Lindner Business Honors Homecoming salutes Marvin P. Kolodzik

Adam Eling recognized as Norman R. Baker Awardee

The Carl H. Lindner College of Business welcomed students, alumni, friends and supporters of the Lindner Business Honors program for its homecoming celebration. Programming for Lindner Business Honors’ annual gathering focused on the contributions, accomplishments and generosity of Marvin P. Kolodzik, BBA ’59, the founder of the legacy Honors program Kolodzik Business Scholars.

Attendees also heard from Adam Eling, BBA, LHP ’06, who was honored with the Norman R. Baker Outstanding Alumni Award; LBH Director Ruth Seiple; Lindner dean Marianne Lewis, PhD; and Jeffrey Bogenschutz, BBA, LHP ’20, MS ’21, chair of the LBH Alumni Board.

Seiple kicked off the night with program updates from the 2024-25 academic year, with the accomplishments made possible by Lindner Business Honors champions and alumni:

Students in red and black and blue professional dress stand in front of a red banner.

The 2025-26 Lindner Business Honors Student Board. Photo/Provided

Study away alumni visited Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, New York City, Denver and Austin.
More than 150 Lindner Business Honors students participated in study abroad.
Two of the 2025 Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence awardees were graduates Austin Castle, BBA, LHP ’25, and Keya Nandi, BBA, BS, LHP ’25, MS ’26.
The year featured the launch of the Consulting Accelerator, which includes Introduction to Consulting classes, case competitions, interview prep workshops, and travel opportunities.

Lewis took the mic next, recalling a recent visit to Great American Tower with Seiple and students and faculty to engage with Carl Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner, the co-CEOs of American Financial Group and sons of Carl H. Lindner Jr. Carl H. Lindner Jr. founded the legacy Honors program Lindner Honors-PLUS.

“I said that night and will reiterate now that we truly stand on the shoulders of giants. And with each graduation, we add what will gradually become another impressive layer. The grit of Mr. Lindner lives on, embodied in each of you and in our college. At Lindner, we push our students to lean into challenges as opportunities to learn, innovate and adapt.”

Memories with Marvin

The event featured this video illustrating Kolodzik's origin and history with Lindner Business Honors offering numerous student "thank yous" to Marvin.

Up next was Lindner Business Honors Assistant Director Annie Rinehart, BBA, KBS ’10, who offered personal reflections on the community, programming and student engagement that defined Kolodzik Business Scholars' launch in 2008.

“This program has impacted my professional and personal life in countless ways. So, thank you, Marvin. With your vision of what we could do with your principles, without your support, without your experiences, (the scholars program) would not be the same.”

Kolodzik’s generosity has benefited more than 700 scholars in the program. Since 2021, 63 students have completed 73 domestic study away experiences, while 148 students have embarked on 229 study abroad journeys.

Norman R. Baker Awardee

Two men, one in a black jacket and one in a teal one, pose with Dean Lewis in a red jacket.

From left: Dean Lewis, Norman R. Baker Outsanding Alumni Awardee Adam Eling and Greg Eling, BBA ’75.

Bogenschutz shared the Lindner Business Honors Alumni Board’s mission to strengthen student–alumni connections before announcing Eling as the recipient of the Norman R. Baker Outstanding Alumni Award. The award honors alumni who demonstrate professional excellence, leadership, global perspective and dedication to Lindner and UC.

Eling, managing director and COO at Apollo Global Management, frequently meets with Lindner students pursuing investment banking and private equity careers. He reflected on his Lindner experience — even revisiting a capstone project from a course taught by Dean Lewis — to underscore the power of meaningful “touchpoints” with students and alumni.

“Talent only matters if it’s recognized. So, give it an opportunity. You might be surprised — not by giving back, but what it gives back to you.”

30th anniversary celebration

LBH 30th anniversary celebration info

In August 2026, Lindner Business Honors will welcome its 30th class of students. To celebrate this milestone, the program will honor the legacy of Lindner Business Honors and Kolodzik Business Honors with “30th of the Month” alumni visits, networking events in Cincinnati and beyond, and a 30th Anniversary Gala the Friday before Homecoming 2026.

Stay connected by visiting its 30th anniversary web page.

Featured image (from left): Nathan Johns, BBA, KBS, ’29; Charles Rinehart, BBA, KBS ’10; Linda Gallaher; Lindner dean Marianne Lewis; Marvin Kolodzik, BBA ’59; and Steve Simendinger, A&S ’74, MBA ’76. Photos/Lauren Meisberger.