For the 23^rd year in a row, The University of Toledo will celebrate the right to read and think freely during Banned Books Week with the American Library Association.

“Without unfettered access to ideas, we could not survive as a democracy and change with the times to help those whom majority complacency silences to find their voices,” Dr. Paulette D. Kilmer, UToledo professor of communication and coordinator of the UToledo Banned Books Coalition, said.

Events will take place virtually from Monday, Sept. 28 through Thursday, Oct. 1 on YouTube and Facebook to spotlight current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools with a theme this year of “Censorship is a Dead End.”

In 2019, the American Library Association tracked nearly 377 attempts to censor library, school and university materials and services, encompassing 566 books that were challenged or banned.

In support of the UToledo Banned Book Coalition’s fight against censorship, this year Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz signed a proclamation declaring Thursday, Oct. 1 as “Read Banned Books Day.”

“I am excited about our campus legacy festival of the mind and look forward to continuing our ongoing battle to keep the First Amendment robust,” Kilmer said. “Long live books and reading!”

UToledo Banned Books Week Vigil speakers and events include:

Monday, Sept. 28

• 11 a.m. — “The Hate U Give” by Dr. Monita Mungo, assistant professor of sociology.

• Noon — “Studying and Struggling: The Works of Elaine Brown and Assata Shakur” by Dr. Carla Pattin, assistant lecturer in the Jesup Scott Honors College.

• 1 p.m. — “Banned Books Jeopardy!” with Saadia Farooq, UToledo alumna and member of the UToledo Banned Books Coalition, and Dr. Sumitra Srinivasan, associate professor in the Department of Communication.

Tuesday, Sept .29

• Noon — “HIV in the Rust Belt” by Holly Hey, professor of film, Dr. Ally Day, associate professor of disability studies, and Lee Fearnside, co-producer of “HIV in the Rust Belt.”

• 1 p.m. — “Banned: Female Leaders of the Indigenous Woodlands” by Dr. Barbara Mann, professor in the Jesup Scott Honors College.

Wednesday, Sept. 30

• Noon — “Old Man Trump” by Risa Cohen, creative director of Sing Into Reading.

• 1 p.m. — “Girls Knight Out at the Franklin Park Mall with Pandora, Lilith and Eve” by Warren Woodberry, Toledo author.

Thursday, Oct. 1

• Noon — “Freedom of Thought and the Ministry of Truth,” the Dr. Linda Smith Lecture given by Dr. S. Amjad Hussain, professor emeritus of humanities and cardiothoracic surgery.

• 1 p.m. — “20 Years of Censored Children’s Books” by Dr. Sharon Barnes, associate professor and chair of the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies.

• 2 p.m. — “Accessing the ‘Right’ to Read in Prison” by Dr. Renee Heberle, professor of political science, co-director of the Program in Law and Social Thought, and coordinator of the Inside/Out Prison Exchange Project.

• 3 p.m. — “Brilliant Banned Tunes” by Cohen and Dr. Edmund Lingan, professor of theatre, with family.

The UToledo Banned Book Coalition will be giving away door prizes and $20 Barnes & Noble gift cards throughout the events.

Students may sign an electronic guestbook and indicate a code word, which is changed with each presentation, to provide proof of attendance should a faculty member give students credit for attending a session.

To sign the guest book or to watch a recording of each presentation after the event, go to the UToledo Banned Book Coalition’s website.

The University of Toledo is continuing its Dialogues on Diversity series with a conversation about the role of art in society, the differences between art and monuments, and how to best recognize the achievements of fallible individuals.

The next virtual town hall in the series titled “Stay or Go? The Story of a Gandhi Sculpture” will take place 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 and can be accessed on Webex using the access code 172 458 2365. The meeting password is DoD8. Join by phone at 415.655.0002.

This summer the University removed a sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, that was part of the group of new art works installed on campus for UToledo’s 15th annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition.

The President’s Commission on Campus Design and Environment, which chooses new sculptures to be installed at the University each spring, made the decision after a student brought forward concerns about Gandhi’s comments about Black Africans and women.

The student wrote, in part, “In this time of movements and stress, I do not think that this Gandhi statue will help.”

“The goal of the sculpture program is to add beauty to our campuses through one-year exhibits that rotate annually,” said Dr. Jonathan Bossenbroek, professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Sciences and president of the President’s Commission on Campus Design and the Environment. “This is a critical example of why it is important to keep these conversations going and include a diversity of voices in decision-making. We are grateful to the student for bringing his concerns to our attention. We did not intend to be offensive, and we do not stand for that.”

