2009 Grotke Award Recipients

Ann’s contributions to IU feature her board positions in university public relations and the Kelley School of Business Alumni Association, as well as pioneering roles in IU women’s sports programs as an athlete, administrator, and alumni leader. A National Honor Society member and four-sport standout and state champion at Speedway High School, she was named to the Speedway Hall of Fame. Ann caught the eye of Indiana State University’s athletics recruiters and was offered what is thought to be the first athletic scholarship given to a woman in Indiana. A two-sport student athlete and campus leader, Ann was named Outstanding Freshman Woman at Indiana State University. She later transferred to IU, where she lettered in volleyball for the Hoosiers.

As an IU senior, Ann was the unanimous choice for top female college athlete in the state of Indiana, based on academic achievement, athletic excellence, and leadership. It was Leeann Grotke herself who presented Ann with the prestigious Eleanor St. John Award in 1978.

Following graduation, Ann was named sports information director for the 10 varsity women’s sports at IU. Impressed by Ann’s work with the media, Hoosier men’s basketball head coach Bob Knight asked her to also represent the men’s basketball program. By accepting, Ann became, at 23, the youngest member of a Division I men’s coaching staff, and one of only two women. The other was IU’s own Elizabeth (Buzz) Kurpius. In Ann’s years with coach Knight, the team won the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments, the book A Season on the Brink was written by John Feinstein, and Dan Rather did a CBS Sixty Minutes profile on coach Knight.

Ann’s MBA degree and a distinguished career followed, including leadership positions in a variety of industries. A member of Who’s Who in Marketing, Ann’s business legacy includes some of the world’s most admired advertising campaigns. You’ve seen her work: “Two scoops of raisins” for Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, The talking Parkay margarine tub, Happy Meals and Ronald McDonald advertising, and Dow Bathroom Cleaner’s Scrubbing Bubbles.

Ann’s life was not all work though. For five years, she played and coached in the National Battle of the Corporate Stars, where her team was consistently ranked in the top 10. Her contributions to IU escalated, too. Over 22 years, Ann has served on the National Public Affairs Council for the University, two terms on the Varsity Club National Board, two terms on the University’s Athletics Committee, and two terms as president of the I-Women’s Association. Last year, she was named president emeritus.

Professionally, Ann is president of Anthology Consulting, a well-known motivational speaker, and a member of the marketing faculty at the Kelley School of Business. Kelley students have named her the “most motivating and most memorable” faculty member. Maybe that’s because her lectures and speeches include a host of anecdotes about her love for IU, her playing days at IU, coach Knight, Hoosier Hysteria, and the role of sports in the building of character.

Personally, Ann’s proudest accomplishment is parenting her 16-year-old son, Christian, who is a three-sport student athlete at Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis. Ann coached Christian both in basketball and baseball while he was in grade school. Currently, she is assisting with the Park Tudor football team.

Originally from Newburg, Ind., Ginger Gilles holds two degrees from Indiana University: a BA in physical education in 1979, and a MS in education in 1984. Ginger is a two sport letter-winner, in volleyball and softball. Her athletic career was highlighted by pitching for IU in the 1979 College World Series.

Ginger was elected the first president of the I-Women’s Association, and held that position for nine years during the Association’s formative years.

For 30 years, Ginger has taught physical education in Kokomo Center schools, including 20 years as lead instructor for the special education program serving severely challenged students. At Kokomo High School, Ginger is a certified mentor as well as a coordinator for professional development.

Ginger’s involvement in athletics includes a 20-year tenure as sponsor for Script K, Kokomo’s varsity women’s club. She has been head coach for Kokomo’s volleyball, track, and tennis teams, as well as assistant coach for girls’ basketball. Her teams and players have enjoyed considerable success: she has coached several sectional, regional, and semi-state winners, including 11 individual tennis all-stars. Little wonder that Ginger was chosen four times by her peers to coach the Indiana Girls All Star Tennis Team. On several other occasions, Ginger was also honored as District Coach of the Year and Conference Coach of the Year.

Ginger lives in Indianapolis, where she enjoys gardening, traveling, and all sorts of sports. She is an avid golfer who recently got her first hole in one.

Jo Ann Hendryx has been known as Jody virtually all her life. A native Hoosier, Jody grew up in New Palestine. At New Palestine High School, she played on the boys’ tennis team until the school started a girls’ tennis program during her sophomore year. At IU, Jody received her Varsity letter in Tennis, having played in 1977 and1978.

Jody is a 1981 graduate of IU’s Kelley School of Business and received her license as a certified public accountant in 1983. She went on to graduate from the IU Maurer School of Law in May of 1988.

Jody was one of the original organizers of the I-Women’s Association. A charter member, she served on its board for several years, and today is a lifetime member of both the I Association and the IU Alumni Association.

As a certified public accountant, Jody worked in the tax departments of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell in Chicago, Arthur Young & Co. in Cincinnati, and Ernst & Young in Indianapolis, where she was promoted to Manager of the tax department before founding her own CPA firm in December 1990. Next year, in 2010, Hendryx CPA PC will celebrate its 20th year in business.

Jody is married to Brian DeFelice and has two daughters, Taylor who is 12, and Sophia who is 8 years old. Jody continues to play tennis in the USTA, and has been coaching girls’ basketball teams for more than five years.