OLIVET, Mich. — On Wednesday, March 20, Olivet College hosted “Moments in Time,” a 175th Commemoration Alumni Panel presentation. Attendees heard alumni from eight decades of students, including a current student, tell stories from their time on campus. Panelists discussed what it was like to live through historic events on campus including Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, the Vietnam War, the invention of computers and more.
The alumni expressed their appreciation for the College’s principle of “the divine art of doing good to others” and emphasized the campus’s safe and positive environment over the years. Panelists also marveled at the progress the College has made throughout the decades and shared laughs about the changes that have taken place.
- Saudia Santure ’98, the panel moderator, graduated with a major in environmental science and a minor in interpersonal communications and now works as brand manager at Consumers Energy. She moderated a panel of:
- Charles Blackman '46, originally from Portland, Maine, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in social science. He had a decades-long career at Michigan State University as a professor in the College of Education.
- Walter Parker '58, originally from Vandalia, graduated with a major in history and a minor in English. He worked in the Chicago public school system for 32 years, positively impacting thousands of young people.
- Linwood "Woody" Wiley '68, originally from Wenham, Massachusetts, studied English, education and history at Olivet. He spent 42 years with the Boy Scouts of America before retiring from his position as assistant regional director for the northeast region.
- Tala J. Welch '77, CAPT, USN (Ret), originally from Niles, graduated with a major in music and a minor in English. She served in the United States Navy for 27 years in various locations and naval commands in the United States and overseas.
- Audra Carson '87, originally from Detroit, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and business administration. She is the founder of two Detroit-area nonprofits, De-Tread and Izzie LLC, which aim to improve and beautify the community.
- Jeff Bell '99, originally from Quincy, graduated with bachelor’s degrees in business and insurance and risk management. He is now AVP, commercial officer, for CAN Insurance in Washington D.C.
- Mauricio "Moe" Palli '07, originally from Chicago, Illinois, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a major in social studies and a minor in biology. He is the senior instructional designer for Roti Modern Mediterranean in Chicago, Illinois.
- Ayren Parrish '18, originally from Charlotte, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She is currently a graduate student at Andrews University, working on a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
- Brittany McDuffie, Class of 2020, a Toledo, Ohio native, is studying biology with a pre-medical concentration and minoring in mental and physical health. She has a career goal of becoming a physician’s assistant.
“When planning the ‘Moments in Time’ event, we hoped to tell the story of Olivet College through the eyes of those who lived it to provide a very human perspective on how life was experienced here on campus during different times in history,” Samantha Pearl, director of alumni engagement said. “It was a remarkable event with ten alumni from the 1940s to present day joining us to share their personal experiences. From how campus was impacted during major world events, to changes in technology over time, to the College’s unique approach to inclusion, to lighter topics like slang and catchphrases used through the years, it was a unique glimpse into the very human history of Olivet College.”
Learn more about Olivet College by contacting the Office of Admissions at 800.456.7189 or admissions@olivetcollege.edu.
