Fred Glass, president and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank, was inducted into the Marian University 2024 Clayton Family Circle of Honor. Ted Karras Jr., Marian University’s head football coach, was recognized with the university’s Wall of Fame award – both at the 2024 Clayton Family Circle of Honor ceremony on April 24.
Hosted by Indianapolis Recorder Senior Multi-Media Reporter Jade Jackson, the 15th annual Clayton Family Circle of Honor was conducted at the Marian University Arena and Conference Center with more than 600 guests in attendance.
During the event, Marian University President Daniel J. Elsener also announced $5 million in new gifts and pledges to support Marian University athletics and student-athletes as part of the Journey to 2030: Always Forward campaign.
Fred Glass, President and CEO, Gleaners Food Bank
Fred Glass was inducted into the 2024 Clayton Family Circle of Honor for his more than 30 years of service as a faithful civic leader to the City of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana. Glass has served as chief of staff to former Indiana Governor Evan Bayh, as president of the Marion County Capital Improvement Board, as vice president and director of athletics at Indiana University, and now as president and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank. Glass has long been recognized for his commitment to student-athletes and shares Marian University’s vision that athletics is a laboratory for leadership development.
Ted Karras Jr., Head Football Coach, Marian University Knights
Ted Karras Jr. was honored as a 2024 Wall of Fame Inductee. The award, established more than 50 years ago, recognizes individuals and teams who have made exceptional contributions to the prestige and honor of Marian University both on and off the field. Karras Jr. was Marian University’s first football coach, building the program from the ground up. He led the football program from 2006 through 2012, culminating in a 2012 NAIA national championship. After pursuing other opportunities, Karras Jr. returned to Marian University as head coach in 2022. Coach Karras has helped to build Marian’s athletic brand, which epitomizes a winning culture, academic excellence, and leadership development.
The annual award dinner celebrates Marian University athletics and honors those inducted into the Clayton Family Circle of Honor. Several Marian student-athletes were also recognized for their accomplishments at the event.
Track and Field
• Arriana Benjamin: 2023 NAIA All-American Honors in weight throw, discus throw and shot put; and 2023 All-Crossroads League honors for indoor shot put, weight throw, outdoor hammer throw and shot put.
• Jacob Netral: 2024 NAIA National Champion in shot put; 2023 NAIA All-American Honors in indoor shot put and outdoor shot put; 2023 NAIA National Qualifier in indoor shot put, weight throw and outdoor shot put; and 2023 All-Crossroads League honors in indoor shot put and outdoor shot put.
• Isaiah Tipping: 2023 NAIA Outdoor Qualified for indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer; 2023 NAIA National Qualifier for outdoor discus and hammer throw; and a six-time All-Crossroads League Outdoors recipient.
Cycling
• Marian’s Cycling team won its 24th Track National Championship in the fall of 2023. Also, nine student-athletes on the Track Roster won individual or team titles: Stephanie Lawrence, Liz Stevenson, Claire Kudlata, Amir Danel, Luke Arens, Fred Meredith, Jonah Hover, Sean Azcui and Carter Kasianowicz.
• Marian Cycling won its 8th BMX National Championship in the spring of 2024. Also, Marian Cyclists Cameron Wing and Violet Cejalvo won the Male and Female Individual Championship titles at the event.
• By winning the Team Track and BMX Championships this year, Marian Cycling has won a total of 50 team national championship titles across five cycling disciplines since becoming a varsity team in 1992.
• Lizzy Gunsalus won the Elite U23 National Championship at the 2023 Cyclocross National Championship.
In addition, three Marian student-athletes served as speakers at the event and led the opening prayer. They are:
• Student speaker: Women’s lacrosse goalkeeper Katherine (Katie Jo) Hirsch.
Students leading prayers during the ceremony:
- Taylor Thomas, 2023 NAIA National Qualifier and a 2023 All-Crossroads League honoree in track and field.
- Adarius Reese, a top-10 finisher at the 2024 Crossroads League Championships in bowling.
“The Clayton Family Circle of Honor stands as a testament to the Clayton Family’s unflagging commitment to quality education illumined by the light of faith and the role athletics plays in advancing their commitment,” said Marian University President Daniel J. Elsener. “Marian University’s past, present and future, in partnership with alumni and friends, provides championship athletics programs to our students that effectively foster character, leadership, and academic achievements.”