Spring 1998

Bettie Evinger to retire after nearly 30 years on the Rose-Hulman staff

Each Christmas season, the impact of Bettie Evinger’s work for the Rose-Hulman community can be seen.

It’s illustrated in the many holiday cards and photos she receives from alumni and parents of students. Greetings that make up a display that is a holiday tradition in her Templeton Building office.

Family pictures come from graduates who were her student managers. Many of them now serve as alumni volunteers. Cards come from those who traveled with Evinger on alumni association-sponsored tours, and greetings are sent by loyal Parents’ Association volunteers.

In August, Evinger will retire as assistant director of alumni affairs and special events after nearly 30 years on the Rose-Hulman staff.

A retirement dinner honoring Evinger will take place Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. in the Hulman Union.

Before joining the alumni office staff in 1985, Evinger was office services manager with duties involving the mailroom, supplies, switchboard, purchasing and insurance claims.

The last 13 years, Evinger has helped coordinate Homecoming and commencement events, served as adviser to the Parents’ Association and new LINK student alumni group, represented the college on alumni association tours, recruited reunion chairmen, planned alumni club events and maintained the computerized alumni database.

Her work has benefited almost every segment of the Rose-Hulman community, from students and their families to alumni, faculty and staff, says Tony Wellings, director of alumni affairs and special events.

“She has a genuine affection for the Rose-Hulman community,” he emphasized. “Bettie considers us all to be part of her family. She will leave a valuable legacy.”

In 1991, alumni selected Evinger to be an honorary Rose-Hulman alumnus. She was honored in 1994 when she was presented with the Parents’ Association Dedication Award.

When asked to reminisce about her tenure at Rose-Hulman, Evinger says, “It’s been an honor to work with so many outstanding students, dedicated faculty and staff, and loyal volunteers.

“I’ve enjoyed seeing my former student managers graduate and become so successful in life and in their careers.”

Evinger and the late Steve Miller created the first campus student manager program. They also coordinated the assignment of more than 100 workstudy students each year.

One of those former student managers, Gerald Roberts (‘85), says Evinger was, “Someone who was like your mom away from home.

“We were more than just students to Bettie,” Roberts said. “She cared about how we were doing in all aspects of our lives.
“When we were faced with the stresses of academic demands, Bettie was always there to give us support when we needed it,” said Roberts, an associate with the Indianapolis law firm of Ice, Miller, Donadio and Ryan.

Evinger’s work has resulted in events that have created stronger relationships between the institute and families of current students and alumni, according to longtime Parents’ Association volunteers Ken and Marcia Nordmeyer, and Ruth and Grover McCleary.

“She provided us with ideas on how best to help the college,”said Ken Nordmeyer, who will have five Rose-Hulman alums in his family by the year 2001. His sons Mark and Chris, and brother James are alumni. Nordmeyer’s two daughters are current students.

“Bettie has been able to get everyone to work together for the good of Rose-Hulman. She’s a loyal Rose-Hulman person and has been a real friend to the Parents’ Association,” says McCleary, whose sons Dennis and Ken are Rose-Hulman alumni.
Evinger says retirement will enable her to have more time to travel and to correspond with her “Rose kids.”

“Retirement will give me more time to spend with my mother, Audrey Langley, and my sons Donovan and Michael and their families,” says Evinger, who has four grandchildren and one great grandaughter.

Evinger intends to keep up with news about the Rose-Hulman community. There’s no doubt that her Rose-Hulman friends will also keep sending those Christmas cards and family photos. They’ll just have to send them to a new address, 1838 South 28th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47803.

— by David Piker