Wellness Day is set for this Friday, February 6. All academic departments and administrative offices will be closed to provide space for rest and renewal. Dining services will operate with adjusted hours:

• Café Court: 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Chick-fil-A: Noon – 8:00 p.m.
• Rademacher’s Café: Closed
• The Library: Open for those seeking a quiet place to reflect, study, or recharge

While Wellness Day offers a meaningful pause, we recognize that caring for mental health and well-being is important every day. Students who need support are encouraged to contact the Office of Counseling Services at counselingservices@evansville.edu or 812-488-2663. Employees may access resources through the University’s Employee Assistance Program at 1-888-293-6948.

Questions or Concerns Regarding this Work:

Mike Averett: Assistant Vice President for Facilities Management and Campus Operations, 812-488-2050, ma479@evansville.edu

Affected Dates:

February 2, 2026, through June 21, 2026

Description of Work:

A contractor will remove older/unused equipment, install new pumps, new chillers, and new cooling towers

Impact for Campus:

There will be construction traffic (i.e., cranes and contractor trucks), dust, and noise.

Action(s) Required:

- Please follow posted signage, caution tape and cones

- Please do not park near the Central Plant, or in Ridgway Drive

- Use caution near equipment and construction activity.

Thank you for your patience as we build and maintain our beautiful campus.

To report a facilities emergency, call (812) 488-2775.

2025 W-2 forms have been processed for all employees and student workers. If you have consented to receive your W-2 electronically, you may now view and print your form through Self Service. If you grant electronic consent now in Self Service, your W-2 will be available immediately.

To access your W-2, log in to Self Service at https://selfservice.evansville.edu, Select the Tax Information tab, click W-2 Information, and choose the 2025 statement.

For those who did not consent to electronic delivery, W-2 forms will be mailed.

If you have any questions, please contact the Payroll Department at payroll@evansville.edu

1098-T Forms

2025 1098-T forms have been processed for students. By providing consent for electronic 1098-T, you can view/print your 1098-T now. Simply log into Self-Service at https://selfservice.evansville.edu and go to “Tax Information." Click the option “1098 Information."

1098-T will be mailed to those students who do not provide their consent to electronic 1098-T.

View the 1098-T webpage for more information about how to use this informational tax document.

On Tuesday, Feb 3 @ 7:30 PM (Wheeler Concert Hall), please join us for an evening of chamber and electroacoustic music featuring Charles du Preez (clarinet), Anne Fiedler (piano), Mark Hatlestad (viola), Elvis Bendana Rivas (guitar), and Jon Robertson (sound design).

Centered on Pierre Boulez’s landmark Dialogue de l’ombre double, the recital explores music as a form of dialogue—between performers, between acoustic and electronic sound, and between presence and reflection. The program moves from intimate chamber works to immersive spatial sound, including a newly composed electroacoustic work by Jon Robertson, inviting listeners to experience music as communication that unfolds across space, texture, and time.

Don't miss our last on campus career fair of this academic year! We are excited to welcome close to 50 employers to campus recruiting for ALL majors. Check UE Career Bridge to see complete list of registered employers.

Tuesday, February 3

12:30pm- 3:00pm

Eykamp Hall, RUC

*Register in UE Career Bridge (will save you time at check in!)

Questions? Contact the Center for Career Development at career@evansville.edu or 812-488-1083.

a Big Game Menu specifically designed for Super Bowl watch parties at the University of Evansville. The graphic uses bold football-themed visuals and clearly lists a variety of shareable, crowd-pleasing food options. These include veggie and fruit trays with dips, pretzel bites with beer cheese and spicy mustard, buffalo chicken dip, jalapeño popper dip, BBQ meatballs, wings with multiple sauce choices, sliders, pizzas, and dessert options like cookies and brownies. Most items are portioned to feed groups, with prices listed per item or by the dozen.

The post highlights a deal offering a free dozen cookies on orders over $150, adding extra value for larger group orders. Students are encouraged to pre-order by February 5th, pay using AceBucks, and pick up their food at Ace’s Place on February 8th. The caption reinforces the convenience and reliability of the menu, assuring students that their Super Bowl snacks are completely taken care of.

The Department of Art invites the campus community to attend a Student Showcase featuring the work of Lilah Rogel and Zoe Caggiano.

