized space allows you to update your contact details, view your giving history, connect with the University Advancement team, and explore opportunities to get involved. You can also search our alumni directory and explore our interactive job board—all in one convenient place.
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Red & Gray Day January 10th, 2026
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Get ready to show your Wildcat spirit at Red & Gray Day! Join us on the Marion campus for a full day of excitement, energy, and meaningful connection. Cheer on our men’s and women’s basketball teams and spend time with fellow Wildcats. Whether you’re a student, alumni, friend, or future Wildcat, Red & Gray Day is a wonderful moment to celebrate all things IWU—where passion, community, and purpose come together!
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Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 18th, 2026! Looking for a job change or pivoting to a new career? Or are you an employer who is looking to connect with IWU students and alumni? This is the event of the year for launching your next step or meeting your next hire! Meet with recruiters from all industries—business, ministry, community development, healthcare, government, and more. Available for all IWU-Marion students & National & Global students, & Alumni (recent grads & career changers). Alumni - no need to register, just show up to event!
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UNIVERSITY NEWS & PARTNERSHIPS
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Men's Cross Country Wins Program's First NAIA National Championship
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IWU's men's cross country claimed their first red banner in program history on November 21st at the 2025 NAIA National Championships. The Wildcats had five runners place in the top 40 as the team combined for a score of 117 points. After four-straight years finishing in the top 5, IWU reached new heights this season with a national title.
Josh Bainbridge, Grant Flora, Trenton Sweet, Braden Sweet, and Hunter Wasnich raced for All-American finishes for the Wildcats. Josh Bainbridge finished 8th with a time of 24:38, and Grant Flora was 25th with a time of 25:02. Trenton Sweet, Braden Sweet, and Hunter Wasnich rounded out the top 5 scorers for IWU.
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Wildcats Complete Three-Peat National Championship
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Women's Volleyball captured the NAIA Championship with a 3-1 victory over Northwestern at the Tyson Events Center on Tuesday evening. The Wildcats secured the title by taking the sets 25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19, highlighted by their efficient .455 hitting percentage in the decisive fourth set. Senior setter Abbigail Porter capped off her career with 48 assists, pushing her over 5,000 for her career. This victory gives the Wildcats' their third consecutive red banner, placing them with Fresno Pacific (Calif.), Brigham Young-Hawaii, and Hawaii-Hilo as the only schools to have achieved three consecutive titles.
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Addition of Club Sports in Athletics
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IWU Athletics will add 12 new club sports in the fall of 2026. Graduating high school seniors and college transfers interested in joining a club next fall are encouraged to complete the prospective recruit form. Club sport student-athletes can expect to practice 3 times a week, compete in 2 contests a semester, and experience a faith-based community under the leadership of a head club coach. Questions? Email us at clubsports@indwes.edu.
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We have over 30 open positions that we're looking to fill! Review the full list in the link below, and explore your options today.
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ALUMNI NEWS & LIFE UPDATES
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Donald recently retired after 51 years of pastoral ministry. He and his wife Debbie have now been married 57 years and continues to fill pulpits. He also has a book called Freedom Bird - My Journey from Nam to God's Call.
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Bradley has been serving at Merrill Wesleyan as a Youth Pastor, and has coached Cross Country and Track at the local High School for over 35 years.
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Jerry has been a Pastor for 30 years in three denominations. He has been married for 30 years and has three grown adult children. He's still running five days a week and is grateful for what he has been given and life’s opportunities.
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John has accepted a new leadership position at The Wesleyan Church headquarters in Fishers, Indiana as the Chief of Staff.
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Lydia (Childress) Pfenniger '93
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In January 2026, Lydia and her family will be moving from Quebec Canada (where they have been learning French) to Togo, West Africa where we will be working in a hospital.
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Corey and his wife Amanda (Combs) Rockey '08 welcomed a baby girl in January 2025.
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Derrick became the General Manager of Envoy at Piedmont Triad International Airport located in Greensboro, NC as of March 2025.
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STAR Financial Bank announced the addition of Travis McEowen as Senior Investment Officer with the STAR Wealth Management team in Fort Wayne, IN. In his role, Travis will work closely with clients to design, build, and monitor customized investment portfolios tailored to their individual financial objectives.
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Kim finished her Masters in Education in Special Education from Grand Canyon University and passed the Illinois test for full LBS1 licensing endorsement.
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After graduating from IWU, Russell continued his education and completed his MBA through Capella University. He now serves as the IS System Director at Columbus Regional Health, where he lead application services, project management, and Lean Six Sigma initiatives that support patient care and improve operational performance. In addition to his work in healthcare leadership, he has been actively writing and publishing. His books can be found on my Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Russell-Lee-Soots/author/B0DX4DGT48
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Katherine is continuing her studies by pursuing a second masters at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) in Technology Governance and Sustainability. She recently got engaged to a sweet guy that she met while serving the United States Peace Corps in Ukraine. Katherine hopes to show solidarity and international friendship through her connections in Ukraine.
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Sarah (Yurvati) Young '15
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Sarah was married to her husband Dan in June 2019 and gave birth to their daughter in April of 2020.
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Alan married Hailey (Duffey) Pizana '15 and they have two kids!
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Clay got married in November 2024 and had a baby girl with his wife December 2024.
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Adam and his wife Kelsey welcomed a daughter in 2025.
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Landon has accepted a job at Fresno Pacific University as Head Cross Country Coach and would like prayer for wisdom in his first year as a head coach.
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Ben and his wife Taylor (Waterway) VonGunten '23 welcomed their first child, Harrison on November 2025.
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Dathan and his wife Natalee (South) Tippey '24 welcomed their first child In October 2025.
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Mackenzie is getting married March 2026!
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Chloe (Miller) Brooks '23
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Chloe and her husband Evan had a baby girl, Josie May, in May 2025.
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Nora (of Battle Creek, MI) passed away in July 2025.
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Janice (of Owensboro, KY) passed away in November 2025.
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David (of West Lafayette, IN) passed away in November 2025.
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Rosemary (of Indianapolis, IN) passed away in October 2025.
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Barbara (Perry) Johnson '99
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Barbara (of Indianapolis, IN) passed away in November 2025.
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Duane (of The Villages, FL) passed away in December 2025.
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Peggy Pierce '06, '09, '11
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Peggy (of Marion, IN) passed away in October 2025.
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Jim (of Anderson, IN) passed away in December 2025.
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Sue (of Shelbyville, IN) passed away in November 2025.
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Brett (of Frankfort, IN) passed away in November 2025.
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We’d love to celebrate life’s milestones with you and keep your IWU family in the loop! Whether you’ve started a new job, relocated, or added a little Wildcat to your family, be sure to update your information with us.
If you’ve recently had a baby, or have a young child(ren), let us know and we’ll send you a free IWU onesie or youth shirt to help welcome them to the IWU family!
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IWU Alumni Office | 4201 S. Washington St. | Marion, IN 46983 | 765-677-2110
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