The University also added students to the selection committee for future exhibitions.

The discussion will be moderated by Bossenbroek, with participants including:

• Dr. Dale Snauwaert, professor of social and philosophical foundations of education and peace studies;
• Dr. Rachel Dudley, assistant professor in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies;
• Dr. Mysoon Rizk, professor of art history;
• Riley Danford, UToledo student majoring in human resources who brought forward concerns to the University; and
• Sanat Wagh, UToledo student majoring in finance and economics, and member of the International Student Association.

This is the eighth in a series of recent virtual Dialogues on Diversity since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis by a police officer, sparking protests against systemic racism across the country.

The University of Toledo has announced that the fall 2020 commencement ceremony, scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 6, will be held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

University officials announced the decision Monday, citing ongoing safety and health concerns of the campus community.

“While we’re disappointed that we won’t be celebrating together in Savage Arena, we continue to follow the guidelines from federal, state and local authorities regarding social distancing and limitations on large-scale gatherings,” said Interim President Gregory Postel. “The safety of our students and their families and friends, as well as our faculty and staff, continues to be our highest priority.”

Over the next two months UToledo will be finalizing the details for fall commencement, and plans to go live on Dec. 6, the same day the University had planned for the in-person event for undergraduate and graduate candidates for degrees. As information becomes available, it will be shared with graduates and the campus community at utoledo.edu/commencement.

“This is a very special event in the life of our graduates, their family and friends, and I know that I speak on behalf of the entire Rocket community when I say to our students that we look forward to celebrating the success of your educational journey at The University of Toledo during our virtual commencement ceremony on Dec. 6,” said Provost Karen Bjorkman.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women will host a panel discussion on the history of women’s suffrage and the future of voter rights.

The “Women’s Fight for the Vote Then and Now” virtual event will take place 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 on WebEx. RSVP by clicking Register Now button and completing the webform on the Eberly Center’s Suffrage webpage.

The discussion will explore women’s historical activism to prohibit sex and racial discrimination in voting the ratification of the 19th amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as women’s ongoing activism to protect voter rights today.

Panelists will include:
• Angela Siner, director of the Africana Studies Program;
• Dr. Chelsea Griffis, associate lecturer in the Department of History; and
• Maria Bruno, civic engagement coordinator and policy analyst at the Coalition on Housing and Homelessness in Ohio.

Angela Fitzpatrick, director of the Eberly Center, will moderate the event.

For more information, contact the Eberly Center at 419.530.8570 or ecwomen@utoledo.edu.

The University of Toledo Career Services, in collaboration with JCPenney, will host The University of Toledo Suit-Up Event Friday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 27.

Participants will be able to shop online or in-store throughout the weekend, using their JCPenney Rocket Suit Up discount coupon that can be used on select career apparel. Starting Wednesday, Sept. 23, Rockets can request their discount coupon code by texting the code “TOLEDO” to 67282.

During this event, UToledo students, alumni, faculty and staff will be able to purchase everything they need to finish their look for that next interview or job, including suits, dresses, sports coats, dress pants, shoes and accessories at an additional 30% off.

Visit utoledo.edu/career/events/jcpsuitup to learn more.

The University of Toledo normally celebrates Constitution Day with the swearing in of dozens of people as U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony on campus.

However, this year during the coronavirus pandemic the University is handing out free pocket constitutions at Carlson Library.

The pocket constitutions are available in both English and Spanish on the first floor at the circulation desk.

“The purpose of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and Week is to observe and commemorate our freedoms and to remember our responsibilities as citizens,” Lucy Duhon, collection sharing coordinator and scholarly communications librarian, said. “This is a great opportunity to enhance the civic engagement of our students.”

Constitution Day recognizes the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. All educational institutions that receive federal funds hold events to recognize the day.

Earlier this week the Federalist Society at the UToledo College of Law hosted a virtual event titled “Qualified Immunity and the Future of Civil Rights Legislation” as part of Constitution Week that featured Christopher Walker, the John W. Bricker Professor of Law at Ohio State University, and Rebecca Zietlow, the Charles W. Fornoff Professor of Law and Values at UToledo.

In addition to providing a background and information on the U.S. Constitution, University Libraries’ library guide also features Constitution Day games, puzzles and quizzes for people of all ages.

“We also want to remind the community that Carlson Library is a federal depository,” Duhon said. “That means we provide free access to core resources and documents from the federal government, including the U.S. budget, public papers of the president and the Congressional Record.”

