The University of Evansville (UE) conferred 489 degrees upon the Class of 2025 during its 167th Commencement Ceremony held Saturday, May 10, at the Ford Center in downtown Evansville.

President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz presided over the ceremony, which recognized not only academic achievement, but also the personal and community impact of UE graduates.

The ceremony included remarks from President Pietruszkiewicz, Student Government Association President Benton Simpson, and Senior Keynote Speaker Brynna Waters. Several prestigious awards were presented, along with the conferral of three honorary degrees and the University's highest presidential honor.

2025 Mabel Dillingham Nenneker and Guthrie May Outstanding Senior Award

Kyleigh Mayer, a proud Evansville native and Exercise Science major, was named the recipient of this year's Mabel Dillingham Nenneker and Guthrie May Outstanding Senior Award. Mayer's impact on campus includes serving as a leader in Admissions Ambassadors and Orientation Leaders, welcoming new students with warmth and mentorship. Her passion for connection and community has made her a beloved figure among her peers and professors.

2025 Outstanding Teacher Award

Dr. Mike Slade, Associate Professor of Chemistry, was honored with the 2025 Outstanding Teacher Award. Known for his innovative approach to organic chemistry, Dr. Slade makes course material approachable through real-world applications and personal touches, such as playing hype music before exams. Students recognize him not only as a great professor, but as a great person.

2025 Eykamp Prize Recipient

The Eykamp Prize was awarded to Dr. Laura Dwyer, Associate Professor of Management. Dr. Dwyer has published extensively, with her research cited over 2,000 times worldwide. She is the creator of a widely used Leadership Self-Efficacy scale and has distinguished herself in both the classroom and through her recruitment efforts in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration.

Honorary Degrees

Three honorary degrees were presented at the ceremony:

Mr. Robert G. Jones and Mrs. Lisa B. Jones received Doctor of Humane Letters degrees in recognition of their decades of civic leadership, philanthropic investment, and unrelenting support of the University. Mr. Jones currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees, while Mrs. Jones has been deeply involved with the UE Theatre Society and dozens of other community and civic organizations.

Dr. David B. Smith, Superintendent of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC), was honored with a Doctor of Humane Letters for his contributions to education and leadership in public schools and his partnership with UE on initiatives like the Evansville Promise Neighborhood.

Presidential Medal of Honor - Dr. Michael D. Woodard

Dr. Michael D. Woodard received the 2025 Presidential Medal of Honor, the highest distinction awarded by the University President. A 1964 UE alumnus, Dr. Woodard has dedicated his career to advancing leadership, equity, and diversity in education and the workplace. He is a founder of the African American Alumni Association, and the Zerah Priestly Carter Endowed Scholarship.

Posthumous Degree - Muhammad Khan

The University of Evansville awarded a posthumous degree in Psychology to Muhammad Khan, who tragically lost his life in April 2024. A dedicated student known for his compassion and commitment to helping others, Muhammad was on track to complete his studies this spring. Surrounded by emotion and reflection, his family accepted the degree on his behalf during commencement, honoring his memory and the lasting impact he made on the UE community. In honoring his memory, the University of Evansville offers its heartfelt support to his family who will always be a cherished part of the Aces community.

As there are fewer news articles during the summer, Purple Pulse will only be published on Wednesdays starting the week of May 12.

UE Bulletins will still be published as needed.

The regular Purple Pulse schedule will resume when summer hours end in August.

The Menstrual Equity Club is hosting the annual Jampon Event (Jam for tampons). It will be on the East Terrace Lawn APRIL 13TH AT 5:30PM. We need artists, vendors, comedians, dancers, or any talented people. It's for a great cause, low stakes, and a fun time!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyyNKHXJp1DIb7dRgoImr8fCiE5jVbclvcBbi0eu6_sZklQg/viewform?usp=sharing

Reach out to Katie Lawhorn or Delaney Ross OR fill out this form before the 10th of April.

Happy Jamming!

The bookstore will have reduced hours for the Summer, beginning on Monday, May 12th and ending on Wednesday, August 13th.

• Monday-Thursday: 10am-3pm
• Friday: 10am-2pm
• Closed Saturday and Sunday

Please note that we will have extended hours for special events (SOAR, etc). Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates.

Have a wonderful Summer!

