From Detroit: Fans Reflect on Victory
By Rachel Stern
DETROIT—It is only about 30 minutes after No. 10 Butler has knocked off No. 7 Arkansas in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, but Jessie Eastman must put the celebration on a quick hold of the modern variety. “We are making a pit stop because we took too many pictures, so all of our phones are dead,” says Eastman, a 2015 Butler graduate who lives in Detroit and attended the game with seven friends. “We had a blast and probably took too many pictures. We are going to stop at home to charge our phones and then keep the celebration going.”
All of Bulldog Nation has reason to celebrate. During a game of runs – Butler jumped out to a 21-2 lead in the opening minutes, only to see that disappear late in the first half – it was the Bulldogs that took control again early in the second half and pushed the lead back to double digits en route to a 79-62 win. Now, the Bulldogs will take on 2-seed Purdue on Sunday in an all-Indiana matchup. The Boilermakers beat Butler 82-67 in the Crossroads Classic in December, but the Bulldogs lead Purdue 2-1 in head-to-head Crossroad matchups. The winner of Sunday’s game will advance to the Sweet 16 next weekend.
“We had a much louder, larger crowd than Arkansas today. There was a huge Butler showing and it felt like a home game. Of course, nothing beats Hinkle, but it was pretty close,” Eastman says. “It will be really exciting to see the atmosphere against Purdue. Today, we saw Purdue fans rooting us on, but of course on Sunday, it will be a completely different story.” Eastman, who has lived in Detroit for about a year, was hoping on Selection Sunday that Butler would play in Detroit. After the bracket was released, her phone started blowing up. She has fellow Butler grads from Indianapolis and Chicago asking to stay on her couch, and now, they just extended their stay.
“Oh, we are definitely starting to look into tickets and will be here through Sunday,” says Kate Allen, who graduated from Butler in 2015 and now lives in Indianapolis. “Typically, I am bad luck for Butler, so I am always skeptical, but today they certainly proved me wrong. This was my first tournament game in person and it was amazing.” Some of their friends who live in Chicago already had St. Patrick’s Day plans on Saturday. After Butler beat Arkansas, they hit the road to drive back to Chicago and plan on returning to Detroit for Sunday’s game.
“The tournament atmosphere is just so exciting,” Eastman says. “It is so great to see all the fans. The fact that we are going up against Purdue adds another level of excitement, for sure. We need to prove our worth after the Crossroads Classic loss and I think we are definitely ready for that comeback game.”
From Detroit: Fans Reflect on Victory
DETROIT—It is only about 30 minutes after No. 10 Butler has knocked off No. 7 Arkansas in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, but Jessie Eastman must put the celebration on a quick hold of the modern variety.
PUBLISHED ON Feb 12 2019
INDIANAPOLIS – Friends and fraternity brothers of 1989 Butler University graduate Matt White have made a major gift to Butler University toward the second phase of renovations to Hinkle Fieldhouse, set to begin in May 2019. With the gift, the donors have chosen to honor White, who passed away after a 19-year battle with ALS on Friday, Feb. 8, by naming the practice court in the Efroymson Family Gym in his memory. The practice court will hereafter be known as the Matt White Court.
White was a standout member of the track and cross country teams during his years at Butler and a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Throughout White’s life, and particularly throughout his battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, he embodied The Butler Way, accepting the realities of a debilitating disease with grace while putting others above himself.
The donation to the Athletics Capital Improvement fund in White’s honor is a fitting tribute to a tenacious and loyal Bulldog who maintained a fierce devotion to Butler Athletics throughout his life, expressing in his final days a desire to watch one last Butler men’s basketball game. After White passed away Friday evening surrounded by friends and family, the Bulldogs posted a road win at Georgetown Saturday afternoon in his honor.
“Every Bulldog has a lot to learn about The Butler Way from Matt, his story and his toughness,” said Barry Collier, Butler Vice President/Director of Athletics. “Some have referred to Matt as Butler’s biggest fan. And while that might be true, Matt should also be known as one of Butler’s most inspiring Bulldogs for the way he lived his life.”