This story has been updated to reflect the new partnership between the UToledo Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute and the Hue Jackson Foundation.

Survivors, researchers and advocates around the world are coming together virtually next week for the 17th Annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference at The University of Toledo.

The event has welcomed people from 49 states and 40 countries since it began in 2004 to advance collaborative research, advocacy and program development.

This year the conference will be held Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Sept. 23-25 on Zoom and feature more than 100 speakers and 70 breakout sessions.

“We are in a unique position this year with hosting our conference virtually as we will be able to reach thousands of more individuals from all over the world who would not have had the opportunity to travel to attend our conference,” Dr. Celia Williamson, Distinguished University Professor and director of the UToledo Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute, said. “Our top priority is to keep everyone safe while still fulfilling our mission of uniting the global community to learn, connect and collaborate to combat human trafficking and promote social justice.”

New this year, the UToledo Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute and the Hue Jackson Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Ohio, are partnering together to collaborate on the Stranger 2 Changers program, which will be free for students to participate in remotely through their schools.

The prevention program is part of Hue Jackson Foundation’s T.E.A.C.H. Initiative that provides a platform for students in schools to directly and indirectly interact with “Changers” from a variety of professional and non-professional platforms who can assist them to gain insight, knowledge, education and support while also giving them a sense of community as they navigate many of life’s challenges that may put them at greater risk for human trafficking.

“We are excited about our partnership with The University of Toledo,” said Hue Jackson, founder of the Hue Jackson Foundation. “Sharing our common goals to educate others in an effort to have a positive impact on society makes this a partnership that we hope inspires others across the country.”

In the past year, the UToledo Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute launched the F.R.E.E. Program, which provides scholarships and support for survivors of human trafficking from across the country as they pursue their education goals.

The F.R.E.E. Program, which has 55 human trafficking survivors currently enrolled, is the focus of one of the sessions. Hear success stories from women who earned certifications in yoga and phlebotomy, as well as a master’s degree in social work at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23.

“F.R.E.E. represents a survivor’s potential to become a thriver by achieving economic and psychological freedom and empowerment,” LaDonna Knabbs, coordinator of the F.R.E.E. Program in the UToledo Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute, said. “It stands for Foundation, Readiness, Education and Employment. By achieving a degree or certification, survivors obtain livable employment.”

Other presentations include:

• “Sex and Labor Trafficking of the Intellectual and Developmental Disability Population” 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 by Pat Stephens, director of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Steve Mentrek, program director at Bittersweet Farms;
• “Prevalence of Transactional Sex Among High School Students in Minnesota” 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 by Dr. Lauren Martin, associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing; Caroline Palmer, Safe Harbor Director at the Minnesota Department of Health; and Dr. Nic Rider, assistant professor and licensed psychologist at the Program in Human Sexuality at the University of Minnesota Medical School and co-associate director for research at the National Center for Gender Spectrum Health;
• “Raised in Pimp City: The Truth About Domestic Human Sex Trafficking” 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 by Armand King, co-founder of the nonprofit Paving Great Futures;
• “Increasing Organizational Capacity to Better Serve and Reach LGBTQ+ Survivors of Human Trafficking” 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 by Alexander Delgado, program officer for the Trafficking Victim Assistance Program at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants; and
• “Emancipation Nation Network: Social Justice through Online Connection and Education” 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 by Williamson at UToledo.

For a full schedule of presentations or to register, visit the conference website.

Dr. Ruth A. Hottell will be inducted into the French Republic’s prestigious Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of the French Academic Palms) at the grade of chevalier (knight).

An official ceremony to mark the honor was postponed due to the pandemic, but is expected to be rescheduled.

The French Academic Palms recognize those who have rendered eminent service to French education and have contributed to the prestige of French culture. This esteemed distinction awarded by the Prime Minister of France, upon the recommendation of the Minister of Education, acknowledges educators’ merits, talents and exemplary activities.

Hottell

“I am so thrilled to receive this award from the French Government; it is significant that the nomination began with the French Consul General to the Midwest. Traveling throughout the region, he has witnessed our dedication to expanding appreciation for French language and culture through our teaching, research and community service,” Hottell, professor emerita of French, said.

Napoleon founded the French Academic Palms in 1808 to honor educators; it is the oldest non-military French decoration. This distinction was initially awarded to outstanding members of the university community and today recognizes the significant contributions of faculty members through their teaching, scholarship and leadership over the course of their careers.

