The first class of Dan Marburger Leadership Institute fellows was honored this month with the presentation of a specially commissioned medallion — designed by a Central College student, chosen by the family of Dan Marburger, 1989 Central graduate, and destined to be placed around the necks of every future cohort of fellows.
The medallion was created by Jack Every, Class of 2028 art major from Grimes, Iowa, working under the guidance of Mat Kelly, associate professor of art. It features a bold pillar and an unbroken circular line — imagery Every drew directly from what he knew of Dan Marburger himself.
“I knew of Dan. He was a very good leader — a very solid and firm individual in what he believed and how he acted,” Every says. “So I chose a pillar, because not only does that represent character, but it also represents a firm, stable piece of a building that holds everything up. It has so many different meanings that I saw applied to Dan.”
Every explored other directions — trees, roots, organic forms — but kept returning to the pillar. In his final design, the pillar stands alongside a sweeping circular line that wraps continuously around the entire medallion.
“The circle wraps all the way around and its direction is never ending, even with a couple of gaps,” Every explained. “It represents the unconditional aspect of the institute — it just keeps going.”
The Marburger family reviewed student submissions and selected Every’s design. For Seth Marburger, 2016 Central graduate, choosing it was not just an aesthetic decision — it was a deeply personal one.
“My family and I had a great time deciding which one to choose,” he says. “I really like the silhouette of the pillar. I think it says a lot about my dad and how he was, at school and as a family. He was just like the pillar of both places. We relied on him. We could lean on him.”
Seth sees the circular line as a reflection of the fellows themselves — their commitment, their Saturday mornings, their hunger to grow.
“The loop around the outside shows how this whole group of students came every weekend,” he says. “It seemed like they loved the information they were getting. It shows that they’re continually learning new things and wanting to improve. Hopefully, as they move into education, they are people that others can look to and lean on.”
For Seth, the institute has become one of the most meaningful tributes his family has received since his father’s death. At the closing ceremony, he found himself reaching back to a memory that now carries new weight. His father had often said that when he retired, he wanted to give back to the education profession and to Central College, where it all started. He never got that chance. But in the Saturday sessions, the guest speakers and the fellows leaning forward in their chairs hungry to learn, Seth sees his father’s wish fulfilled. The institute doesn’t just honor Dan Marburger. It carries out his mission.
He hopes the medallion will serve fellows long after the final session ends.
“I think it’s a good way to unite the different classes that will come through this program — something they’re able to display and look back on as a visual reminder of what they’ve learned and the amount of time they’ve put in to make this impactful for their careers moving forward.”
Kelly says the project was exactly the kind of opportunity that defines a Central education.
“Jack is very skilled in developing imagery digitally and created many compelling images in my graphic design class,” Kelly says. “When I heard about this project, I thought it would be a great opportunity for him and other students to apply skills to a real-world project. The designs were created with very little input from me — these ideas were all their own.”
Kelly believes the origins of the medallion add a layer of meaning that will only deepen over time.
“Having the medallion designed by a Central student supports and emphasizes the faith we have in the capabilities of our students,” he says. “Opportunities such as this also keep the story of Central alive. I think those who are awarded this honor will be reminded of the vision of Dan Marburger and how it is carried out through the Marburger Fellows.”
For Every, the moment of seeing his design selected — and then placed around the necks of the inaugural fellows — was unlike anything he had experienced.
“It was such an honor to have the Marburger family select my design,” he says. “There are some good individuals, good leaders here. A lot of people are very passionate and seem to love this program. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He paused to take in what the medallion would mean going forward — that his work, created in a classroom, would now be passed from one cohort to the next for years to come.
“I did not expect an opportunity this big,” Every says. “And I feel like I was able to accurately represent it. It’s so cool that I get to be a part of such a long-lasting legacy.”
Launched in February, the Dan Marburger Leadership Institute brought fellows together on Saturdays for leadership training and sessions with guest speakers from across the field of education. The medallion will be presented to each future cohort of fellows upon completion of the program.
Julianne Taylor, senior lecturer and co-director of the Marburger Institute, says selection for the 2027 Marburger Leadership Institute cohort will be completed by the Education faculty during the fall 2026 semester.
Photo caption:
The final gathering of Marburger Leadership Institute fellows featured a presentation of medallions. Standing on left side of stairs: Melissa McAninch, associate professor of education, education chair and Marburger Leadership Institute co-director, and Jack Every ’28, medallion designer. Standing on right side of stairs: Ajay Six ’27, Julianne Taylor, senior lecturer of education and Marburger Leadership Institute co-director, and Seth Marburger ’16 and son of Dan and Elizabeth Marburger. On stairs: Row 1 – Jillian Fairbanks ’27, Rylee Dunkin ’27, Jasmyn Williams ’26, Georgia Matthews ’26. Row 2 – Lydia Fisher ’27, Emma Murphy ’27, Taylor Sniezek ’26. Row 3 – Madeline MacGregor ’26, Brianna VanGroll ’28, Samuel Vis ’27.