After earning his telecommunications degree from Butler in 1989, White went on to a successful career in advertising sales with Emmis Communications. White retired to Florida a few years after his ALS diagnosis in 2000, and despite being given a short and grim prognosis, White made the most of his remaining years with his wife Shartrina, his parents, and a large group of devoted friends.
Despite losing the ability to speak, eat and move, White found ways to continue enjoying many of the things he loved, including fishing in the Gulf waters off the west coast of Florida near his home with the help of his family and an innovative fishing pole he could control with his eye movements. He also remained devoted to following Butler Athletics. When Butler competed in the Final Four in Indianapolis in 2010, Coach Brad Stevens invited White to speak to the team before the semifinal matchup. White labored for days at his computer to type out a speech, which Shartrina read to the team.
“I try to live like you play,” he wrote. “You are my inspiration.”
White long outlived his original prognosis and inspired all who knew him, particularly his Butler family.
“I know I speak for a lot of former Bulldogs when I say we are thankful to have gotten a chance to know Matt,” said Stevens, Butler’s men’s basketball coach from 2007-13. “Despite all that he was battling, his spirits were always focused on helping others, and his words always were inspiring and encouraging.”
The Matt White Court will serve as a daily reminder of a beloved Bulldog’s grit, determination, and devotion to Butler Athletics. This legacy gift will continue to inspire future generations of Bulldogs in White’s memory and will support major enhancements to the Efroymson Family Gym. With new flooring, lighting, and air conditioning, the renovated gym will mirror the look of the main Hinkle Fieldhouse court. The renovations will also include installing air conditioning throughout Hinkle Fieldhouse and refurbishment of the Men’s Soccer locker room.
The Matt White Scholarship was previously established at Butler University in 2004 by White’s family and friends as a way to pay tribute to a great Bulldog. The scholarship supports Butler student-athletes with preference given to those who share Matt’s interest in the field of broadcast communications. On Saturday (Feb. 16), Butler’s men’s basketball team will host DePaul at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler is planning a “Matt White-out” and asks fans to wear white to celebrate his life.
“Matt White represented the very best of Butler University,” said Butler University President James Danko. “His courage, wisdom, and perseverance inspired us all. We are grateful that through this generous gift to name the Matt White Court, future generations of student-athletes can be inspired by Matt’s legacy as they train on the floor bearing his name.”
About Butler University
An influx of philanthropic support has aided Butler University’s dramatic growth in recent years. Pursuant to the Butler 2020 Strategic Plan, the University and donor partners have invested in new campus facilities, academic programs, and co-curricular offerings. In the past five years, Butler has built the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts, the Sunset Avenue parking garage including a streetscape beautification project and renovated Hinkle Fieldhouse. In addition, the University partnered with American Campus Communities to build the Fairview House and Irvington House residential communities. The Andre B. Lacy School of Business will open the doors to its new 110,000 square foot home in the fall of 2019, and fundraising is underway to complete a $93 million Science Complex expansion and renovation.
Butler University is a nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing six colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy & Health Sciences. Approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 541 graduate students are enrolled at Butler, representing 46 states and 39 countries. Ninety-five percent of Butler students will participate in some form of internship, student teaching, clinical rotation, research, or service learning by the time they graduate. Butler students have had significant success after graduation as demonstrated by the University’s 97% placement rate within six months of graduation. The University was recently listed as the No. 1 regional university in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, in addition to being included in The Princeton Review’s annual “best colleges” guidebook
Matt White Court Named Through Major Gift
The practice court in the Efoymson Family Gym will hereafter be known as the Matt White Court.
The practice court in the Efoymson Family Gym will hereafter be known as the Matt White Court.
Athletics Hall of Fame Adds Seven Individuals, Two Teams
PUBLISHED ON Jun 05 2017
Six former student-athletes, two teams and a long-time supporter of the athletics program have been chosen for induction into the Butler University Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2017 Hall of Fame class will be formally inducted at a dinner/ceremony on the Butler campus Sept. 15.