Location: Krannert Gallery

Exhibit Dates: January 20 - February 28

Opening Reception: January 22 at 6:30 p.m.

This exhibition highlights student artwork and celebrates emerging artists within the Department of Art.  All are welcome to attend.

Click here to sign up!

Tutoring is now available for the Spring Semester. The tutoring schedule can be found on our Advising page under the Academic Peer Tutoring tab.

New this semester, several tutoring topics have transitioned to available by request only. These sessions, along with any topics that are not listed on the tutoring schedule, can be requested HERE.

Peer tutoring is a free service managed by Academic Services that is open to all current UE students. Each session is run by peer tutors who are familiar with the course material, having gone through it all themselves before. This is a great resource for if you have questions, want to refresh yourself on information, or even if you need a space that will help you focus on studying and other work.

If you have any questions regarding peer tutoring, please contact Laci Rowe at lr152@evansville.edu / 812-488-5170 or by stopping into Academic Services in Olmsted 116.

Due to recent weather, the opening reception for A New Shade of Soul has been rescheduled.

Please join us on Thursday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Melvin Peterson Gallery for the opening reception.

All are invited and welcome to attend.  We hope to see you there!

As we approach renewal for The Chronicle of Higher Education, we are reviewing how well our hiring platforms are working for the University. Before making any decisions, we would appreciate your quick feedback on your experience as a hiring manager over the past year.

Please take a few minutes to complete the brief survey below. Your input will help guide next steps.

[Survey Link]

Office of Human Resources

All graduating seniors in good standing at UE are eligible to be considered for the Senior Keynote. We encourage you to consider applying at https://www.evansville.edu/commencement/keynote.cfm by Friday, March 27, 2026.

Don't miss this chance to go on this short-term international experience in May! Join the Schroeder School of Business on this 10-day trip to Harlaxton, Leicester, Derby, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and London and earn academic credit while traveling and learning abroad. These trips are best if you are unable to travel to Harlaxton for the longer full semester trips.    For School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS) students, this course may count as a free elective (note: not all SECS programs include free electives). Students outside the School of Business and SECS should consult their program advisor to confirm how this course can fit into their degree plan. Trip Details:

• Course: BUS 365 (3 credit hours)
• Dates: May 15–25, 2026
• Who Can Apply: Open to all UE students 
• February 2: Deadline for application (by email to yo21@evansville.edu)
• See attached flyer for more details.

This is a unique opportunity to gain global experience, earn credits, and explore Harlaxton in just 10 days. Apply now and be part of an unforgettable summer experience!   If interested, join us for an information session:

• January 29 at 12:15 pm in KC133 and
• January 30 at 12:15 pm in SB 250. 

Please promote this to your fellow students and friends. Hope you join this trip.

View the flyer.

The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF) awards scholarships to United Methodist college students in the United States. Applications are now open for scholarships to help fund the 2026-27 academic year. Please visit https://umhef.org/apply for more information and to access the application. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2026.

FREE, confidential HIV and Hep C testing at the Health Center. First Wednesday of every month from 9-11am.  Rapid results. No appointment necessary. Students, faculty, and staff are all welcome.

The UE University Choir led by Dr. Dennis Malfatti recently performed by invitation at the Indiana Music Education Association (IMEA) Annual State Conference in Fort Wayne IN. Attended by hundreds of music teachers from the region and featuring the finest performing ensembles in the state, the IMEA Conference is among the most important annual events for music educators around the state. The talented singers of the UE University Choir did the University proud in their performance at the conference.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville swimming and diving squads head across the city on Saturday to face USI at 12 p.m. CST at the USI Aquatic Center.

In its last action two weeks ago in Charleston, Ill, the Purple Aces swept Eastern Illinois as the women took a 143-114 victory while the men earned a 136-126 decision with the final freestyle relay being the decisive event.

Logan Tenison had a strong performance for the Purple Aces. After earning a win in the 100-backstroke event with a time of 50.89, Tenison set the EIU pool record in the 200-backstroke race. His winning time of 1:52.57 broke the previous pool mark of 1:53.54. Joseph Capo recorded the first win of the day for the men, recording a 1:45.15 in the 200-free to defeat teammate Bryce Ryan by just over one second. Capo followed that up with a win in the 500-free as he bested the competition with a time of 4:45.64.

