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updated February 1, 2010
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Training A Champion: Rose-Hulman Students,
Faculty & Staff Enjoy Association with Super Bowl-Bound Colts
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A tint of blue and white is mixing into Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology’s traditional rose and white school colors as students, faculty
and staff members enjoy the Indianapolis Colts’ ride to next week’s Super
Bowl.
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Rose-Hulman housekeeper Diane Haughee sends best
wishes to the Indianapolis Colts for next week's Super Bowl. |
The private engineering, science and mathematics college has hosted the NFL
team’s training camp for the past 11 years and has a miniature Vince
Lombardi Trophy from the Colts’ 2007 Super Bowl championship.
“The game plan for this great season was drawn up right here at Rose-Hulman,”
stated “Super Fan” Merry Miller, secretary for the Department of Humanities
and Social Sciences. “We felt very fortunate to get the chance to win one
Super Bowl. Winning two would be icing on the cake and showcase how special
this team really is.”
Miller joined other members of the campus community in signing a large "Go
Colts!" greeting card this week to support the AFC champions. Matt Sinclair,
Rose-Hulman’s training camp coordinator, delivered the card to the Colts on
Friday and it will travel with the team when it continues pre-game
preparations in Florida.
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Supporting The Colts: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology housekeeping staff
members (from left) Lori Kater, Marcella Weaver, Towanda Graham, Nancy
Randall and Sue Garry sign personal notes to a poster that will be given to
the Indianapolis Colts. The housekeepers get to know many of the Colts'
players and coaches during training camp each August. |
Rose-Hulman’s residence life housekeeping staff was one of the first groups
to sign the card. This group develops friendships with Colts’ players each
year during training camp. Each staff member wore something with the Colts’
blue and white colors during a group photograph taken on Friday. That image
was replicated on a large poster that joined the greeting card in supporting
the Indianapolis team.
“They’re a special group of great young men and coaches. We know what
they’re like off the field. They’re very kind and unselfish,” stated veteran
housekeeper Barbara Kingery. “It’s funny to see these big, strong and
aggressive football players have such a kind heart and soul. That’s why we
love them so much.”
Housekeeper Diane Haughee’s four-year-old granddaughter, Peyton, is named
after Peyton Manning, the Colts’ MVP quarterback. Meanwhile, housekeeper Sue
Garry proudly displayed a photograph taken during a recent training camp
that showcased her wearing one of the Colts’ 2007 Super Bowl rings.
“It is hard not to love them. They’re so special,” Garry said.
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Super Colts Fan: Merry Miller, secretary in Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology's Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, shows off her
pride and support of the Indianapolis Colts. |
Garry wasn’t the only person displaying a special ring on campus Friday.
Jessica McKinley, a senior mechanical engineering major, was wearing an
engagement ring that was presented at the 50-yard-line of the Indianapolis
Colts home field, Lucas Oil Stadium, during a recent specially arranged
tour. Her fiancé, 2009 Rose-Hulman alumnus Kevin Beals, caught McKinley off
guard with the marriage proposal –- in front of family members.
“I said yes, of course, and was pretty much speechless for 45 minutes,”
McKinley said.
The couple met after following each other in their similar Mustang vehicles
from Rose-Hulman to Colts games in downtown Indianapolis. They dated nearly
18 months before the engagement.
“We have a mutual love of Mustangs (vehicle) and the Colts. Having the
proposal come at Lucas Oil Stadium brought everything into full circle for
us. That’s where everything started (in the relationship),” McKinley said.
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She's Got Her Ring: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology senior Jessica
McKinley proudly displays the engagement ring that she received on Wednesday
after receiving a marriage proposal at the 50-yard line of Lucas Oil Stadium
in Indianapolis. The ceremony came during a special stadium tour arranged by
fiancée Kevin Beals, a 2009 RHIT alumnus. |
Elsewhere on campus, Guanqun Wang, a freshman from Chanzhou, China, could be
found wearing an Indianapolis Colts sweatshirt while completing a homework
assignment. He became a fan of the NFL franchise before coming to America to
study electrical engineering.
“I, like everyone else around here, like the Colts. They’re good,” Wang
said.
Josh Knapp, a senior chemistry major, was among several Rose-Hulman students
wearing Colts’ jerseys on campus Friday. Knapp’s jersey showcased his
favorite Colts player, tight end Dallas Clark.
“Rose-Hulman is Colts country,” the Boonville, Ind., native said. “It’s
great that the Colts have their training camp here. It draws attention to
the college and the level of our quality facilities, which the students get
to use for the rest of the year. If it’s good enough for the Colts, it’s
definitely good enough for us.”
Rose-Hulman is one of 14 colleges and universities to host a NFL training
camp. Colts officials have been appreciative of Rose-Hulman's efforts and
facilities.
"(Rose-Hulman’s) facilities are great and they do a great job in terms of
providing an atmosphere that's conducive to getting work done," stated
Indianapolis Head Coach Jim Caldwell during the 2009 training camp.
Colts President Bill Polian, who received an honorary degree recipient from
Rose-Hulman in 2005, added: "In my years in the NFL, I have not experienced
an institution or community that provides a finer atmosphere for preparing a
team to compete than does Rose-Hulman and the city of Terre Haute."
The Colts have tallied an NFL best record of 128-48 since beginning their
training camp at Rose-Hulman in 1999.
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