Beginning Friday, May 2nd, all official transcript requests will be held unfil final grades are posted or degrees are conferred. If you need an unofficial transcript, you can access it anytime through self-service.

Head Coach Robbe Tarver has announced co-ed soccer camp dates this summer!

Day Camp May 27-30 & June 9-13

10% discount for children of faculty & staff. Email mm1059@evansville.edu

More info at tarversoccercamps.com

Congratulations to the faculty members who received a Dean's Teaching Award for 2024-2025 from their Dean or Associate Dean. Their dedication to our students through their teaching and support is exceptional. The faculty members being recognized are:

Tommy Housman, Instructor of Communication from the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences.

Dennis Malfatti, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities from the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences.

Yolanda Obaze, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management from the College of Business and Engineering.

Douglas Stamps, Professor of Mechanical Engineering from the College of Business and Engineering.

Hanna LaMar, Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy from the College of Education and Health Sciences.

William Miller, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences from the College of Education and Health Sciences.

Congratulations to our amazing faculty members!

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The University of Evansville baseball team kept things close for five and a half innings at Itchy Jones Stadium but didn’t stop the Southern Illinois Salukis from putting on a two-inning rally in a 13-3 loss.

The Purple Aces went up early on Sunday afternoon but couldn’t hold onto their lead at Southern Illinois. The UE defense gave up 10 runs over two innings as they fell in the series finale. Evansville’s offense had six separate batters connect on a hit while freshman shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) led the team with two RBIs.

"We couldn't escape the big inning today," said Head Coach Wes Carroll after the series. "I'm disappointed with how we played the last two games after a stellar performance on Friday."

It was a fast start in Carbondale as both sides had a three up and three down first inning. The Aces struck first in the top of the second as designated hitter Brodie Peart (Markham, Ontario) got a one-out single to begin the game’s offense. Center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) soon joined him on base as he got hit by a pitch. McConnell both runners’ home on a double deep into right field, making it a 2-0 lead early for UE

Southern Illinois was able to respond in the next frame as they took advantage of two free bases that were brought in on a two-out single. Evansville headed into the top of the third with the game tied at 2-2. The Aces had two runners on in the top of the third with a lead-off walk and a hit by pitch. But UE stranded both with back-to-back outs right after.

The Salukis took a one-run lead in the bottom of the inning as SIU third baseman Matt Schark hit his fourth home run of the weekend. It was a quick fourth and fifth inning as both defenses locked in to get at least a frame of three-up and three-down ball.

Evansville’s offense got back into gear in the top of the sixth with two hits as second baseman Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) led off the inning with a single. It took two more at-bats until McGinnis crossed home plate to tie the game 3-3 as catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) put a double into right center field.

But Southern Illinois answered big in the bottom of the sixth, scoring eight runs on four hits, an error, and a sacrifice fly. The Aces' offense again had plenty of work to do late in the game, trailing by eight runs with only three more innings at bat. Pinch hitter Aaron Nehls (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) led off the seventh with a single. But a double play two at-bats later made it a one-two-three inning on offense for UE.

The Salukis had another big offensive inning in the bottom of the seventh inning to end the game early. Evansville suffered its second run-rule defeat in as many days in the 13-3 final from Carbondale. Reliever Drew Fieger (Fort Mitchell, Ky. / Lincoln Trail CC) was charged with the loss from the Aces pitching staff as starter Kellen Roberts (Monroe, Mich. / Monroe HS) exited after the fifth inning with the game tied.

UE is scheduled for one final non-conference game on Tuesday night. Evansville heads back to the west side of town for its last match-up with Southern Indiana. First pitch from USI Baseball Field is currently set for 6 p.m.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville Director of Athletics Dr. Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried announced a change of leadership of the Purple Aces softball program as the contract of head coach Mat Mundell will not be renewed.

“I want to thank Coach Mundell for his dedication to the University of Evansville and our student-athletes,” Siegfried stated.  “This decision did not come easy as Coach Mundell represented our program and university with a great deal of class and integrity for his entire 11-year tenure.”

“However, following a complete evaluation of our program, I determined that a leadership change was necessary for our softball program to take the next step forward,” Siegfried added.

A national search for the next head softball coach will begin immediately.