Michael Pruett took the win in the 100-free with his time of 47.23 while Adam Pawlawk’s time of 1:58.87 gave him a win in the 200-fly. Tyler Jackson set a PR in the 200-IM with a 1:56.47. He took the victory by over four seconds. The men completed the day with a win in the 200-free relay as Sammy McCall, Pruett, Alex Willis, and Tenison swam a 1:25.47 to defeat EIU by 0.53.

Ane Madina, Claire Mewbourne, Evelyn Chin, and Grace Moody set the tone for the ladies as they opened the meet with a win in the 400-medley relay. Their 4:01.51 defeated the competition by over four seconds. Jadyn Dauphinais started her day with a win in the 200-free. She swam a 2:02.61 to win by 1.64 seconds.

Madina followed with a win in the 100-backstroke race as she registered a 1:00.05. Claire Mewbourne kept things rolling as she topped the podium in the 100-breaststroke race. Her 1:08.77 defeated a pair of Panther swimmers. She added a win in the 200-IM with a finish of 2:15.31.

Grace Moody added two victories for the Purple Aces. Posting a 24.92 in the 50-free, she came in 0.70 in front of teammate Evelyn Chin. Moody followed that effort with a 54.93 in the 100-free to lead a sweep of the podium. Mia Pesavento (56.82) and Delaney Miller (57.23) rounded out the top three. Chin added a victory in the 100-fly swimming a 58.82.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – University of Evansville senior AJ Casey erupted for 17 points, all in the second half, to lead the Purple Aces men’s basketball squad in a 71-55 setback at UNI on Saturday afternoon.

Casey was 0-for-4 in the opening half before knocking down 8 of his 10 attempts in the final stanza. He added a game-high 11 rebounds to finish with his first collegiate double-double. Joining him in double figures was Leif Moeller who scored 14. Alex Hemenway added eight tallies. Four UNI players scored in double digits led by Will Hornseth’s 21 points. Ben Schwieger had a double-double with 10 points and 10 caroms.

“It was a tough start with Connor (Turnbull) being out and Josh (Hughes) picking up two early fouls, but give Northern Iowa credit for how they played,” UE head coach David Ragland said. “I like the offensive execution that we had in the second half and how we rebounded from a tough start.”

Josh Hughes converted on UE’s opening possession before Leif Moeller connected on the first triple of the day to put the Purple Aces in front 5-0 in the first two minutes. UNI quickly rallied back with a 15-0 run to jump in front at 15-5 inside of the 14-minute mark. The Panthers hit six shots in a row to open the lead.

Bryce Quinet knocked down a pair of free throws while James Dyson-Merwe finished down low to cut the deficit to six points (17-11) two minutes later, however, another UNI run pushed the lead back to double figures as they scored the next seven to go up 24-11. They continued to add to the advantage, opening a 36-16 lead with 5:06 remaining before going up by as many as 23 in the period before taking a 41-21 lead into the half. Alex Hemenway hit a 3-pointer for the Aces with 1:33 remaining.

After opening the game 2-for-3 from the field, the Aces finished the half hitting just five of their final 22 attempts. On the other side, Northern Iowa missed its first two field goal tries before completing the half connecting on 16 of their next 28 attempts.

The opening five points of the second half belonged to the Panthers as they pushed the lead to a game-high 25 points – 46-21. AJ Casey scored his first points of the game to get UE on the board. Casey posted Evansville’s first ten points of the period as the score stood at 55-31 heading into the final 11 minutes. UNI extended their advantage to 26 points with 10:51 remaining before the Aces began to close in.

Leif Moeller drained a triple as part of an 8-0 stretch by UE that made it a 57-39 game at the 8:28 mark. Two triples by the Panthers saw them go back up by 26 with 5:30 remaining before UE utilized its outside shooting to get even closer. Triples by Hemenway, Casey, and Moeller cut the deficit to 17 (67-50) with 3:02 left, but the Panthers proved to be too much as they cruised to the 16-point win.

UNI shot 54.7% on the day while the Aces shot 40.4%. UE performed better in the final 20 minutes, shooting 51.9%. The Panthers completed the day with a 32-24 edge on the glass. UE is back home on Tuesday evening to face Indiana State at 7 p.m.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Saturday’s meet pitting the University of Evansville swimming and diving teams against USI saw the Purple Aces women take a team victory along with several strong individual performances across the board at the USI Aquatic Center.

Evansville’s women defeated the Screaming Eagles by a score of 159-135 while the men fell by a score of 175-125.

