WINONA LAKE — Grace College graduate, Huntington University trustee and president of Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company Inc., Rex D. “RD” Schrader II, was inducted into the Indiana Academy.
The honor recognizes his lifetime of achievement and significant contributions to the state of Indiana, Grace College and Huntington University, according to a news release from Grace.
The Indiana Academy promotes the advancement of Indiana through the Academy’s support of the Independent Colleges of Indiana Inc. (ICI) and its member institutions. Academy membership highlights people who live in or are from the state and who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in philanthropy, business, public service, advancement of the sciences, the arts, literature, culture and scholarship in connection with Indiana’s independent nonprofit colleges and universities.
“RD has left an indelible mark on Grace College through his dedication and passion,” said Dr. Drew Flamm, president of Grace. “I know his continued advocacy for private Christian education in Indiana is a great blessing to many.”
Schrader, of Columbia City, attended the Grace College basketball camps as a child. He came to Grace in 1988 to study business and played as a point guard all four years for Grace’s basketball team. During his senior year, the team won the 1992 NAIA national championship — the first in Grace Athletics' history.
Schrader, who served in his family’s business as a sales manager for years before becoming the president and lead real-estate auctioneer, has invested significantly in his alma mater.
“The private Christian college experience was just invaluable,” said Schrader. “The Christian atmosphere and value system meant so much to my wife, Holly, and I. If we can help provide that kind of opportunity to other young adults, we want to do so.”
When Schrader’s former coach, Jim Kessler, retired a few years ago, Schrader helped lead the charge to raise substantial funds for an endowed scholarship fund in Kessler's honor. He has also been a member of the Grace School of Business Advisory Council. Through his leadership on the council, the school has updated its curriculum and the business program has grown to be Grace’s largest academic school. His support for the accounting program has resulted in an endowed professorship.
Schrader has also been integral in assisting Grace with selling farms gifted to the institution. He has connected several students with job opportunities, and he remains a faithful supporter of Grace basketball.
“In spite of all his accomplishments, when I think of RD, I think about him attending Grace's basketball games, walking hand-in-hand with his young granddaughter, enjoying his alma mater and introducing Grace to the next generation,” said Flamm. “He truly defines the phrase ‘humble Hoosier.’”
Schrader has also made a profound impact on Huntington University in Huntington.
“In my role, I have the privilege of meeting many individuals who serve our institutions and the state of Indiana well,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. “However, few of them have dedicated their service to our rural private institutions with such intentionality as RD.”
At Huntington University, Schrader is a member of the Board of Trustees and has been a leader in innovative projects, particularly in the field of agriculture. He is a driving force for HU’s agriculture programs. He sits on the Agriculture Advisory Council and has been instrumental in developing the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies. His leadership had a direct impact on the construction of the Don Strauss Animal Science Education Center, which opened new opportunities for students to work with livestock on campus.
Most recently, Schrader was influential in establishing a partnership between Huntington University and Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. This partnership has led to a dual-degree program where students concurrently earn a Bachelor of Science degree in animal health from HU and an Associate of Applied Science degree in veterinary nursing from Purdue. Schrader also funded a full-time veterinary nursing faculty position at HU.
As HU’s Haupert Institute continues to expand and see enrollment growth, Schrader is committed to motivating and inspiring HU students with a passion for agriculture and providing them with excellent agricultural education. His involvement extends to career development, as he provides internship opportunities to students and employment opportunities to graduates at Schrader Real Estate and Auction.
“I have so much respect for private schools and the markets they serve,” said Schrader. “While being inducted into the Indiana Academy was a great honor, perhaps the greatest blessing is knowing I played a role in helping Dr. Sherilyn Emberton and Dr. Drew Flamm accomplish their institutional goals.”
To learn more about ICI’s Indiana Academy, visit www.icindiana.org/our-programs/the-indiana-academy/.
For more information about Grace College, visit www.grace.edu/.
To learn about Huntington University, go to www.huntington.edu/.