CARBONDALE, Ill. – For the first time in over a month, the University of Evansville baseball team won its first game of an MVC series in a 6-3 victory over the Southern Illinois Salukis.

The Purple Aces played a clean and complete game on Friday night to open up their last Valley series away from home. Despite a two-run deficit early, UE’s offense was able to battle back, scoring six runs on 12 hits. Over half the lineup had two hits on Friday to help back up another strong pitching performance from starter Kenton Deverman (Dardenne Prairie, Mo. / Fort Zumwalt West HS). While Deverman didn’t record a strikeout for Evansville in seven innings, he didn’t allow a free base to the Salukis and threw 70 strikes to earn his third win of the season.

“It felt good to go through the clap line and address the team after this game,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll after the win. “We’re in playoff mode, and I think every pitch mattered to this club. Our defense made some plays, and seeing good Aces baseball was refreshing.

“I’m really proud of the club as it’s been a grind over the past month with injuries and changing lineups. Us coming here on the road in the Valley and playing a complete game, I’m really proud of them.”

It was a slow start on Friday night for the Aces as Southern Illinois capitalized early and had a two-run lead after only two innings. UE had hits in the top of the second with back-to-back base knocks from first baseman Jake McGhee (Fenton, Mo. / Christian Brothers Academy) and designated hitter Brodie Peart (Markham, Ontario). But with two outs already on the board for the two singles, McGhee and Peart were stranded on the base paths in the second.

The top of the third was when Evansville’s offense really got going as third baseman Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS) led off the inning with a walk. Left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) followed up the walk with his first hit of the day, putting the Aces in scoring position with no outs on the board. UE’s next two batters didn’t leave home, adding two outs.

But two outs on the board wasn’t an issue for second baseman Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley). McGinnis put a double down the right field line to tie the game up as both Howard and Longmeier scored. McGinnis almost scored himself as it looked like catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) had put a home run past the left field wall. But after further review, the home run ball was called foul, and Flaherty was retired in five pitches.

Evansville eventually got its home run an inning later as shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) hit his fourth of the year out of left center field. McConnell’s home run gave the Aces their first lead of the day in a tight 3-2 game. UE’s defense kept Southern Illinois’ offense stifled over the next four innings with a double play in the fourth and not allowing more than a hit a frame in the next three.

In the top of the sixth, Evansville added some insurance runs, growing its lead to three. The inning began with another round of back-to-back singles from McGhee and Peart. This time, both runners scored for the Aces on two groundouts and an infield single from Howard. UE kept the Salukis quiet in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 5-2 lead into the final third of the night.

Evansville added one more run in the top of the eighth after an empty seventh inning for both sides. A single through the right side for McConnell, followed by a wild pitch, soon put the shortstop into scoring position. It was again Longmeier who came through for the Aces with his second RBI of the night on a double to right center, sending McConnell home.

UE held its four-run lead for only an out as Southern Illinois opened the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run to make it a 6-3 game. But Evansville’s defense locked in, picking up its second double play of the night and a flyout to end the inning. The Aces got a runner aboard in the top of the ninth as McGinnis had his second hit of the evening with a single through the right side. UE’s next two batters went down in order though, sending the defense back out onto the field.

Evansville’s defense quickly made short work of the Salukis in the bottom of the ninth. The Aces took down the SIU batters in order to earn the decisive 6-3 victory. With the win, UE ended a five-game losing streak and stays a game ahead of the Bradley Braves in the Valley standings. Evansville is back in action tomorrow night at Itchy Jones Stadium, where they will try to win the series early. First pitch on May 10 is set for 6 p.m.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The University of Evansville track and field team finished its regular season competition on Friday night at the Billy Hayes Invitational.

Another record was dropped for the Purple Aces on Friday while earning podium finishes in five events. Junior thrower Gwen Darrah (Cleveland / Orange HS) set a new program record in the women’s hammer throw with a PR of 44.82 meters in UE’s first event of the day. Evansville also had 15 athletes set new PRs at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex.

SPRINTS, HURDLES, & RELAYS

The Aces began the meet on the track with the men’s and women’s 100-meter dash preliminary races. Sophomore Raymond Felton III (Houston / Clear Brook HS) qualified for the final race with a time of 10.94 seconds to place ninth. He was followed by sophomore Connor Shin (Bloomington, Ind. / Bloomington North) at 12th with a time of 11.12 seconds, junior Jose Ocampo (Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico) in 16th with a time of 1.17 seconds and freshman Zander Pickens (Poseyville, Ind. / North Posey HS) with a PR of 11.46 seconds.

