Denison alums reflect on 2026 Hall of Fame honor

David Beaver ’99

My proudest Denison athletic moment:
Making it to the Final Four my senior year was the crowning achievement for our class. It marked the first time in the history of Denison lacrosse that a team had progressed that far in the NCAA tournament and reinforced Denison’s status as a top program in Division III.

What my Varsity D Hall of Fame Induction means to me:
It’s a great honor to be recognized for my athletic contributions while attending Denison. Passing by the Hall of Fame each day on the way to practice, I would read through the accomplishments of the inductees and wonder how my own would stack up. It was always a great motivator, and being part of that select group is a personal milestone I’ll always take great pride in.

Lesson learned from varsity athletics that helped me after college:
The lesson I always come back to is the importance of finding people who believe in you. The growth I experienced as an athlete at Denison showed me how far I could go when surrounded by people who wanted to see me succeed. That lesson has continued to ring true, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my family, friends, and colleagues.

What I’m doing now:
I work in business development for Q2, a financial technology company that provides digital banking solutions to financial institutions.

Aedin Brennan Rajput ’16

What it meant to wear a Denison uniform:
Wearing the uniform meant representing all of Denison’s current, future, and past student-athletes at every competition across the country. It reminded me to carry myself with pride, that I was part of a team even if I was by myself, and I could always find a familiar face or Big Red supporter somewhere in the crowd. In that uniform, you were advertising for the school, building on the reputation, and catching the eyes of prospective students and future teammates.

A phrase I can still hear my coach saying:
Coach Mark FitzPatrick saying, "You don’t have to do anything superhuman. Go out there and run your race." He said it right before we won the national title. Those words were a reminder to stay grounded and to do what I had trained for. Coach’s words apply, and have applied to many stressful situations — don’t lose sight of the basics, and it’ll all be fine.

Lesson learned from varsity athletics that helped me after college:
Varsity athletics taught me that you don’t rise to the occasion, you perform at the level of your preparation. The daily commitment to teamwork, training, discipline, and prioritization became habits that helped me develop the skills and self-confidence to take on any challenge, personal or professional.

What I’m doing now:
I am happily married. My husband and I go on road trips or travel internationally as often as we can. I play music in the community when time allows, and I work as an FP&A finance manager for the laboratory plastics essentials division at Thermo Fisher Scientific. After Denison, I earned my STEM MBA in finance from the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, and my current role combines my love of biology and finance. Our team happens to make the Nalgene bottles I used as an athlete, and all the products on my desk remind me of my days in Talbot.

Kimberly Cochran ’08

My proudest Denison athletic moment:
Our team’s 2005 run to the NCAA quarterfinals (Elite Eight) for the first time in program history. It had all the makings of a thriller: penalty kicks, upsets, and families and friends traveling in masses to cheer us on.

What it meant to wear a Denison uniform:
Wearing a Denison uniform meant that I was about to feel the rush of walking onto the field for a night game under the lights with my teammates by my side. There is no feeling quite like it. Along with my Denison uniform, I was one of many proud guardians of an iconic, needlepoint soccer sweater that has been passed down by players since 1999. The sweater and my uniform are reminders that this wonderful sport and wonderful college have connected generations of players in a really special way.

Lesson learned playing varsity sports that helped me after college:
While I haven’t found a good use for slide tackling in corporate America, I have certainly leveraged lessons in goal setting, teamwork, and leadership. I learned so much from my coach and teammates on how to rise to challenges and come out on top.

What I’m doing now:
I am an attorney for a hospital system in Charlotte, North Carolina. I am married, have a young son, and still (attempt to) play co-ed recreational soccer with other athletes who are also past their prime.

Joseph Dunham ’01

What it meant to wear a Denison uniform:
Growing up hearing about the Big Red from my father, instilled in me the desire to compete for Denison. I still remember my first meet at Kenyon College.

What my Varsity D Hall of Fame Induction means to me:
Denison has been a special place for my entire family. Being the youngest of four boys to graduate from Denison, and having a father who’s also a Denison graduate, this means the world to me. I feel very blessed.

Lesson learned from varsity athletics that helped me after college:
The importance of balance and consistency. My time at Denison required discipline in academics and in the daily grind of hard work in athletics. Learning that balance and the importance of consistency each day was a life lesson that I have taken with me, and I apply it as a coach.

What I’m doing now:
I am the head cross country coach and associate head track & field coach at Central College in Pella, Iowa.

Sam Fioroni ’13

My proudest Denison athletic moment:
Winning the "Old Red Lantern" for the first time in 20-plus years It’s the rivalry game versus Wooster College.

Lesson learned from varsity athletics that helped me after college:
Having competitive stamina — or the ability to be at your best over and over again — is something that will enable you to succeed regardless of your post-college pursuits.

What my Varsity D Hall of Fame Induction means to me:
It’s a huge honor. Humbling, but also a reminder of the work my teammates and coaches put in to help me arrive at this moment. I wouldn’t be here without their dedication and talent as well.

What I’m doing now:
Still working in football as a scout in the NFL.

