Wright State awards free tuition to two students at volleyball match

Jonathan Castiglioni, a physiology and neuroscience major, and Keri Heckman, a nursing major, received a year of free tuition during a special promotion during the Wright State volleyball game in the Nutter Center on Aug. 28.

Wright State University Athletics, the Division of Student Affairs and President Sue Edwards teamed up Friday night to give away free tuition to two students during the Wright State volleyball match against Santa Clara.

The contest was part of a partnership between Wright State Athletics and the Division of Student Affairs during Weeks of Welcome activities marking the start of the 2026–27 academic year. To be eligible, students attended the annual Wright State Fall Fest on Friday afternoon and then checked in at Friday night’s volleyball match.

Four lucky students competed in a volleyball serving contest to determine the winner. Two students, Jonathan Castiglioni and Keri Heckman, remained tied throughout the contest, prompting Edwards to award both students a year’s tuition.

The other contestants, Lilly Willmann and Tiana Spivey, didn’t go home empty-handed, walking away with a $250 eCampus book voucher and a Wright State and Coca-Cola fan pack.

The contest was a collaborative effort to increase student engagement and build excitement around the Fall Semester and Raider Athletics.

Wright State’s match against the Broncos opened the Raider Invitational, the first of two consecutive home weekends for the Raiders in the Nutter Center’s main arena. Saturday’s events include nine high school matches featuring three area schools, a basketball meet-and-greet and a Chick-fil-A student giveaway at the Raiders’ Saturday night match against Marquette.

The defending Horizon League Champion Raiders brought the excitement on opening night, Mya Ayro reached the 1,000-career kill mark on her match-leading 20th. The Raiders edged past the Broncos, winning the deciding fifth set 15-13.