In the women’s race, sophomore Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS) finished just outside the final qualification window with a time of 12.47 seconds. UE then had its first hurdle event of the day as junior Kate Walke (Batesville, Ind. / Oldenberg Academy) finished sixth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.33 seconds. Evansville had big finishes in the men’s 200-meter dash as all three of its runners set PRs. Felton III earned the Aces' first podium finish as he placed second with a time of 21.32 seconds. Freshman Myles Terry (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) and Shin also had PRs in the event at 21.89 seconds and 22.09 seconds.

UE had three runners compete in the men’s and women’s 400-meter hurdles. In the women’s event, Johnson finished just off the podium in fourth with a time of 1:04.47. Walke set a new PR in the event at 1:13.01 in her return to the 400-meter hurdles after two years away. Pickens also set a PR in the men’s event with a time of 1:00.29 for ninth place.

Evansville’s sprinters ended the meet with the men’s 4x100-meter relay. The relay team of Shin, Ocampo, Terry, and Felton III placed third in the event with a time of 41.85 seconds.

MID-DISTANCE

The Aces' mid-distance runners competed in two events on Friday night, the 800-meter race and the 1500-meter race. Sophomore Cedrik Flipo (Beloeil, Quebec, Canada) was the only UE runner to compete in an invitational race in the 800-meter invitational. Flipo placed third in the event with a time of 1:51.79.

In the general men’s 800-meter race, senior Adam Oulgout (St. Paul, Minn. / Central HS) earned Evansville’s only first-place finish with a PR of 1:51.24. Two other Aces set PRs in the event as sophomore Owen Cuplin (Hampshire, Ill. / Hampshire HS) finished in 1:57.60 and freshman Kadin McAllister (Lilburn, Ga. / Parkview HS) finished in 1:57.88. Sophomores Jakub Nowicki (Poznan, Poland) and Alejandro Navarette (Mogadore, Ohio / Mogadore HS) also ran the event, finishing in 2:04.09 and 2:05.68, respectively.

In the women’s race, UE’s two runners finished back-to-back as freshman Lauren Bradley (Russiaville, Ind. / Western HS) led the way at 2:27.01. Senior Hannah Bryan (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS) set a new PR in the event with a time of 2:28.73 to place 17th.

The Evansville men set at least season bests in the 1500-meter race as sophomores Samuel Lea (Worchester, England) and Tommaso Losma (Lombardia, Italy) both finished in the top 10. Lea had a PR at 3:53.05 to place seventh, while Losma had a season best at 3:54.83 for 10th place. In the women’s event, the Aces had four runners all finish in the Top 20.

Sophomore Chase Hayes (Noblesville, Ind. / Western HS) led the way with a time of 4:54.62 for 11th place. She was followed by sophomore Kyndall Anthis (Patoka, Ind. / Princeton Community HS) with a time of 5:08.83 and freshmen Skyler Dickenson (Brownsburg, Ind. / Brownsburg HS) and Rebekah Sachs (Milwaukee / Milwaukee School of Languages). Dickenson set a PR at the event at 5:16.23 while Sachs had a time of 5:23.24.

DISTANCE

UE only ran one distance event in Bloomington, the 3000-meter race. In the men’s race, freshman Andrew Potter (Warsaw, Ind. / Warsaw Community HS) and Oliver Wilgocki (Chesterton, Ind. / Chesterton HS) had times of 9:11.35 and 9:44.62, respectively. In the women’s race, sophomore Avery Stephens (Newburg, Ind. / Castle HS) had another new PR with a time of 10:37.72 to take third place. Sachs finished just behind Stephens in fourth with a time of 11:18.49.

FIELD

Darrah set the tone in the field for Evansville with a new program record in the women’s hammer throw. In the men’s hammer throw, freshman Beau Baldwin (Mount Vernon, Ind. / Mt. Vernon HS) set a new PR with a throw of 40.81 meters. The Aces throwers then competed in the javelin throw, where senior Kaitlyn Sansone (Fairfield, Ohio / Mercy McAuley HS) placed fourth with a throw of 30.10 meters.

