The White and Blue Podcast

Kerry Donovan Cummings, ‘77, became the president of the Hillsdale College Alumni Association Board just two months before the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn how the 2024 Alumni Award recipient led during a very difficult time as well as how Hillsdale College has become a family affair for the Chicago area native.

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Informative. Inspirational. Uplifting. Those are the goals of the White and Blue podcast. We are here to tell the interesting stories of Hillsdale College alumni, who number more than 15,000 strong. Our guests will share about their time and experiences while on campus, and also the impact they have had on the world since graduating. What makes the Hillsdale College graduate unique? We will explore that question and more, including how alumni have impacted the past, present, and future of the College. Won’t you join us?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Davis Valdez has had a long successful career in public policy, spending the last few years with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, where she worked with the governor’s office and the state legislature in shaping education policy. She recently started a new position as the executive director of Incubator of the Center for Education and Public Service for the University of Austin, a startup private institution.

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Informative. Inspirational. Uplifting. Those are the goals of the White and Blue podcast. We are here to tell the interesting stories of Hillsdale College alumni, who number more than 15,000 strong. Our guests will share about their time and experiences while on campus, and also the impact they have had on the world since graduating. What makes the Hillsdale College graduate unique? We will explore that question and more, including how alumni have impacted the past, present, and future of the College. Won’t you join us?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chester Marcol, a Polish immigrant who was recruited as a placekicker by former Hillsdale College head coach Frank Muddy Waters, made a splash as a soccer-style rookie kicker with the Green Bay Packers in 1972. He lead the National Football League in scoring and earned rookie of the year honors. He led the league in scoring again in 1974 and was a two-time All-Pro kicker. However, after his career ended, he has had a long battle with drug and alcohol addiction. Today, he remains sober, and works as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor in the Upper Peninsula. 

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Informative. Inspirational. Uplifting. Those are the goals of the White and Blue podcast. We are here to tell the interesting stories of Hillsdale College alumni, who number more than 15,000 strong. Our guests will share about their time and experiences while on campus, and also the impact they have had on the world since graduating. What makes the Hillsdale College graduate unique? We will explore that question and more, including how alumni have impacted the past, present, and future of the College. Won’t you join us?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Elizabeth Edwards Spalding is Chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) and Founding Director of the Victims of Communism Museum. A lifelong educator and frequent public speaker, the 1988 graduate is Senior Fellow at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy and Visiting Fellow at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College. She is the 2024 recipient of the College’s Elizebeth Smith Friedman Freedom Award.

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Informative. Inspirational. Uplifting. Those are the goals of the White and Blue podcast. We are here to tell the interesting stories of Hillsdale College alumni, who number more than 15,000 strong. Our guests will share about their time and experiences while on campus, and also the impact they have had on the world since graduating. What makes the Hillsdale College graduate unique? We will explore that question and more, including how alumni have impacted the past, present, and future of the College. Won’t you join us?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A World Away: Tom Martilotti, ’67

Hillsdale College was only 100 or so miles from his east-side Detroit home, but to Tom Martilotti from the class of 1967, it was almost a world away. The son of Italian immigrants came to Hillsdale as a walk-on football player and eventually earned a scholarship. A former high school teacher and coach, he later started his own business, Tom Martilotti Sales. The former Hillsdale Alumni Board president continues to stay active in his business and with the College.

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Informative. Inspirational. Uplifting. Those are the goals of the White and Blue podcast. We are here to tell the interesting stories of Hillsdale College alumni, who number more than 15,000 strong. Our guests will share about their time and experiences while on campus, and also the impact they have had on the world since graduating. What makes the Hillsdale College graduate unique? We will explore that question and more, including how alumni have impacted the past, present, and future of the College. Won’t you join us?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charging On: Jeff Lantis, '86
Director of Athletic Development 

Jeff Lantis, ’86, first came to Hillsdale College as a wide receiver recruit on the football team. After an All-American career on the field, he spent more than 25 years in Hillsdale’s Admissions Office, helping the College recruit future Chargers. He is now back in athletics, currently serving the College as the director of athletic development. After more than 35 years with the College, we find out what makes Jeff Lantis want to “Charge On! Charge On!” 

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Informative. Inspirational. Uplifting. Those are the goals of the White and Blue podcast. We are here to tell the interesting stories of Hillsdale College alumni, who number more than 15,000 strong. Our guests will share about their time and experiences while on campus, and also the impact they have had on the world since graduating. What makes the Hillsdale College graduate unique? We will explore that question and more, including how alumni have impacted the past, present, and future of the College. Won’t you join us?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.