Selected as Butler’s 27th Hall of Fame Class are former student-athletes Bob Bartolomeo (football, 1977), Areal Bienemy (volleyball, 2005), Joel Cornette (men’s basketball, 2003), DeWayne Ewing (football, 2001), Kim Lubbehusen (women’s cross country and track and field, 1996), Mark Ribordy (football, 1987), the 1995 men’s soccer team, the 1981-82 women’s basketball team, and Special Service Award recipient Winstan R. “Bud” Sellick (1947).
“We are proud to welcome this exceptional group of individuals and teams to the Butler University Athletics Hall of Fame,” said Butler Vice President/Director of Athletics Barry Collier. “Their accomplishments inspired many and provided a platform to showcase The Butler Way.”
The Butler Hall of Fame was created in 1991 to provide a forum in which those who have brought honor and respect to Butler University and its athletic program could be acknowledged and permanently enshrined in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Inductees have made exceptional contributions to the prestige of the University in the field of athletics, and continued to demonstrate in their lives the values imparted by athletics. The 2017 Class will bring the membership of the Butler Hall of Fame to 207 individuals and 11 teams.
BOB BARTOLOMEO, Football (player and coach), ‘77
Bartolomeo spent 13 years at Butler as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach. He was a three-year letterwinner with the Bulldogs as a player. During his tenure, Bartolomeo would help guide Butler to a 98-40-4 overall record that included 10 conference titles and three NCAA Division II playoff berths. He continued his coaching career at the University of Indianapolis where he went 72-30-1 as a head coach. The three-time GLVC Coach of the Year would also spend 11 seasons as an assistant coach at Ball State.
AREAL BIENEMY, Volleyball, ’05
After becoming Butler’s first honorable mention AVCA All-American in 2003, Bienemy repeated the honor by becoming the first two-time honorable mention All-American in 2004. Bienemy, a two-time AVCA Midwest All-Region selection and two-time All-Horizon League honoree, finished the 2004 season with averages of 3.89 kills, 1.28 blocks and 1.23 digs per game while hitting .242 on the season. She finished her BU career ranked seventh in career blocks and 10th in kills. In Bienemy’s two All-American seasons, the Bulldogs posted a 38-22 overall record and a 21-7 mark in league play.
JOEL CORNETTE, Men’s Basketball, ’03
Cornette led Butler to three NCAA Tournament appearances and one trip to the NIT during his collegiate career. He was recognized as the Co-MVP of the 2002-03 team that finished 27-6, won the Horizon League regular season championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Cornette scored more than 1,000 points during his BU career while also leading the team in rebounds for three consecutive seasons and in blocked shots in four straight seasons. His efforts landed him on the Horizon League All-Defensive Team in three of his four years at BU. Cornette was the Co-Recipient of Butler’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete Award in 2002-03 and was also chosen to Butler’s 15-player Team of the Sesquicentennial in 2005-06. Cornette passed away in 2016.
DeWAYNE EWING, Football, ‘01
Ewing is the all-time leading passer in Butler football history with 8,094 career passing yards. At the time of his graduation, he was also the all-time leading passer in the Pioneer Football League. The two-time Butler Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year held 14 Butler and eight PFL passing rebounds at the end of his collegiate career. Ewing still owns Butler’s single-season passing record when he threw for 3,182 yards in 2000. That same season he broke Butler’s single-game passing record with 497 yards vs. San Diego. He earned First Team All-PFL honors in 2000 and was also named honorable mention I-AA All-America.
KIM LUBBEHUSEN, Cross Country / Track, ‘96
A standout runner at Butler, Lubbehusen was a two-time Midwestern Collegiate Conference individual cross country champion as well as a two-time All-MCC selection. The four-year letterwinner was the MCC Indoor Track Champion in the mile during the 1996 season. That same year she won the 1,000-meter championship at the MCC conference meet. Lubbehusen’s times in the 1,500, mile and 3,000 were Butler records at the time of her graduation.
MARK RIBORDY, Football, ‘87
Ribordy led Butler in both tackles and sacks during the 1986 season. In 1985, he ranked second on the team in tackles, but led the team in sacks during his junior campaign. The two-time First-Team All-Heartland Collegiate Conference recipient earned Butler Defensive MVP honors as a senior.
