First University President to Shave

Have you heard the news?

How did Valparaiso University (VU) President Mark Heckler find himself nine days away from shaving his head to support childhood cancer research? The story starts in 2007 when Tom Serratore, a freshman at Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Illinois, decided to participate at his first St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event in honor of his friends who had been affected by cancer.

So inspired by the experience, Tom shaved all four years of high school. When he went off to college and joined VU’s soccer team, he brought with him the idea to organize a St. Baldrick’s event. The soccer team accepted Tom’s challenge and hosted the University’s first-ever event in 2011, raising more than $6,000!

Determined to make this year’s event bigger and better, Tom and the VU men’s soccer team set out to spread the word across campus and around the community in an effort to recruit more shavees and raise more funds. Word spread quickly and not long after, President Heckler was signed up to shave his head!

“I am honored and pleased to know that Valparaiso will have the first [university] president to ever have their head shaved for St. Baldrick’s. I hope President Heckler will be the catalyst for other university presidents to follow in his footsteps and help raise awareness for childhood cancer,” shares Tom.

Below is a note written by President Heckler as he prepares for the big shave.

In today’s hectic world, it’s tough to find ways to get people to stop for a moment and think about more sobering topics — like childhood cancers — and it’s even tougher to get them to take action. I’m thrilled that our men’s soccer team has taken such an active interest in The St. Baldrick’s Foundation and that our Horizon League championship team has decided to champion such an important cause.

So March 30, I’ll give my hair one last sentimental comb before I step up to be the first volunteer on the shaving block. I hope the shear shine will help draw attention to this important topic for days and weeks to come.