“Dr. Ruth Hottell has dedicated her life to French education and research,” said Dr. Linda M. Rouillard, professor of French and chair of the World Languages and Cultures Department. “She is an expert on French cinema, a topic she has written about and given presentations on for decades.”

Hottell joined the UToledo faculty as an assistant professor in 1988. She was promoted to associate professor in 1994 and professor in 2000. When she retired in 2018, she was designated professor emerita.

During her career, she taught and conducted research in France, and led several study abroad programs to the European country she loves. Hottell’s research focuses on French cinema; she has written numerous articles on Francophone women directors and is working on a book about Agnès Varda’s works. She has co-authored books, including “French-Speaking Women Filmmakers” and “Francophone Women Documentarians.” She continues to coordinate a French film series for the French Program at The University of Toledo and the Alliance Française de Toledo.

Hottell is a member of the American Association of Teachers of French, Society of Cinema and Media Studies, Women in French, Modern Language Association, and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

“To accompany my students in their acquisition of French language and cultural competence has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life,” Hottell said. “I am grateful for the support of my students, colleagues, friends and family as I pursued my passions and goals.”

The Office of Multicultural Student Success and the Latino Student Union will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month this week, focusing on virtual events that celebrate Hispanic culture and heritage. It’s part of a University-wide effort to highlight global culture.

“Although most of our events will be virtual, we look forward to connecting with people to learn and celebrate the different cultures highlighted through history and heritage months,” said Aleiah Jones, manager of the Office of Multicultural Student Success. “We kick things off with Hispanic Heritage Month and will be highlighting virtual events across the country to provide more opportunity for those who want to engage.”

The signature event will be the Latino, Latina, Hispanic or Latinx? The Continuing Search for Self-Identity forum. Dr. Jorge Chinea, director of the Center for Latino/a & Latino American Studies at Wayne State University, will speak on the history of the term Latinx at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 during the forum available via WebEx.

This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month festivities also include the annual “Viva Mexico” celebration. The event features music and dance performances, led this year by actor and director Roen Salinas. Salinas founded the AZTLAN Dance Company in Austin, Texas and works to promote greater cultural understanding through dance and other art. The livestream runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16 and will be available on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter free of charge.

“And of course, there will be many more events happening throughout the month,” said Jones. “We invite anyone interested in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month to follow us on Instagram as we recognize Hispanic/Latino individuals who have made significant contributions to our society and share news about other things happening this month.”

Hispanic Heritage Month events also include:

• Thursday, Sept. 17 — 31st Annual Diamante Awards, 6-7:30 p.m., Zoom. Celebrate individuals and organizations for their achievements and service to Latinos in northwest Ohio. Registration is free via Eventbrite, but a $10 donation is recommended.

• Thursday, Sept. 24 — Netflix Watch Party: Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado, 5:30 p.m. Join OMSS program coordinator Aleiah Jones in watching this documentary about the life and career of Walter Mercado, one of the most important astrologists in Latin America and the world.

For additional information, and to RSVP for the online events, visit the Office of Multicultural Student Success website.

The University of Toledo Varsity ‘T’ Hall of Fame will induct seven former student-athletes this fall.

A dinner will be scheduled at a later date, pending developments with the COVID-19 pandemic. Information on purchasing tickets will be announced after the event is scheduled.

The 2020 Varsity ‘T’ Hall of Fame inductees are:

Kate Bean McCauley, women’s volleyball, 2003 to 2006. She dominates the Toledo volleyball record book, ranking first in career attacks (4,522), second in career kills (1,515) and career service aces (173), third in career kills per set (3.40) and fifth in career digs (1,401). She also ranks fourth for most kills (435) in a season, and her 39 digs vs. Ball State as a senior was the most ever by a Rocket in a match. A native of Louisville, Ky., McCauley made the Mid-American Conference All-Tournament Team in 2005. She is the only Rocket in volleyball program history to be named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America First Team (2005 and 2006) and is one of two student-athletes in Toledo history to be a member of the first team on more than one occasion. She also was a three-time Academic All-MAC team selection and a three-time Academic All-District pick.