Ane Madina, Grace Moody, and Claire Mewbourne each recorded two victories on the day. Madina was victorious in the 100-backstroke (58.31) and 200-backstroke (2:06.23) races while contributing to relay victories in the 200-Medley Relay and 400-Free Relay.

Moody led a trio of Aces to a 1-2-3- finish in the 50-free with a time of 23.97 before taking top honors in the 100-free. Her effort of 52.74 was over a second faster than the runner-up. Mewbourne opened with a win the 100-breasstroke (1:05.87) before winning by over three seconds in the 200-breaststroke race with a time of 2:22.48.

Jadeyn Dauphinais was victorious in the 200-free as she swam a 1:58.52. Evelyn Chin won the 100-fly event, posting a 56.39.

Logan Tenison was the top performer on the men’s side. Following a win in the 100-backstroke (50.85), Tenison picked up the victory in the 200-backstroke with a time of 1:52.69. Joseph Capo put forth a dominant effort in the 1000-free race. Registering a 9:49.67, he was just shy of ten seconds in front of his nearest competition.

Chris Rector was victorious in the 200-breaststroke event. With a 2:04.43, he came in over two seconds ahead of the field. Wyatt Gallas won the 500-free race. His 4:44.65 edged teammate Bryce Ryan by just over a second. Alex Willis also picked up a win for UE. His 50.99 took the win in the 100-fly.

