Hillsdale College Alumni Association

06/23/2026

Being first comes naturally for Drew Lieske, ’18. As a member of the fledgling Hillsdale College Shotgun Sports Team, Lieske won an individual ACUI Collegiate National Championship and was a member of four ACUI national champion teams as a Charger. The competitive fires still burn for Lieske, but now as a businessman and entrepreneur. Read his story here: https://bit.ly/3Sne2jd

Being first comes naturally for Drew Lieske, ’18. As a member of the fledgling Hillsdale College shotgun team, Lieske won an individual ACUI Collegiate National Championship and was a member of four ACUI national champion teams as a Charger. The competitive fires still burn for Lieske, but now as ...

06/19/2026

For this week's Hillsdale History post, the 82nd anniversary of D-Day was June 6. The only Hillsdale College student known to have fought and died in the Battle of Normandy was Frank Moran. The Seattle area native attended Hillsdale after briefly enrolling at Washington State University and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He was a member of the Army's 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment that was part of the D-Day operation. According to newspaper accounts, First Lieutenant Moran was killed in action on June 15, 1944.

He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery near Omaha Beach. A group of Hillsdale alumni and friends recently visited his grave during the Alumni Europe Tour and paid their respects. For more on his life story, visit: https://bit.ly/4eqb0BU

06/17/2026

Former President George W. Bush first coined the phrase “compassionate conservative.” Blake Poindexter, ’89, practiced his own version as a longtime executive director of Wells County Community Corrections in his hometown of Bluffton, Indiana. Read his story here: https://bit.ly/49W7xtG

Former President George W. Bush first coined the phrase “compassionate conservative.” Blake Poindexter, ’89, practiced his own version as a longtime executive director of Wells County Community Corrections in his hometown of Bluffton, Indiana.

06/16/2026

Forbes Magazine has given Hillsdale an “A+” financial rating. We are blessed to be alumni at an institution that truly tries to do everything the right way. And the mission, formed in 1844, remains intact to this day. Read the Alumni Blog here: https://bit.ly/4uCMbsM

Forbes Magazine has given Hillsdale an “A+” financial rating. We are blessed to be alumni at an institution that truly tries to do everything the right way. And the mission that was formed in 1844 remains intact to this day.

06/15/2026

ALUMNI POSTCARD FROM EUROPE, DAY TEN: The grand finale of the Alumni Europe Trip was a full day in Paris. After a brief stop at the National Army Museum of the Invalides, where Napoleon's tomb is located, the group entered Paris to see the sights. The Arc de Triomphe was a popular stop, where you could see the Parisian skyline for miles around. A perfect weather day allowed for easy access to the Eiffel Tower, the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, or the Louvre. A dinner cruise on the Seine River was the last official activity of the trip. Starting at the base of the Eiffel Tower, a relaxing trip down the Seine, accompanied by a great meal, was a chance for everyone to say their goodbyes. Au Revoir!

06/13/2026

ALUMNI POSTCARD FROM EUROPE, DAY NINE: After a pleasant stay on the northern French coast city of Deauville, the group headed inland, first to Rouen and then to the Palace of Versailles.

In Rouen, the center of town is a quaint combination of cafes, flower markets, and retail businesses. In the middle of it all is an area dedicated to Joan of Arc, the patron saint of France. She was burned at the stake in 1431 at that location, and now a church and monument mark the spot.

The second palace of the trip, Versailles, was next. And it was as spectacular as promised. From the Battle Room to the vast gardens, the palace, adorned with gold, glistened in the summer sun. Paris, the City of Light, is the last stop on the tour.

06/12/2026

ALUMNI POSTCARD FROM EUROPE, DAY EIGHT: The day included a trip to Pointe Du Hoc, a 110-foot cliff overlooking the English Channel on the northwestern coast of Normandy, to view a series of German bunkers and machine gun posts. On D-Day, the U.S. Army Rangers scaled those cliffs and attacked and captured the pivotal location to slow the German beach attacks. Just a few miles away is one of the most hallowed sites of World War II: The Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, one of the bloodiest sites of D-Day. More than 9,300 American soldiers are buried there, including former Hillsdale College student Frank Moran, who died in the Battle of Normandy on June 15, 1944. The group paid their respects at his gravesite, including leaving a Hillsdale College Alumni challenge coin given to all alumni who served in the military. A powerful and personal moment. Next up is a tour of the Palace of Versailles, followed by finishing in Paris.

06/11/2026

ALUMNI POSTCARD FROM EUROPE, DAY SEVEN: The day could be summed up in two words: Harold Radish. The 102-year-old World War II veteran surprised the group when they arrived at the Greatest Generation Foundation's La Maison de la Libération (house of liberation) in St. Marie du Mont, in Normandy. The Brooklyn native shared his living history of the war and his capture by German forces. Because he was Jewish, Radish discarded his dog tags to hide that fact to his N**i captors, and the rest of the Americans captured with him did the same as a show of solidarity. He took time to pose for a few pictures, including with a group of Chi Omega alumni. His story put Utah Beach, the earlier visit of the day, into perspective and the solemnity of the moment. It was a personal glimpse of the war that the group won't soon forget. Onward to Omaha Beach!

06/10/2026

ALUMNI POSTCARD FROM EUROPE, DAY SIX: Past the halfway point of the trip, the group visited the inland city of Caen, a third of which was destroyed by the Germans during World War II. More than 80 years later, an outstanding World War II museum sits on the site of a former German bunker outside of town.

Later, a short drive over to the Pegasus Bridge in Benouville, which was one of the first D-Day liberation efforts by the Allies. A replica of the bridge is there, with the original nearby at the Memorial Pegasus Museum.

Dr. Tom Conner guides the group through the history of these sites and their significance to the D-Day effort as only he can. Utah Beach awaits!

06/09/2026

ALUMNI POSTCARD FROM EUROPE, DAY FIVE: The group left Portsmouth by boat bright and early, taking a similar 120-mile trip across the English Channel to France that Allied troops navigated during that fateful day on June 6, 1944. This trip was much less ominous, as the ship featured two restaurants and very comfortable accommodations. Even children's entertainment was on board, including one of the ship's mascots, Pierre the Bear.

Once reaching the shore, the group took a short bus ride to Deauville on the northern French coast, settling into a very fancy hotel featuring a dinner of the finest French cuisine. Normandy awaits.