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Game Changers On and Off the Court

When Ericka Blair Natole ’14 graduated, she knew �����紫ý would always be part of her life. “I’ve been involved ever since,” she recalls. She began by representing women’s basketball in the Blue & Grey Club and, with her husband, Thomas Natole ’15, has expanded her involvement ever since.

The Natoles are part of a growing wave of young alumni finding meaningful ways to stay involved with �����紫ý. Whether attending events, volunteering, giving financial gifts, or amplifying �����紫ý’s reach on social media, young alumni are helping shape the university’s future.

The couple’s love story started on the basketball court. “She was a bad intramural ref,” Tom quips. With many mutual friends in football and basketball, the two often crossed paths, but they didn’t start dating until after Ericka graduated. “We’ve been together 11 years at this point,” says Tom. “It’s always shocking when we say that.”

Both came to �����紫ý to balance academics with athletics and felt the influence of alumni who had come before them. “There were just so, so many alumni involved,” says Tom, who played football and remembers the energy in the stands and mentors, specifically Robert K. Gratz ’75, P’08 and Kurt J. Poling ’89, P’17, P’20, who showed up at practices. “There was so much pride that they would come.”

Ericka, who played basketball, saw firsthand how alumni generosity created meaningful opportunities for students. She recalls when her team traveled to Vienna, Prague, and Munich for an international tournament. “As an adult, I realized that a lot of the enriching experiences that we had were probably influenced by people that we never met, never knew, never saw.”

Both credit their athletic experiences with shaping their careers. “I can’t talk about �����紫ý without talking about athletics. I use a lot of things that I learned in the classroom in my current role and in my life,” says Ericka. “There are just so many things that I had to face, work through, and rely on people for support that I can attribute to my experience with women’s basketball.”

Today, the Natoles stay deeply connected. Ericka has moderated Hounds Huddle, has served as president of the Blue & Grey Club, and continues to represent the women’s basketball team, sparking conversations about the equipment and opportunities that can elevate student-athletes. “I’m a bit jealous of those new locker rooms,” she admits.

They also make giving a priority. Tom discovered that his employer, Broadridge Financial Solutions, matches charitable gifts. “I took advantage of it because it doubles the impact of what I’m able to give to �����紫ý,” he says. Thanks to matched funds, the Natoles are members of the Comenius Society, which recognizes donors who give $1,742 or more annually.

“We go back to events and support �����紫ý in any way we can because those athletes and students appreciate it,” Tom explains. “It’s just about giving them a better experience at �����紫ý.”

From Campus Votes to Real-World Roles

Both Woodrow Battle ’19 and Maggie Jones ’20 first experienced leadership at �����紫ý as student trustees. “I was blown away by how much the trustees care and are invested in some of the smallest details of the university,” recalls Battle. “And those are volunteer positions, so they’re doing this out of their largesse.”

Today, Battle and Jones serve as co-chairs of the Young Alumni Subcommittee of the Lighting the Way campaign. The campaign is in its final year, concluding in June 2026.

“I want to be able to open the opportunity for current and future Hounds to have the transformational experience I had,” says Jones. She designates her philanthropy to the �����紫ý Scholarship Fund and the biology and chemistry departments. “�����紫ý has provided me with so much through research opportunities, alumni connections that have propelled me into my current career, supportive faculty that have remained as mentors even to this day, and, of course, my fellow Hounds who I call my best friends.”

“I didn’t want to wait” to get involved, adds Battle. “A lot of people think, Once I am successful, I will give back, or Once I am established, I will join the fray. I have a lot of excitement to thank the university for all the resources they spent on all of us to help us get started in the professional world.”

Battle began giving back as a student and set up a monthly gift after graduation. “It was easy to set up, and it’s a drop in the bucket,” he says, comparing it to the price of a coffee. He values the flexibility too. “I can change the monthly amount with a phone call at any time.

“Career readiness has been a huge piece of the campaign, the university’s mission and drive to attach the educational component to career placement and achievement,” Battle explains. “It is really exciting to see a clear pipeline coming through �����紫ý.”

A pharmacy resident, Jones is especially proud of the university’s commitment to wellness and the new Haupert Union Building’s WELL certification, which guarantees that the structure’s spaces and accommodations, physical features, and programs all contribute to student wellness.

“The new HUB is clearly the most exciting and spectacular undertaking,” Jones says. “As someone in healthcare who provides mental health and general wellness services, I know how imperative it is to have student health at the center of the campus. The new HUB will integrate mental health resources and community-building opportunities, as well as a beautiful place to nourish your body and soul, all under one roof.”

“We have a lot of good things going on at �����紫ý,” says Battle. “We’re really focused on what the future looks like.”
 

Giving �����紫ý "Hart" on Social Media

Talking about �����紫ý comes naturally to Caroline Hart ’23, who serves as a social media ambassador. “I love posting about my time and experience at �����紫ý,” she says. Her private account is filled with photos of her with friends at �����紫ý events.

Hart grew up at �����紫ý games with her parents, Andrew W. Hart ’90, P’23 and Elinor Shute Hart ’91, P’23. Caroline initially chose another college but quickly realized where she belonged. “I quickly learned I was meant to be at �����紫ý,” she recalls. “Transferring in was the best decision I made.”

Caroline embraced campus life. She joined Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and Kappa Delta Pi, the education honor society, and cherished Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. “I enjoy seeing alumni of all ages attend Homecoming and talk about their time at �����紫ý and the impact it has had on them,” she says. “Their passion about �����紫ý, even years after being students, is something I hope to continue to have in years to come.”

Last year, Caroline gave her first gift and joined the Comenius GOLD Society, which recognizes Graduates of the Last Decade. “I used to think that giving a gift to �����紫ý was only achievable for those more established in their lives and careers,” she says. “The Comenius GOLD Society allows me to support �����紫ý in a financially manageable way.”

In her current role as a social media ambassador, Caroline continues to share her Greyhound pride, intent on inspiring others to get involved as she did. “�����紫ý provides many opportunities for young alumni to remain engaged through events, volunteering, and social activities. Sign up and go!” she says. “They are a lot of fun.”
 

Young Voices, Big Impact

Serving on the alumni board has allowed Tyler Bergsma ’19 to stay connected. “I’ve always been motivated by wanting to help and give back in some way,” he says, calling himself a “cliché psych major.”

Bergsma found belonging as a student worker in Phonathon. “All of my supervisors and coworkers were fun, enlightening, and all-around centered on a common purpose of supporting current and future Greyhounds’ experiences,” he remembers. As a scholarship recipient, he loved telling alumni how much their support mattered. “It’s always stuck with me that it doesn’t take a massive effort to make an impact.”

After graduation, Bergsma began giving to areas that shaped him—the �����紫ý Scholarship Fund, track & field, the career center, psychology, and English. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without them,” he says.

When invited to serve on the alumni board and, later, co-chair the young alumni committee, Bergsma hesitated at first. “The idea of serving as a co-chair was intimidating,” he says. “But the more I talked with people and thought about it, the more I realized I could make an impact with a lot of my immediate peers and keep pursuing my ultimate goal and philosophy in life of helping and supporting others.”

The committee helps plan Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, as well as the Shining Lights Alumni Awards. Most importantly, its members provide a fresh perspective. “Given their recent experiences, young alumni have such a profound voice in the eyes of �����紫ý administration,” Bergsma says. “I’m excited about the plans and conversations we have to try to bring more diverse and varied programs.”

He hopes others follow suit. “The community is always here for you, so find a way to get yourself involved and stay connected.”