Full Results

Women’s 200-Medley Relay

Madina/Mewbourne/Chin/Dauphinais – 1^st – 1:46.11

Hamilton/Markarewicz/Pesavento/Giese – 4^th – 1:53.81

Yancey/Denny/Thomas/Miller – 6^th – 1:58.29

Men’s 200-Medley Relay

Tenison/Willis/Rector/McCall – 2^nd – 1:33.17

Tavrovsky/Ulewicz/Montano/Pruett – 5^th – 1:37.66

Bolling/Pawlak/O’Sullivan/Rashed – 6^th – 1:38.45

Morse/Hargrove/Guilherme/McDowell – 7^th – 1:39.77

Women’s 1000-Free

Luana Carrotta – 2^nd – 10:48.85

Hannah Krings – 3^rd – 10:53.33

Audrey Wandling – 5^th – 11:13.92

Men’s 1000-Free

Joseph Capo – 1^st – 9:49.67

Bryce Ryan – 2^nd – 9:59.53

Tyler Jackson – 3^rd – 10:02.07

Women’s 200-Free

Jadyn Dauphinais – 1^st – 1:58.52

Mia Pesavento – 4^th – 1:59.67

Delaney Miller – 5^th – 2:03.85

Lilly Yancey – 8^th – 2:11.07

Men’s 200-Free

Michael Pruett – 3^rd – 1:45.95

Luke Cook – 5^th – 1:46.41

Harry McDowell – 7^th – 1:49.52

Women’s 100-Back

Ane Madina – 1^st – 58.31

Jaley Hamilton – 4^th – 1:03.33

Men’s 100-Back

Logan Tenison – 1^st – 50.85

Ben Morse – 5^th – 54.83

Boris Tavrovsky – 6^th – 55.05

Carter Bolling – 7^th – 56.62

Women’s 100-Breaststroke

Claire Mewbourne – 1^st – 1:05.87

Tristen Thomas – 3^rd – 1:12.27

Rafaela Markarewicz – 4^th – 1:12.57

Men’s 100-Breaststroke

Robert Hargrove – 5^th – 59.75

Trevor O’Sullivan – 6^th – 59.97

Joao Pereira – 7^th – 1:00.57

Jesse Montano – 8^th – 1:02.51

Women’s 200-Fly

Amanda Denny – 2^nd – 2:25.39

Men’s 200-Fly

Alex Willis – 4^th – 1:57.06

Adam Pawlak – 5^th – 1:58.59

Wyatt Gallas – 6^th – 2:03.23

Women’s 50-Free

Grace Moody – 1^st – 23.97

Jillian Giese – 2^nd – 24.91

Evelyn Chin – 3^rd – 25.35

Jaley Hamilton – 8^th – 26.83

Men’s 50-Free

Sammy McCall – 2^nd – 21.48

Logan Tenison – 3^rd – 21.95

Chris Rector – 4^th – 22.09

Brendan Ulewicz – 5^th – 22.17

Women’s 1-Meter Dive

Eden McRoberts – 6^th – 184.88

Leah Gardner – 7^th – 165.98

Men’s 1-Meter Dive

Levi McKinney – 2^nd – 305.93

Gabe Lett – 5^th – 174.52

Women’s 100-Free

Grace Moody – 1^st – 52.74

Delaney Miller – 4^th – 56.50

Amanda Denny – 7^th – 57.17

Men’s 100-Free

Michael Pruett – 2^nd – 46.67

Sammy McCall – 4^th – 47.85

Tyler Jackson – 5^th – 48.23

Luke Cook – 7^th – 49.24

Women’s 200-Back

Ane Madina – 1^st – 2:06.23

Luana Carrotta – 3^rd – 2:09.75

Jaley Hamilton – 5^th – 2:17.89

Lilly Yancey – 6^th – 2:24.01

Men’s 200-Back

Logan Tenison – 1^st – 1:52.69

Boris Tavrovsky – 4^th – 2:03.33

Ben Morse – 5^th – 2:08.46

Harry McDowell – 6^th – 2:09.66

Women’s 200-Breaststroke

Claire Mewbourne – 1^st – 2:22.48

Jillian Giese – 3^rd – 2:26.48

Tristen Thomas – 7^th – 2:44.30

Men’s 200-Breaststroke

Chris Rector – 1^st – 2:06.43

Joao Pereira – 5^th – 2:12.77

Trevor O’Sullivan – 6^th – 2:16.63

Jesse Montano – 8^th – 2:17.00

Women’s 500-Free

Hannah Krings – 3^rd – 5:18.01

Rafaela Markarewicz – 5^th – 5:43.30

Men’s 500-Free

Wyatt Gallas – 1^st – 4:44.65

Bryce Ryan – 2^nd – 4:45.75

Women’s 100-Fly

Evelyn Chin – 1^st – 56.39

Grace Moody – 2^nd – 57.38

Jadyn Dauphinais – 3^rd – 59.05

Mia Pesavento – 4^th – 1:00.37

Men’s 100-Fly

Alex Willis – 1^st – 50.99

Brendan Ulewicz – 5^th – 52.95

Adam Pawlak – 6^th – 52.96

Robert Hargrove – 8^th – 53.82

Women’s 3-Meter Dive

Eden McRoberts – 5^th – 189.75

Leah Gardner – 7^th – 133.95

Men’s 3-Meter Dive

Levi McKinney – 3^rd – 287.40

Gabe Lett – 6^th – 159.00

Women’s 200-IM

Jillian Giese – 2^nd – 2:09.11

Claire Mewbourne – 3^rd – 2:11.34

Audrey Wandling – 5^th – 2:20.63

Tristen Thomas – 7^th – 2:37.17

Men’s 200-IM

Chris Rector – 2^nd – 1:57.17

Tyler Jackson – 3^rd – 1:57.97

Carter Bolling – 6^th – 2:01.53

Joao Pereira – 8^th – 2:08.73

Women’s 400-Free Relay

Moody/Chin/Madina/Dauphinais – 1^st – 3:32.45

Pesavento/Miller/Denny/Markarewicz – 3^rd – 3:44.69

Men’s 400-Free Relay

Pruett/Capo/Willis/McCall – 2^nd – 3:07.15

Cook/McDowell/Gallas/Ulewicz – 3^rd – 3:14.23

Pawlak/O’Sullivan/Ryan/Rashed – 5^th – 3:19.89

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team went down to the wire with their opponent for the third consecutive game on Sunday afternoon, but fell short in a 78-75 loss to Indiana State.

BreAunna Ward (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) had a career game for the Aces, leading the team with a season-high 22 points. Ward also notched season-highs with 34 minutes played, eight rebounds, three blocks, and four steals, becoming the second freshman since the 2009-10 season to post that stat line in 34 minutes or less.

Three other Aces scored in double figures, matching a season best. Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) scored 19 points with seven rebounds, while Sydney Huber (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Mount Vernon) scored 13 with a season-high six assists and Georgia Cox (Ballarat, Australia/Eastern Illinois) scored 10 points for her third double-digit scoring effort in the last four games.  

The game was tight from the start, with Indiana State grabbing an early four-point lead before a three-pointer by Jelena Savic (Melbourne, Australia/Kurunjang Secondary College) tied things up at 12. However, the Sycamores controlled things for the remainder of the quarter to take a 25-19 lead.