Carly Tschantz Grandfield ’12

What it meant to wear a Denison uniform:
My parents sacrificed a lot to make it possible for me to play at Denison, so anytime I wore that uniform, I thought of them and tried to make them proud.

A phrase I can still hear my coach saying:
"You don’t win, you don’t eat" — P.J. Soteriades. This was in reference to the Gambier Deli at Kenyon College, and it was an incredible motivator for our field hockey and lacrosse teams.

Lesson learned from varsity athletics that helped me after college:
I was extremely lucky to have had lacrosse take me around the world to coach. Also, I had other sports that helped me meet best friends in unexpected places, like a flag football team in Chicago. Any challenge I face, I have the toolkit to approach it like a team athlete: with grit and collaboration. All of that was built on a foundation of learning I gained at Denison. I am truly grateful for every experience gathered on and off the field.

What I’m doing now:
I am part of a team I only ever dreamed of joining: my family. My husband, Cole, and my two children, Poppy and Hugh, reside in Omaha, Nebraska, and I am director of technology partnerships for LaunchDarkly.

Dimonde Hale ’13

My proudest Denison athletic moment:
Helping lead our team to the NCAC Tournament Championship Game for the first time in program history. That season helped set the tone and establish a winning culture that has continued well beyond my years at Denison, with several championship appearances since then. It’s something both I and the current coaching staff believe began with our group. It’s a special feeling to leave such a legacy.

Lesson learned from varsity athletics that helped me after college:
Athletics taught me that showing up consistently, especially on tough days, makes the difference. The discipline that carried over into every aspect of my career and life has helped me thrive in so many spaces.

What my Varsity D Hall of Fame Induction means to me:
This induction is really a celebration of all the people who supported me and sacrificed to help me succeed. My wife, Tiffany Davis Hale ’14, was already inducted for her track & field career at Denison, so now our kids can say both of their parents share this rare and incredible honor. As someone who thinks a lot about the example I set for my community — especially my family — it means the world for them to see me recognized in this way.

What I’m doing now:
I’ve been a professional artist (oil painter) for 10 years and have collectors around the world. I’m also the digital marketing manager for Denison’s communications and marketing team. Coming back to Denison has been a full-circle experience and an opportunity to help connect more amazing people with an amazing university. In addition to my work in marketing, I’m also the proud father of two beautiful daughters, Khamari and Elegance, and married to fellow Denison alum, Tiffany Davis Hale ’14.

Stephen Julka ’08

What it meant to wear a Denison uniform:
The uniform was recognized and respected. Each one of us wearing that suit knew that we had earned the honor of standing on that pool deck as a member of the Big Red. And those around us knew the same thing. It was empowering to feel and to promote that admiration.

A phrase I can still hear my coach saying:
"Turn your brain off. Trust yourself and trust what you’ve done to get here. This is your moment. Show them what you can do."

What my Varsity D Hall of Fame Induction means to me:
We all contribute to a legacy. This honor highlights what Denison values most in its student-athletes and all the coaches, teammates, trainers, parents, friends, professors, and staff who support them: leadership in all its forms. Each one of us has experienced success on a trail that has been blazed by those before us. And each one of us has the opportunity to further forge that path so that others may excel in our footsteps.

What I’m doing now:
I am consulting in communities across the country as a resilience planner, and I am coaching club diving in the Western Carolinas.

Natalie Lugg ’14

My proudest Denison athletic moment:
Taking my final turn in the last leg of the 100 breastroke at NCAAs in 2014, my senior year, realizing I have more gas in the tank and giving it everything I had, touching the wall and looking up at the scoreboard to see I had won, watching my teammates share in my joy and excitement and coach Gregg Parini coming behind the blocks to celebrate this lifetime achievement.

A phrase I can still hear my coach saying:
"Who do you want in your foxhole?"

What my Varsity D Hall of Fame Induction means to me:
Being an inductee is another lifetime achievement I didn’t fully believe I would achieve. Thank you, Denison University, for pushing me to realize my full potential.

What I’m doing now:
I am currently the Dean of Admission at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.

Carolyn Simpson Molzahn ’09

My proudest Denison athletic moment:
Honestly, my proudest Denison moment was a game in which I played horribly, but my teammates rallied together and we became NCAC tournament champions in 2008 as big underdogs. We were not expected to win, but we found resilience and drive and a will to win. To win that for our seniors was the best feeling.

What my Varsity D Hall of Fame Induction means to me:
To be recognized in this manner is not something I am taking lightly. There are many great student-athletes who have come through Denison, and to be included in the Hall of Fame is pretty surreal to me. Representing Denison was a true privilege, and I hope to inspire the next great student-athletes.

Lesson learned from varsity athletics that helped me after college:
To play a varsity sport at Denison was no small feat. Classes were challenging, and so was our practice and travel schedule. I think, however, that the biggest lesson I learned — and I realized it later in life — was to live your life with no regrets, and to put all your effort into your dreams.

What I’m doing now:
I am a dentist and proud owner of a family dental practice in Worthington, Ohio. We have a great team of eight employees, and I am so thankful to be their leader.