About Witt Nation 2009

"What does a young aspiring playwright living in Manhattan, an animal dentist based in Charlotte, and a recently retired CFO of a Las Vegas hotel and gaming business have in common?

Each graduated from Wittenberg, and each credits the University with helping them to discover their life’s passion. When alumni talk about their Wittenberg years, they often describe a “unique Wittenberg feeling” that accompanied their time. Wittenberg is now on a quest to capture that feeling as it collects alumni stories to share with generations.

A Summary
For the second Witt Nation summer tour, we will be traveling across the country for 33 days connecting with alumni, students and faculty.

In just over a month, the Witt Nation road trip will travel more than 8,000 miles, host events in 27 cities, conduct several service events and meet more than 1,000 Wittenberg alumni, students, and future students, all the while capturing their Wittenberg memories and stories as they discuss what it means to be a Wittenberger.

In 2008, the idea of the tour was conceived by Linda Prain Beals '87, director of alumni relations. Building on NBC's famed Today Show series, "Where in the World Is Matt Lauer?" Beals began to wonder how to take the Wittenberg story on the road. How could her alma mater, she asked herself, make its collective energy more visible to its 25,000 living alumni in an exciting and innovative way? Read More…

Our Collective Voice
The tour goes far beyond a series of alumni social events. At every stop, the roadies will engage alumni in conversation and have a video booth where alumni can share their thoughts about Wittenberg. Last summer we collected over 150 video stories! Stories included a favorite memory, inspiring narratives and general commentary on how the university’s mission is relevant today. This summer, Witt Nation expects to collect 200 new stories that will inform, inspire and connect generations of alumni and students for years to come.

Commitment to Service
The tour builds on the university’s tradition of community service by engaging in service projects in several locations that are coordinated with Lutheran Social Services and Habitat for Humanity.

Geek Chic
Wittenberg alumni and friends can follow the entire trip on the new and improved interactive Witt Nation Web site, where the “roadies” blog daily about their experiences and post pictures and video stories from alumni. The site utilizes YouTube, Flickr and Twitter as tools for promoting and engaging our online audience. All the video collected will be in High Definition, and the video stories will be posted live from the road with the use of broadband cell phone technology.

For the Media:

2008 Media Coverage:

17 Cities, 21 Days, 1,000 T-Shirts: Wittenberg U. sends young graduates on the road to build ties to alumni
Chronicle of Higher Education - Aug. 11, 2008

A Road Trip for Alma Mater - Multimedia Feature
Chronicle of Higher Education - Aug. 11, 2008

When good PR comes together it is a sight to behold.
15 Jul 2008 by Shane Haggerty

Wittenberg Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Alumni Relations Cross-Country Road Trip
Akron Beacon Journal, OH - Jul 11, 2008

ELCA Wittenberg University's alumni embark on 7000-mile tour
Worldwide Faith News (press release), NY - Jul 18, 2008

Wittenberg road trip stops in DC, meets with Hobson
Springfield News Sun, OH - Jul 14, 2008

Wittenberg University Alums Take Special Journey
WHIO TV – July 15, 2008

Wittenberg Magazine Feature Story
May 21, 2008