Indiana State stayed in front in the second quarter, stretching the lead to 10 at the 4:16 mark in the period. However, the Aces made a run to end the quarter, outscoring the Sycamores 6-2 in the final two minutes to cut the deficit to three at halftime.

Ward got hot coming out of halftime, opening the third quarter with a triple to tie things up at 41 before scoring seven more points in the period. The Aces tied it up again with 7:43 to go in the period, and the game remained close throughout the quarter, including another tie at 53 apiece. Evansville would not get over the hump, however, as Indiana State remained in front by three heading into the fourth.

The Sycamores extended their lead back up to seven early in the fourth quarter, but a 7-0 Evansville run, led by five points from Ward, made it a 70-70 game with 2:45 left. Indiana State responded, though, using a 6-0 run of their own to take a 76-70 lead in the final minute. Huber was able to cut the deficit to three with a three-pointer with 20 seconds left, before a technical foul on Indiana State following two Sycamore free throws allowed Runner to make a pair of free throws and give her team the ball down three with 13 seconds left. On the final possession of the game, Runner looked as if she would force overtime, but a three-pointer rimmed out and the Sycamores escaped with a 78-75 win.

Evansville goes back on the road next week, traveling north to take on Valparaiso and UIC. Tip-off at Valpo on Thursday is set for 6 PM.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – With the start of her first season just over a week away, University of Evansville head softball coach Bailey Dillender has announced seven signees to the program. The class includes three transfers and four who will join the Purple Aces as freshmen in 2027.

Skylar Rachal – Murfreesboro, Tenn. - Catcher

A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Skylar Rachal comes to the UE program following two seasons at John A. Logan College where she saw action in a total of 102 games. Last season, she batted .315 while picking up 41 RBI, 33 runs, and three home runs. In 2024, she batted a solid .346 while picking up 25 RBI and 25 runs. She earned Second Team All-Region honors in 2025.

Rachal earned four letters in softball at Riverdale HS where she completed her career in 2023 and was named the Most Valuable Player in her district. She was also an All-District honoree in 2022 while garnering Second Team All-Conference honors. Her efforts helped Riverdale earn Region and District Championships.

Coach Dillender on Rachal: “Sky is a solid catcher, with great hands behind the plate, above average arm, and can hit for great average. We are fortunate to have her on campus with us this spring and look forward to her suiting up as an Ace next fall.”

Katie Futrell – Evansville, Ind. – Infielder

Evansville native Katie Futrell will be back in her hometown following two seasons at John A. Logan. As a freshman in 2025, she batted .412 with four home runs, 40 RBI, and 48 runs scored and is set to open her sophomore campaign with the program. Her inaugural collegiate season saw her earn First Team All-Region 24 and First Team All-GRAC accolades.

Futrell graduated from Reitz HS in 2024 where she batted .388 as a senior and a career-high .481 in her junior campaign in 2023. As a senior, she garnered All-SIAC 2^nd Team accolades to go along with the Silver Slugger Award and Mental Toughness Award. She also broke the school stolen base record. Futrell was the Team MVP in 2023 while earning the Golden Slugger Award, All-Metro Team recognition, and All-SIAC First Team. She was the 2021 Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year.

Coach Dillender on Futrell: “Katie was on track last year to be Player of the Year at JALC before a very untimely injury. We love her speed, her versatility defensively, and we ability to hit for average. Can’t wait to get Katie back to Evansville!”

Hayley Pasquino – Carbondale, Ill. – Pitcher

Haley Pasquino joins the UE program following a stint at John A. Logan where she will complete her second season in 2026. In her inaugural collegiate season, Pasquino finished with a 2.143 ERA while striking out 42 batters in 49 innings of work. This followed a strong high school career at Zeigler-Royalton HS that saw her earn multiple accolades. The 4-time All-Conference honoree earned two All-South awards, two All-State honors, and a pair of berths on the S.I. Select Team.

In her four years of high school, she recorded an ERA of 2.194 or lower each season including a low of 1.468 in 2022. One of her top performances came against Mt. Vernon in 2023 where she picked up a no-hitter while striking out 16 batters. The victory cemented the first conference championship for her school in 20+ years.