UE had two throwers in the discus throw where freshman Emma Bertel (Franklin, Ind. / Franklin Community HS) finished ninth with a throw of 30.94 meters. Sophomore Tyler Cherne (Boardman, Ohio / Boardman HS) placed 12th in the men’s discus with a throw of 40.73 meters. Bertel rounded out Evansville’s field events in the women’s shot put, placing 10th with a season best throw of 11.20 meters.

UP NEXT

The Aces head into the postseason next weekend not far from home. UE will travel to Carbondale for the MVC Outdoor Championships starting on Saturday, May 17. Evansville will compete in the two-day postseason event to try and qualify for the NCAA East Preliminary at the end of May. The Outdoor Championships begin bright and early at 8 a.m. on May 17.

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The University of Evansville baseball team fell behind early and couldn’t come back on Saturday night in a 13-3 loss to the Southern Illinois Salukis.

Saluki third baseman Matt Schark was the Purple Aces' kryptonite on Saturday night as the redshirt senior hit three home runs off UE’s pitchers. The Evansville pitching staff matched a season-high in home runs given up as SIU had five long balls in six innings. The Aces offense did keep from being shut out, led by senior second baseman Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) with two hits.

UE started the game well with two hits, a double from first baseman Jake McGhee (Fenton, Mo. / Christian Brothers Academy) and a single from McGinnis. But no run scored in the first as center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) popped up to short, and catcher Evan Waggoner’s (Bedford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence HS) fly ball was the third out of the first. Southern Illinois took an early lead with a solo home run in the bottom frame of the inning. But starter Kevin Reed (Martinsville, Ind. / Martinsville HS) responded quickly with back-to-back strikeouts to end the first.

A quick second inning as Evansville went down in order, and the defense worked around a lead-off single. The Salukis widened their lead in the bottom of the third as Schark hit a three-run home run to make it a 4-0 game without an out on the board. The Aces took down two batters, but SIU hit the second homer of the frame to make it a 6-0 game after only a third.

Only an inning later, the Salukis widened their lead to nine as Schark hit his third home run in as many at-bats. Southern Illinois added another three runs as a double cleared the bases after UE’s pitching gave up three straight passes in the fourth. Evansville had a hill to climb going into the top of the fifth, down 12-0. The Aces' defense had their only three-up and three-down inning in the fifth as reliever RJ James (Toronto / Sir John A. McDonald HS) had two straight strikeouts.

UE’s offense was able to follow the defense's momentum in the top of the sixth. While McGhee led off the inning with a pop-up, Evansville’s next three batters reached base. It was Waggoner who helped bring the first Aces runs home with a double off the wall in left center, scoring Rumsey and McGinnis.

Waggoner also advanced to third after the double thanks to a SIU throwing error. He scored shortly after as shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo./ Blue Springs HS) hit an RBI ground out to second base, making it a 12-3 game. UE picked up another single as right fielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) sharply hit a ball to third base and was able to beat the throw to first. A fielder’s choice ended Evansville’s best offensive inning of the night with three runs and three hits.

The Salukis got their fifth and final home run of the game in the bottom of the sixth to go back up by 10 runs. The Aces needed a run to not have the game end two innings early on the run-rule. But a lead-off ground out from left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS), followed by two pinch hitters, ended the game in a 13-3 final.

The weekend series will be decided on Sunday afternoon in the rubber match. First pitch from Itchy Jones Stadium in the deciding game is set for 1 p.m.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The bracket has been released for November’s 8-team Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands.  In its opening round game, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team is set to square off against Oregon State.

It marks the second meeting between the schools with the first match-up being one of the most important games in Purple Aces history.  On March 17, 1989, the teams met up in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Tucson, Arizona.  Evansville came out on the winning end of a 94-90 overtime decision and was the first Division I NCAA Tournament win in program history.

Following the opener, UE will face either Iona or Akron in the second round.  Potential opponents in the third contest include Green Bay, Yale, UMass and Charleston.  The tournament opens on November 21 with UE and OSU playing in the final game of the day at 9 p.m. AST.

Fan packages are available by visiting GoPurpleAces.com/ParadiseJam.  For full information, please reach out to Logan Belz at 812-488-2623.