When Giving Back Is Second Nature

By Vicki Ohl ’72

My earliest Heidelberg memories are different from those of my classmates. Since both of my parents, Ferris and Dorothy Ohl, taught in the Music Department, from a young age I understood that “school” meant college students, evening rehearsals, “The Messiah” and choir tours. It meant attending faculty meetings, supporting the Heidelberg Fellows and leading “Sweet Alma Home.” It was filled with creativity, community and pride. My parents loved it, and it was our family’s way of life.

Since I did not enroll as a student at Heidelberg until my junior year, I missed the freshman and sophomore bonding experiences. I had only music classes left to take, so my Heidelberg circle was limited at first to Brenneman Hall. There we learned discipline and time management (rehearsals and weekly lessons), accountability (juries each semester) and poise (Monday afternoon performance class). We valued excellence, gained confidence and experienced the joy of making music alone and with others.

When I returned as a faculty member, I experienced the collegiality of our department, the satisfaction of teaching and learning from our students, and the friendships and tolerance that interdepartmental committees can foster. Heidelberg has always been a place of many opportunities for those who are willing to take them, and I am forever grateful for those opportunities.

I began my “administrative creep” in 2000 by assisting with the Heidelberg Honors Program and quickly expanded my appreciation for my talented colleagues across the campus. I was reminded how Heidelberg faculty, staff and administrators are dedicated to the education and development of our young students, not just in their disciplines, but as productive, empathetic citizens of the world. Decades later, they still maintain their relationships with those students—now alumni and alumnae.

My contributions to the Heidelberg Fund, Concert Choir, Symphonic Band and the Ohl Scholarship and Endowment—all endeavors that I value—are second nature. They are thanks for the integrity, excellence and passion in our community, and confidence in the sustaining values of our “Sweet Alma Home.”

You can join Vicki in supporting the future of Heidelberg. Contact Doug Kellar at 419-448-2888 or dkellar@heidelberg.edu to explore your options.