January 17, 2025
Dear ,


Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season was filled with cheer, and that 2025 has started off with promise and excitement. As we kick off another year, we’re filled with renewed energy and enthusiasm at Marian University. The campus is buzzing with activity as students dive back into their studies, and despite the winter chill, there’s a warm sense of hope and determination in the air.

This year, we’re focusing on deepening our connection with YOU, our incredible alumni community. Your achievements, stories, and continued commitment to our alma mater inspire us every day, and we want to amplify those connections in meaningful ways. Whether you’re mentoring a student, attending an event, or simply sharing your experiences, we hope you’ll take an active role in shaping the future of Marian University and its next generation of graduates.

In this letter, we’re excited to share some of the impressive things your fellow alumni are accomplishing, and we invite you to explore how you can get more involved. Your engagement matters more than ever as we continue to strengthen the bonds that tie us together as the Marian University family.

If you’d like to further explore how you can reconnect or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@marian.edu.

Here’s to an exciting year ahead—thank you for being such an important part of our community!




Alex Sylvester '12
MUAA President
A Decade of Impact:
The Merkel Family Scholarship and Marian Alumni Legacy

The Martin E. Merkel family consists of seven children, five boys and two girls. Of the seven, six attended Marian College (now University).

Marty, the oldest, started at Marian in 1968, then a year later, in 1969, Larry started, followed by Ruth in 1971. They each majored in mathematics. Later, Joe, Tony, and Margie all attended Marian and majored in accounting. Finally,
Jim entered the workforce shortly after graduating high school. Of the six siblings that attended Marian, five graduated with honors.

Fast forward, Tony and Larry started discussing establishing a scholarship fund at Marian University. This thought was ultimately fulfilled as of 2015, when our Merkel Family Scholarship fund was officially established. Of the six Merkel family Marian graduates, five currently participate in the fund. Between 2015 and 2020, the Merkel family managed to grow their fund to $25,000, which was then matched by Marian University.

They decided they wanted to have simple requirements for a student to receive their scholarship: (1) be a junior or senior at Marian University, and (2) be majoring in mathematics or accounting. With that, their first student recipient came in 2021.

Please join us in celebrating the generosity of the Merkel family and the success of their endowed scholarship. This year marks the 10th anniversary of their scholarship's establishment, and they're proud to say that the fund is financially sound and acts as a lasting memory of their family's time at Marian.

[Pictured above, from left to right: Joe Merkel '77, Ruth Merkel Roell '75, Margie Merkel Lipsey '86, Tony Merkel '84, and Larry Merkel '73]
Are you a woman who loves Marian University?
Join us for the Women of Marian Society Galentine’s Day Celebration!
Saturday, February 8, 10 a.m. to Noon | Alumni Hall

The Women of Marian Society Leadership Committee is excited to continue our tradition of bringing together women of all generations to learn, grow from, and inspire one another.

This year, we are thrilled to have immediate past Student Government Association President, Brylee Koontz ‘24, and current President, Luci Woodrum '25, guiding our round robin table discussions. These conversations will foster a sense of community, personal growth, and connection between our students, alumni, and guests.

Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres, coffee and other refreshing beverages while networking and connecting with other women who support the Women of Marian Society.

Don’t miss out on this fun-filled and uplifting event. RSVP here or by contacting Becky Frey at bfrey@marian.edu or 317.955.6232. If you are not already a Women of Marian member, registration is $20. 

Photos from last year's event can be found here.
Day for the Knights is coming up—March 20, 2025! This year we'll be hosting launch parties to celebrate. Stay tuned for more information about where those launch parties will be held and how you can attend.
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 8, 2025
March 20, 2025
April 23, 2025		 Women of Marian Galentine's Day Celebration
Day for the Knights
Clayton Family Circle of Honor Dinner & Ceremony
CONTACT THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
Autumn Martin, Director of Alumni Engagement
amartin4@marian.edu | 317.955.6723.

Leah Marin, Alumni Engagement Specialist
lmarian@marian.edu | 317.955.6206.
Follow the Alumni Association and Marian University on social! #MarianAlumni