Coach Dillender on Pasquino: “Hayley had a super fall, Evansville and its small campus was a perfect fit for her, and i look forward to watching her develop and succeed in the circle. I truly believe her best most successful days in the circle are in front of her, can’t wait for everyone to see her as an Ace!” 

Anna Clay Denton – Lexington, Ky. - Utility

Anna Clay Denton is set to compete as a senior at Lafayette HS. She has been named the Defensive Player of the Year for her team in her first three seasons and looks to duplicate the feat as a senior in 2026. She is coming off a stellar junior campaign in 2025 that saw her bat .398 while finishing with an OPS of 1.224 and a slugging percentage of .724. Denton reached base 50% of the time.

Her top season before that came in 2023 where she completed the season batting .348 while slugging .536. Her top performance came in the Region Tournament in 2025 where she had a grand slam, triple, and double on the way to nine RBIs.

Coach Dillender on Denton: “AC is a stellar athlete, all the intangibles. She’s been a 4-sport athlete for many years, and she could probably play 5 or 6 sports and be really good at each of them. She’s a coaches’ kid and will have the opportunity as an Ace to focus on her craft and i look for her to really have the opportunity to grow and excel with us!”

Savanna Voss – Milwaukee, Wisc. - Outfielder

Making her way to Evansville from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to join her sister Brooke is Savanna Voss. In her career at Hartford Union High School, Voss has four letters in softball while playing two seasons of basketball.

Highlighting her accolades on the field was a berth on the 2025 All-Conference 2^nd Team along with being named the Spring Sports Player of the Week. Her sister Brooke will be a junior on the Purple Aces 2026 squad.

Coach Dillender on Voss: “She has speed for days, a solid compact swing, and above average arm in the OF, plus she’s a Voss and they don’t make better kids than that. Really excited to have Savannah and Brooke on the field together for a year and can’t wait to see how Sav develops in our program.”

Ayden Bennett – Henderson, Ky. – Middle Infielder/OF

Joining the Purple Aces from nearby Henderson, Ky. is Ayden Bennett. In her time at Henderson County HS, she set the stolen base record for her school with 46 while posting one of the top ten batting averages in school history in 2025 batting .486. In 2025, she accumulated 67 hits, 10 doubles, 35 RBI, and 46 steals. That came on the heels of a sophomore campaign where she batted .457 with 57 hits, 36 RBI, and 37 steals.

In the 2024 State Tournament, it was her defense that made the difference. In the Elite 8 game, her team was up by two runs in the final innings, however, the opponent loaded the bases with two outs. Her snag of a line drive ended the game and sent the team to the Final 4 before the squad went on to win the first State Championship in program history. Her squad was the Kentucky State Runner-up in both 2023 and 2025.

Bennett has earned multiple accolades including 2025 Impact Player of the Year, All-Region 2^nd Team, All-District 6 Team, KSCA 2025 Class 3A Second Team All-State and more.

Coach Dillender on Bennett: “I could not believe a talent like Ayden was still available for us to swipe up when we got started on this class. She’s just across the river in Henderson and has played for a state championship the last 3 years, she versatile, with a huge arm, and runs like a track star. I know Evansville and Henderson Co will be proud to see Ayden represent the Aces!”

Kaitlyn Whitlock – Sellersburg, Ind. - Outfielder

Outfielder Kaitlyn Whitlock heads to Evansville from Sellersburg, Ind. where she competes for Silver Creek High School. In 2025, she put together a phenomenal season that saw her bat .622 with 56 hits, 27 RBI, 45 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases. In 2024, she batted .469 and scored 59 runs.

Her team was a Final 4 and Elite 8 participant in the Kentucky State Tournament. Her squad has won two Regional, Sectional, and Mid-South Conference Championships during her time in school. Whitlock has been recognized as a 1^st and 2^nd Team All-State player, News and Tribune Player of the Year nominee, and a 2-time Mid-South Conference 1^st Team player.

Coach Dillender on Whitlock: “Kaitlyn is a crafty little lefty, she is a triple threat kid at the plate, can bunt, slap, and hit for power. She tracks the ball really well in the OF, gives us additional speed that I’m confident we will utilize throughout her career. KK is a super teammate and was committed to being an Ace even before we arrived this summer. We feel fortunate to have been able to keep her locked in with us thru the transition.”