Jeremiah Detmer, football, 2011 to 2014. A three-time All-MAC selection, Detmer was the 2013 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year. That season, Detmer was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award that goes to the nation’s top kicker, a year in which he also made first-team All-MAC, connecting on 19 of 20 field goals and 44 of 45 extra points. Detmer is second on Toledo’s all-time field-goal list with 65, trailing only Rusty Hanna (68 from 1989 to 1992), and seventh all-time among MAC kickers. He is the MAC’s all-time leader in field-goal percentage (65-77/84.4%) and ranks third in points scored in Toledo history with 340. His long field goal of 52 yards ranks second in Toledo history. Detmer was named MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week nine times during his career. He ranked No. 44 on Toledo’s All-Century Team released in 2017 and was the only kicker on the list. As a freshman in 2011, Detmer was used mostly for kickoffs, but he still hit field goals of 50 and 52 yards. He took over the field-goal duties full time in 2012, at one point making 17 field goals in a row. He ended the season hitting 24 of 29 boots, earning third-team All-MAC honors. His best game in 2012 came in a 29-23 win over No. 18 Cincinnati in which he hit all five of his field-goal attempts. In 2013, he extended his consecutive field-goal streak to 23, the fifth-longest streak in NCAA history. He also ranked second in the nation in field-goal percentage (95.0%). As a senior co-captain, he made second-team All-MAC, connecting on 17 of 22 field goals and nailing 57 of 59 extra points. A three-time Academic All-MAC selection, Detmer made Academic All-District in 2013. He graduated with a degree in education in 2015.

Greg Mancz, football, 2010 to 2014. A three-time All-MAC selection, Mancz won the Vern Smith Award as the top player in the MAC in 2014, the only offensive lineman ever to earn that honor. Mancz was a four-year starter on Rocket teams that went 34-17, and won two division co-championships and two bowl games. As a freshman, he earned Freshman All-America (Yahoo Sports) and Third-Team Freshman All-America (Phil Steele) honors in 2011. He was a key part of an offense that ranked eighth in the nation and first in the MAC in scoring (42.2), and 10th in the nation and first in the MAC in total offense (481.3). Toledo’s offensive line also ranked tied for sixth in the nation and first in the MAC in fewest sacks allowed (10) that season. He went on to make third-team All-MAC as a sophomore and second-team all-league as a junior. In his junior season, the Rocket offensive line allowed six sacks in 12 games, the fewest in the country. Mancz earned first-team All-MAC honors in 2014 for a Rocket offense that ranked No. 1 in the MAC in total offense (486.3) and in rushing offense (247.3). He also earned second-team All-America (Football Writers Association of America) honors, becoming the first Toledo offensive lineman to make either first- or second-team All-America on one of the five major All-America teams since Dan Bukovich made the Associated Press first-team in 1938. A four-time Academic All-MAC pick, Mancz has played five seasons in the NFL with Houston Texans. Mancz ranked No. 36 on Toledo’s All-Century Team that was released in 2017.

Jessica Popiel Stone, women’s golf, 1996 to 1999. She was the MAC Player of the Year and a first-team All-MAC selection as a senior in 1999, compiling a career-best stroke average of 78.7 that year. She also made the MAC All-Tournament Team in 1998, a year in which the Rockets won the MAC Invitational Tournament. Popiel was a tournament medalist twice in her career. Additionally, she was named a National Golf Coaches Association All-American in 1997 and 1998, and won the MAC Presidential Award (1998-99) and MAC Commissioners Award (1998-99). A four-year letter winner, Popiel co-captained the Rockets for the 1998-99 season. She was the first Rocket to compete in an LPGA Tour event, playing in the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic (now Marathon Classic) from 2000 to 2002.

Dr. John Rudley, men’s basketball, 1965 to 1969. Rudley was a four-year starter and two-time co-captain at point guard, helping to guide the 1966-67 team to a 23-2 record, MAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. He was the team’s floor general and leading passer in an era when assists were not kept as a statistic. With scorers like Steve Mix, John Brisker and Bob Miller on the floor, he likely had big assist numbers. Rudley averaged 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds as a sophomore, 12.0 points and 4.6 rebounds as a junior, and 15.0 points and 4.8 rebounds as a senior captain. Rudley received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UToledo, then went on to earn his master’s degree and Ph.D. in administration from Tennessee State University. He served as the president of Texas Southern University from 2008 to 2016, and is president emeritus and distinguished professor of business there. Previously, he served as interim chancellor and president at the University of Houston (2007 to 2008), as well as vice chancellor for business and finance at Houston (2002 to 2007), vice chancellor for business and finance for the University of Tennessee Board of Regents (1995 to 2002), vice chancellor for administration and finance at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (1987 to 1991, 1992 to 1995), and vice president for fiscal affairs at Texas Southern (1981 to 1987). He also worked for former Tennessee Gov. and Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander at the U.S. Dept. of Education from 1991 to 1992.