WINSTAN R. “BUD” SELLICK, ’47 (Special Service Award)
Consistent donors to Butler for more than a third of a century, Sellick and his wife, Jackie, endowed three scholarships. They also made gifts to the Butler Fund and several athletic funds, including the restoration of Hinkle Fieldhouse. In 2007, Bud and Jackie Sellick received the Ovid Butler Society Mortarboard Award. In 2014, Bud also was honored when he received the Butler Medal. With a large gift of from their estate benefiting Butler Athletics, the Lacy School of Business, and general University support, the Butler Bowl has been renamed the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl. As a student, he was involved in the band, Kappa Kappa Psi band honorary, and Delta Tau Delta fraternity. In 1947, he began his successful career as an insurance agent in the Indianapolis area. Mr. Sellick passed away in 2015.
1995 MEN’S SOCCER TEAM
The 1995 men’s soccer team won Butler’s first-ever Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship. They ended the season with an 18-5-1 overall record that included a 6-1-1 mark in the MCC. The Bulldogs entered the conference tournament as the No 2 seed, but upended No. 1 seed Detroit in the championship match. The overtime win would send Butler to their first-ever NCAA Tournament where they defeated Central Connecticut State in the play-in game. The Bulldogs would eventually reach the Sweet 16 by defeating national power Indiana 1-0. The talented 1995 roster set or tied 11 team and individual records.
1981-82 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM
Every member of the starting five on the 1981-82 women’s basketball team ended their collegiate basketball career at Butler with more than 1,000 points. The core unit of Liz Skinner, Barb Skinner, Beth Piepenbrink, Elza Purvlicis, and Sue Morris helped Butler post a 23-3 overall record and reach the AIAW National Tournament. The 23 wins in a single-season places the 1981-82 team in a four-way tie for the third-most wins in program history.
Media contact:
John Dedman
317-940-9414
jdedman@butler.edu
Athletics Hall of Fame Adds Seven Individuals, Two Teams
ix former student-athletes, two teams and a long-time supporter of the athletics program have been chosen for induction into the Butler University Athletics Hall of Fame.
ix former student-athletes, two teams and a long-time supporter of the athletics program have been chosen for induction into the Butler University Athletics Hall of Fame.
PUBLISHED ON Mar 20 2018
Julian Wyllie '16, a Lacy School of Business graduate and former editor of The Butler Collegian, has been named to the 2018 class of the Politico Journalism Institute (PJI), an educational initiative supporting diversity in Washington area newsrooms.
PJI, which will be held May 29 to June 9, will offer 13 university students intensive, hands-on training in government and political reporting. Programming includes interactive sessions, panels with industry leaders, mentoring, and an opportunity for students to have their work published by Politico.
The PJI Class of 2018 also includes students from Yale, University of Southern California, and Georgetown. Two of the students will be selected at the end of the program for a three-month residency in the Politico newsroom where they will write, edit, and produce content.
All costs for PJI participants, including room, board, and transportation, are provided by Politico. Students split time between American University in Washington, D.C., and Politico headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.
"We're thrilled to welcome this exceptional new class of PJI students," said Politico Editor Carrie Budoff Brown. "Our class this year reflects the racial, geographic, and socioeconomic diversity that Politico is committed to nurturing. Our newsroom is looking forward to mentoring these talented young journalists, who will be at the forefront of tomorrow's political news landscape."
Since graduating, Wyllie’s career has included stops at Governing magazine and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
"My time in Washington has been more than amazing so far," Wyllie said. "Being associated with anything as big as Politico is a great thing. But the best part about this program is that it gives me the chance to meet other hard-working young writers, who are all going through the struggles of trying to make it. Being around them feeds my desire to keep pushing myself and not let up. Overall, the success I've had is a direct result of skills I gained while attending Butler, where at The Collegian I stumbled on my life's passion."
Media contact:
Marc Allan
mallan@butler.edu
317-940-9822
Julian Wyllie '16 Named to Politico Journalism Institute
Program offers hands-on training in government and political reporting.
Program offers hands-on training in government and political reporting.