The Class of 2023 (l-r): Kent Pearson, Jessica Stacy, Aaron Bailey, Wendy Rochon, Ralph Miller, and Jane Vatchev.

Aaron Bailey (Football, 1990-91) Click here for Aaron's speech
Aaron Bailey started for two seasons as an All-American and eventual NJCAA Hall of Fame running back  for coach Bob MacDougall, before he completed his college career on scholarship at the University of Louisville (1992-93). The Ann Arbor, Mich., native started both seasons at wide receiver for the Cardinals and Hall of Fame coach Howard Schnellenberger, where he remains among the top five all-time return specialists. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 1994 and went on to star for five seasons (1994-1998) at wide receiver/kick returner. Bailey is considered the finest kick return specialist for the franchise since the Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984. Aaron resides in Kentwood, Mich., and he and his wife Jennifer are the parents of: Aaron Jr., Ashley, Michael, Airyanna, Amari, Alana and Aaliyah.
 
Dr. Ralph Miller (1992-02) Click here for Ralph's speech
COD athletics under Director of Athletics and Associate Dean Ralph Miller won 18 national championships while he led 18 sports and the Physical Education department. He supported college success courses for student-athletes and recognized their achievements with annual academic awards. He supervised 60 coaches and headed curriculum, wellness programs and recreation. An NJCAA Region 4 Hall of Famer in 2002 and one-time N4C Commissioner, he was respected campus-wide for developing corporate sponsorships and nurturing internal and external relationships that included the Doug Collins and John Paxson Basketball Clinics. Ralph and his wife Nancy make their home in Palos Park. They are the parents of: Pete, Kristina, Karla and Erik, and the grandparents of eight children.
 
Kent Pearson (Swimming, 1973-75) Click here for Kent's speech
Kent Pearson, a Glen Ellyn native, competed for Hall of Famer coach Al Zamsky's swim team, earning three All-American honors after winning national titles in the 500 freestyle and 200 freestyle, and earning runner-up honors in the 1,650 freestyle in 1975. He was COD's most outstanding student-athlete that same season. He continued his swimming career at the University of Iowa (1976-77), where he competed for the Hawkeyes, and then served as a graduate assistant coach. He coached high school and club swimming in St. Charles, winning boys state titles from 1982-86, and personally,  competed in multiple triathlons. Kent and his wife Nancy make their home in Midvale, Utah, and are the parents of two daughters: Hannah and Amy.

Wendy Rochon (Softball, 1999-00) Click here for Wendy's speech
Wendy Rochon left her legacy at COD as a two-time All-American first baseman. She helped her teams play in two NJCAA championship tournaments and capped her career as a member of the  2000 national champions for head coach Deb DiMatteo. The Roselle native hit better than .500 in both seasons at COD, and then completed her playing career at Lewis University, where the Flyers reached the 2001 NCAA Division II championship game. She coached two seasons at Augustana (S.D.) while earning her master's degree, and then became head coach at Heidelberg (Ohio) for three seasons before completing her coaching career as an assistant at Lewis. Wendy and her spouse Sarah make their home in Schaumburg.
 
Jessica Stacy (Basketball, Track and Field, Volleyball, 2000-02) Click here for Jessica's speech
Jessica Stacy, a Bloomingdale native, performed as a three-sport competitor at COD, and helped two programs win national championships. A two-year starter for basketball coach Earl Reed's teams, she earned All-N4C and All-Region 4 honors and helped the Chaps to a 27-4 record and the 2002 NJCAA championship. As a freshman in 2001, she earned All-American honors for the title-winning Chaps track and field team by running on the title-winning 4 x 800 relay and placed seventh in the 400 meters for head coach Jane Vatchev. A decorated honors student who graduated Phi Theta Kappa, she also played one season of volleyball (2001). Jessica and her son Calvin make their home in Chicago.
 
Jane Vatchev (2000-2012) Click here for Jane's speech
Jane Vatchev won more NJCAA team titles than any other head coach in COD history, guiding the track and field program for 13 seasons. The men's team won four titles (2002, 2003, 2006, 2010) and the women also won four titles (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004) under her direction. She coached 72 national champions, 213 All-Americans and 70 Academic All-Americans. Eighteen of her 21 teams placed in the top 5 in Division III competition. A physical education assistant professor, she was named the 2022-23 COD Outstanding Faculty Member and founded the COD Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. Jane and her husband Oleg are the parents of Michael and Helena and make their home in Carol Stream.