Lasting legacy: Adams Family secures future of PALS with generous commitment

The family of the late John Q. and Patricia Adams has ensured that their parents’ legacy will continue to inspire generations of Heidelberg students at the institution they loved so dearly.

During the Faculty Awards Dinner on Feb. 12, President Rob Huntington announced that the John and Patricia Adams Foundation has renewed its commitment to PALS – the Patricia Adams Lecture Series – with a $500,000 commitment to sustain the program for another five years. This renewal marks the Foundation’s fourth consecutive funding cycle in support of PALS on Heidelberg’s campus.

Established in 2010, the PALS joint mission statement, shared by the Foundation and Heidelberg is to “inspire and empower students to relentlessly pursue and achieve their professional goals by providing engagement opportunities with accomplished women who have made profound and lasting impacts in their communities and careers, further advancing the intellectual, personal, and professional development of Heidelberg University students and guiding them toward a life of purpose with distinction.”

Each fall, PALS brings an exceptional female leader to campus for a full day of interaction with ‘Berg students, culminating in an inspirational keynote address and dinner. Over the years, Heidelberg has welcomed speakers representing fields such as business, entertainment, writing, athletics, law, banking, health and wellness, marketing, government, media, and philanthropy.

Among the most notable guests have been former First Lady Laura Bush and former First Daughter Barbara Pierce Bush, who visited the campus in fall 2019, and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth, who delivered the keynote in fall 2022.

“We are eternally grateful to the members of the Adams Family who share our vision – and Pat’s passion – for sustaining PALS as a distinguishing opportunity for Heidelberg students,” Rob said.

The PALS event in September 2024 – which featured the keynote by Vernice “Flygirl” Armour, the nation’s first African American female combat pilot – marked the first without both Pat and John Adams in attendance. Pat, a ‘58 honorary alumna, passed away in February 2023. John, a ’58 Heidelberg alumnus and former Board of Trustees member, passed away in January 2024. For years, they were beloved fixtures at PALS events, traveling from their home in Texas to be on campus – often seated proudly in the front row, beaming as students engaged with each speaker.

Today, the Adams family’s commitment is capably carried forward by John and Pat’s daughter, Sherri Adams.

“In representing her parents’ legacy, Sherri is continuing the vision they established with PALS,” said Ashley Helmstetter, Vice President of Advancement, Marketing, Alumni, and Community Relations. “Through her leadership, the Foundation’s generosity and our sponsors, that legacy of empowerment and academic success will endure for years to come.”

Sponsors who also support PALS are Mercy Health - Tiffin Hospital, National Machinery Foundation, Reineke Family Dealerships, the Newman Family, and UIS Insurance & Investments.