High school students throughout the Tri-State and beyond were awarded significant scholarships on Friday, January 23, at the University of Evansville's 10th annual High School Changemaker Challenge, made possible by Toyota Indiana.

The challenge is designed to motivate young people to take a leading role in identifying and solving challenges in the world through innovation and creativity. A panel of judges heard pitches from the top 20 teams and individual students who had been invited to the in-person competition. From those top 20, six ideas were then chosen for the championship round. During that event, judges awarded first, second, and third place. Additionally, a surprise $10,000 UE scholarship was given to each of the runners up.

UE has committed more than $1 million in scholarships to winners of this competition since its inception. Those who choose UE as their college destination will each receive four-year scholarships as listed below:

First Place Helping Hands (Full tuition UE scholarship)

Team: Noma Ohonba, Chaz Burkett; Signature School, Evansville, Indiana

HelpingHands is a streamlined platform to make volunteering more convenient, people can find events that match their interests and keep track of their hours & verification all in one place. It basically functions as a social network for service, making it easy to stay informed, get involved, and track real impact without extra hassle.

Second Place / Team Promise ($27,000 UE scholarship)

Team: Lucy Howe, Elodie Thomason; Reitz Memorial High School, Evansville, Indiana

This program proposes a co-ed or all-girls flag football league in the Evansville Promise Neighborhood, offering kids a fun and active way to build healthy habits. It emphasizes physical activity, teamwork, and confidence while creating a positive space for youth to play and grow.

Third Place / VeraWell for Women ($25,000 UE scholarship)

Team: Jaini Haria, Adria Saha; Signature School, Evansville, Indiana

This app provides a secure way for victims of domestic abuse to reach licensed health and mental-health professionals through private chat or video, offering crisis triage and personalized safety planning. It also includes anonymous peer-support spaces where survivors can connect and share experiences, along with accessible resources to help them find safety and begin healing.

Runners up ($23,000 UE scholarship)

Accessible Cam

Team: Cameron Jenkins; Franklinton High School, Franklinton, North Carolina

Accessible Cam is designed to bring awareness to sidewalk and path accessibility issues throughout our city. It provides a street-level view of the challenges faced by pedestrians using wheelchairs and walkers, new mothers using strollers, and others navigating Evansville sidewalks and paths.

MyJourney

Team: Nicholas Fleming; Signature School, Evansville, Indiana

An online therapy extension providing reusable resources to patients for use out of session, along with storage for session notes and action plans and mood and progress tracking. It helps the financial and time burden on both therapists and patients, ensuring that more people have access to therapy.

LungCheckVOC

Team: Jonathan Davis; Signature School, Evansville, Indiana

This project introduces a non-invasive diagnostic tool that analyzes exhaled VOCs with machine learning to support early detection of lung cancer. It offers a simple, patient-friendly approach that can improve screening access and lead to faster, more informed care decisions.

ChangeLab Coach Awards

Emerging Coach of the Year: Max Flowers, Graduate Research Librarian, Clinical Assistant Professor

Coach of the Year: Dr. Valerie Stein, Professor of Religious Studies; Director, Social justice Program and Race & Ethnicity Studies; director, UE's Journey to Justice

Fan Favorites

Evansville Youth Music Collective

Team: Ethan He, Layne Jenkins, Stephanie Panayides; Signature School

We are a student-led volunteering ensemble and initiative composed of high school musicians driven by the philosophy that everyone deserves access to live music. Since 2024, our ensemble has performed at hospitals, retirement communities, and care facilities, bringing joy to patients, residents, and families when they need it most.

Future Women of Criminal Justice

Team: Taylor McRoberts; Boonville High School, Boonville, Indiana

The project aims to organize outreach events that connect young girls with female role models in the criminal justice field, offering mentorship and support. The initiative seeks to inspire and empower the next generation of women to pursue careers in criminal justice.

GrowIN' Soy: Indiana's Tiny Beans, Big Climate Impact

Team: Matthew Goff, Alexander Rawlinson; Signature School, Evansville, Indiana

GrowIN' Soy is an educational program to teach 3rd graders about the growth and value of soybeans and recieved an Ag Literacy grant from Indiana Farm Bureau to present this in Warrick Co. schools. Our goal is to expand this program statewide to create change by promoting more informed consumers for a positive environmental impact that supports Indiana's agricultural communities.

To learn more about High School Changemaker Challenge please visit https://www.evansville.edu/changemaker/