Chris Wallace, football 1995 to 1998. Wallace played quarterback for four seasons at Toledo and was the starter in 1997 and 1998. He ranks fourth in career touchdown passes (44); fifth in career passing yardage (5,454) and passing attempts (848); sixth in career passing completions; and seventh in completion percentage (54.7). He accumulated most of these numbers in just two seasons. As a junior in 1997, Wallace set records (all since broken) in passing yardage (2,955), passes completed (232) and TD passes (27). He still holds the single-season record for passes attempted (433). For his efforts in 1997, he was named second-team All-MAC. His biggest game as a Rocket came in 1997 when he passed for 364 yards in a thrilling win over Miami, tossing a winning TD strike to Brock Kreitzburg with just seconds remaining. Wallace led the Rockets to division titles in both 1997 and 1998, including an 8-0 start in 1997 that saw the Rockets move to No. 18 in the Associated Press poll. He played 18 seasons of professional arena football, retiring following the 2018 season. Wallace spent eight seasons with the Florida Firecats, setting league records in career touchdowns (484) and passes completed (1,797), and team records for TD passes (100) and passing yards (3,918). He led the Florida Tarpons to league titles in 2012 and 2013, and rejoined the team in 2015 until his retirement in 2018. Wallace was a high school football coach and dean of students at the Florida Christian Institute in Fort Myers for three years. He returned to Ohio to take care of his father, James, during his battle with Alzheimer’s disease, which ended in 2011. Wallace lives in Springfield, where he serves as the community mentor supervisor for the Springfield City School District. Wallace leads the Springfield Chapter of My Brothers Keeper, which was launched by President Obama as a national initiative to address the opportunity gaps facing young minority male students. The program connects students with community leaders through mentoring relationships and educational events to help ensure all young people reach their full potential. Wallace also coaches football at his alma mater, Springfield High School, where he serves as the offensive coordinator. In 2019, he helped lead the Wildcats to their first state semifinals in school history. He also serves as the head coach for the freshman basketball team at Springfield.

Inma Zanoguera, women’s basketball, 2011 to 2015. Zanoguera was a three-time All-MAC honoree who played on teams that averaged 22 wins per season and won one MAC regular-season championship and two division crowns. As a senior, Zanoguera earned first-team All-MAC honors, leading the Rockets in scoring (15.4), rebounding (6.7) and assists (5.0). She was selected as one of 30 NCAA women’s basketball nominees for 2014-15 Senior CLASS Award, only the second player in school history to make the list. As a junior, she averaged a team-best 14.0 points and 8.7 rebounds, earning second-team All-MAC. Zanoguera was a third-team All-MAC pick as a sophomore, averaging 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds for a Rocket team that went 29-4 and won the MAC regular-season championship title. She was named MAC West Division Player of the Week six times in her career. Zanoguera, who played both guard and forward as a collegian, ranks fourth in school history in career minutes played (3,936), fifth in free-throw percentage (.819, 258 of 315) and games played (132), seventh in steals (195), 10th in rebounds (781), 10th in assists (375) and 15th in scoring (1,424 points). A two-time team captain, Zanoguera was twice named Academic All-MAC. She graduated with a degree in communication. After graduation, she played professional basketball in Italy. A native of Llucmajor, Spain, on the island of Majorca, Zanoguera played for all Spanish national teams from U16 to the senior team. She was a three-time European Championship Gold Medalist (2011, 2012, 2013); a Bronze Medalist with the Three-on-Three Senior Team in the 2015 European Olympics in Baku, Azerbaijan; and was selected to the All-Europe U20 First Team in 2013. Zanoguera was featured in a 2018 documentary titled “Running Home,” which chronicled her journey to the Western Sahara refugee camps in Algeria, where many Sahrawi people, including her mother, fled during a civil war in neighboring Morocco. While there, Zanoguera ran and won the Sahara Marathon in her first attempt to run the 26-plus-mile event.

Others to be honored by the Varsity ‘T’ Club include Dan Saevig, who will receive the Distinguished Service Award. Saevig retired in March as UToledo’s vice president of alumni engagement after serving his alma mater for 30 years. And receiving honorary lifetime membership awards from the Varsity ‘T’ Club will be former Toledo Mayor Mike Bell, a football player at UToledo from 1973 to 1976, and Jeff Hepinstall, who played football for the Rockets from 1974 to 1977 and has been an active member of the Varsity ‘T’ Club for many years.