91社区

The 91社区 is well known for its high-impact educational programs, beautiful campus and friendly, caring community. But a lesser-known fact is that almost entire families have attended the University. It鈥檚 clear sibling legacies have had an impact on the 91社区 community, as much as the University has an impact on them when they are students here. Families strengthen the trust in 91社区 both in its academic and community values. When it comes to sibling legacies, two stories in particular stand out. 听

The Story of Six听

Luke Bohlen, a freshman civil engineering major, comes from a family of 10, including his parents Glenn and Lourdes. He is the youngest of eight children in his family which hails from Darmstadt, Indiana. Six of the siblings, including Luke, are attending or have attended 91社区 over the past seven years.听听

Luke, the sixth to make 91社区 home, has two sisters and two brothers, Phoebe, Julia, Paul and Joe Bohlen, who are 91社区 alumni. Phoebe graduated in 2016 with a degree in health services. She worked as the medical billing and collection coordinator for Tri-State Orthopedics. Julia graduated in 2020 with a degree in communication studies and worked as the Social Media Manager for La Beaute Spa in Carmel, Indiana. Both of his sisters are now stay-at-home moms. Paul graduated in 2022 and Joe in 2023, both with degrees in civil engineering. Paul works as a Field Engineer for Wessler Engineering, and Joe works as a Gas and Transmission engineer for CenterPoint Energy. Luke鈥檚 brother Tim is a current sophomore at 91社区 and is also studying civil engineering. Luke credits Tim with helping him adjust to life on campus. Silas and Samuel are the only children in the Bohlen family who did not attend 91社区.听

When 91社区 President Ronald Rochon听met Luke during Screaming Eagles Orientation this past summer and learned he was one of six children to attend 91社区, he had a personalized 91社区 T-shirt made for him with the number six on the back of it.听

鈥淪iblings choosing 91社区 as their academic home of choice is a very powerful indicator of the trust families have in the faculty and staff of our University,鈥� says Rochon. 鈥淭here is no greater compliment that recognizes our student success and academic excellence than that of Familia generational attendance. 91社区 is a proud home to many siblings鈥攖hose who stand on the shoulders of their big sisters and brothers.鈥�听

Luke, who was homeschooled and grew up in a close family, says it鈥檚 no surprise he and his siblings are so close, ended up in similar majors and chose the same school. 鈥淭here was little to no chance of going anywhere other than 91社区, to the point that the three youngest of my siblings only applied to one college, that being 91社区,鈥� says Luke.

In addition to staying close to his siblings, Luke says he came to 91社区 because it was affordable, close to home and has a good Engineering Program. 鈥淚 was always interested in working on stuff and building things,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 worked on things like rebuilding dirt bikes, restoring trucks, building bow fishing boats, fixing tractors and building pole barns.鈥澨�听

Along with his brothers Paul, Joe and Tim, Luke is also a Harolyn Torain Multicultural Leadership Scholar, and hopes to promote diversity and inclusion across campus. After college, Luke hopes to find a job working for the energy sector in gas transmission.听听

A Legacy Motivated by Success听

The Bohlen family aren鈥檛 the only ones to have nearly their entire family attend 91社区. Jacqueline (Clark) Russell, an Evansville native, was one of eight siblings to attend 91社区 over the course of 20 years.听听

The first to graduate, Jacqueline, earned her degree in marketing in 1991. Her brothers, Mark Clark (1997) and John Clark (2000), followed with degrees in accounting. Bradley Clark was the next to attend 91社区, graduating in 2002 with a degree in marketing. Jeffrey Clark earned a degree in mechanical engineering technology in 2005, followed by Kenneth Clark in 2006 with a degree in public relations and advertising. Natalie (Clark) Labhart finished her degree in exercise science in 2009 and finally, Amanda (Clark) Wood graduated in 2011 with a degree in dental hygiene. Their parents are Paul and Kathleen Clark.听听

Jacqueline says she and her siblings grew up in a family-orientated home, and valued being close to each other and the community they grew up in. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know that I ever expected [my siblings] to follow in my footsteps,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 could have moved away after graduation, but I didn鈥檛 want to miss out on seeing my younger siblings grow up.鈥�听

鈥淚 think being one of the oldest, your younger siblings look up to you, and seeing success motivates them to seek those opportunities as well,鈥� she says. 鈥淎s each one attended, it made for strong testimony for the others and their desire to follow suit. 听

Going to a local University and choosing jobs in their hometown helped Jacqueline and her siblings jumpstart their careers and keep long-standing positions.听听

鈥淎ll of my family members have held long-time positions, even though two moved out of town,鈥� Jacqueline says. 鈥淚n Evansville, there is a strong push to keep people local. I also have felt that people who live and go to school here value the sense of community, and many give back by volunteering time and treasure to keep our community strong.鈥�听

Jacqueline says she is amazed by the growth of 91社区, the opportunities now available to students in terms of career choices and the elevated visibility and reputation the University has experienced in terms of providing a high-quality education.听听

Today, three of the next-generation members of the Russell family are taking classes at 91社区, and the legacy continues to grow and spread its roots.听

Siblings Shaping 91社区听听

It鈥檚 clear that generations of 91社区 students are proud to be shaping campus culture, but each sibling wouldn鈥檛 be here if it wasn鈥檛 for the influence of the ones who came before them. Luke particularly thanks the influence of his brothers for his journey to 91社区. From here, the University continues to grow as a trusted name when it comes to offering a first-class education and robust campus life, igniting a passion for learning that spans generations.听