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First Look: The Elliot Scholars

John, ’70, L.H.D. ’24, and Fonda Elliot, L.H.D. ’24. welcomed ��������'s first cohort of The Elliot Scholars, established through a scholarship initiative designed to support first-generation students across all majors.

Lisa Aurilio, ’87, MSN ’99, MBA ’11

Inspired by her mother’s nursing career, Lisa Aurilio, ’87, MSN ’99, MBA ’11, knew early on that her passion for science and connection with people made nursing the perfect path.

New Member and Officers Announced for the �������� Alumni Association National Board of Directors

James Bailey, of Hudson, Ohio, has been appointed the Foundation Board representative for the Alumni Association National

Golden Flashlings

This football season, we’re celebrating the smallest members of our �������� family with a brand-new social media tradition:

John Zabrucky, ’71, MFA ’78

John Zabrucky, ’71, MFA ’78, never planned to shape sci-fi history - but a chance encounter in Los Angeles changed everything.

Courtney Gumpf, ’07

Courtney Gumpf, ’07, found her passion at ��������, where she built lasting connections and gained valuable experience through leadership in Greek life and internships in both Pittsburgh and New York City.

Legacies Change Lives: Marissa Baker

The compassion, empathy and care nurses showed Marissa Baker when her mother suddenly passed led her to pursue a career in nurs

�������� Flashes Give Back Week: Serving Communities, Supporting Students and Showing Gratitude

From April 21-26, Golden Flashes came together in remarkable ways to make an impact during Flashes Give Back Week, a weeklong i

A True Hero: Lucas Slusher, ’17, Is Helping Change the Perception and Function of Prostheses with Hero Arm

One �������� graduate’s journey to find the right prosthesis led to a monumental win for limb loss awareness in Ohi

Opening Doors for Future Nurses

When Phillip R. Ridgley thought back on his career and considered how he could help the next generation of medical professionals, he decided he wanted to open doors for �������� students pursuing a career in nursing. He decided to start an endowment so that he could continue to support nursing students into the future and help them focus on their studies in a way that he couldn’t when he was a student.

Helping Others Realize Their Potential

‘We were supposed to look like Betty Grable and play ball like Joe DiMaggio’

“We were supposed to look like Betty Grable and play ball like Joe DiMaggio.”

Silas Ashley ’74

Silas Ashley, ’74, was told by his high school guidance counselor that he “was not college material," but after applying and being accepted to ��������, Silas immersed himself in student life. He was a senator in Undergraduate Student Government and became the president of Black United Students (BUS). Following graduation, Silas earned a master's degree in communications and a Juris Doctorate from Southern University at Baton Rouge and served as the president of ��������'s Black Alumni Chapter.

�������� Alumna Renee Richard’s Decades-long Career in Public Service Recognized with Multiple Prestigious Awards

While some first-year students arrive at �������� undecided on their major and career choice, Renee Richard, ’76, had her path for the future mapped out. That steadfast resolve has led Renee to a successful, decades-long career in law and finance.

McNair Scholar Alumna Champions Mental Health Services in Black Appalachian Communities

During her junior year at ��������, , ’01, Ph.D., had an idea of what path she would pursue after earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She wanted to attend graduate school, and she wanted to help people. Through the McNair Scholars program, Amanda received guidance from psychology professors like Beth Wildman, Ph.D., who assisted her with her honors thesis, and Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D., who guided her through applying for graduate school. 

John and Fonda Elliot Receive Honorary Degrees for Their Extraordinary Contributions

On Saturday, Dec. 14, both John and Fonda received their Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the healthcare field and to ��������.

Professor Gives Back By Supporting Students In Need

This Giving Tuesday season, Daniel E. Palmer, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy at ��������, has pledged a matching gift for the Trumbull Campus Last Dollar Scholarship as a symbol of his appreciation for the people who work and study at �������� Trumbull.

�������� Alumna D’Andra Mull, Ph.D., on Giving Back to the University that Gave So Much to Her

“Were it not for what I learned from a student affairs professional at ��������, this journey would not be the path I’m on today.”

Carl Walz, ’77

Carl Walz, ’77, has spent 231 days in space - and it all began with a physics degree and the Air Force ROTC program at ��������. From a nuclear lab to the cockpit of a jet plane to the crew compartment in a rocket ship, Carl attests that his career has been “a wild ride.”  

�������� Celebrates Newest Graduates

The �������� alumni family grew by nearly 5,200 new graduates as the university held its 2024 Spring Commencement ceremonies. During a number of ceremonies, 5,182 degrees were conferred, consisting of 1,011 associate degrees, 3,092 bachelor’s degrees, 903 master’s degrees, 164 doctoral degrees and 12 educational specialist degrees.

From Passion to Purpose

Drawn to healthcare as a child, Athalia James pursued that passion all the way to a fulfilling career in nursing. 

The Power of a Phone Call

The �������� Engagement Center, located in the Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, has undergone a significant transformation, now focusing more on creating connections and relationships with alumni, friends and family through phone outreach from current �������� students.

Rising Scholars Compete in NASA Challenge

A team of Columbiana County Rising Scholars students recently participated in the finals of the NASA HUNCH culinary competition at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to determine if their culinary creation would be a future meal for International Space Station astronauts.

Institute Explores Peace and Conflict

LaKaleb Bowen, ’24, is a criminology and justice studies major who admits to becoming captivated by ��������’s education-abroad programs, noting that his most recent trip to Kigali, Rwanda, was an extraordinary experience focused on peace and conflict in the country.

Sharing Their Love of Education with Future Generations

�������� has held a special place in the hearts of Lynda Grieves and her husband George “Bill” Grieves Jr., ’58, who passed away in 2019. For their 60th wedding anniversary, Bill and Lynda chose to create a scholarship through a charitable gift annuity instead of having a party.

Rollie, ’64, and Frances Layfield Help Students Build Skills for Success

Hard work and discipline are a driving force for Rollie Layfield, ’64, and they have served him well throughout his life and his career in business. He credits both his degree program in business administration and his time in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at �������� for helping him develop the leadership, entrepreneurship and organizational skills to thrive after graduation.

Legacies Change Lives: Dylan Cahill

The moment Dylan Cahill stepped foot on the Kent Campus, he knew that �������� was the place for him.

Modern Humans Using Ancient Tools

�������� anthropology professor Metin Eren, Ph.D., has a hands-on approach when teaching students about prehistoric stone tools that involves immersing themselves in a specially equipped lab in Lowry Hall that features everything from flint arrowheads to a ballistics station.

Dean Kahler’s 'One Bad Day' Fuels a Lifetime of Purpose

Dean Kahler, ’77, one of the nine wounded in the May 4, 1970, shootings, wasn’t supposed to be at �������� that day. 

Increasing Belonging for Graduate Students

A new program will foster a stronger sense of belonging to address research that demonstrates that graduate students are less likely to feel a sense of identity attached to their graduate school than those connections to undergraduate school experiences.

Alumni Support Global Education Experiences

�������� has received two $1 million donations in support of Global Education experiences for students. These gifts will make education-abroad experiences available to more students through the Global Education Endowment fund that was created in 2022.

Grant Supports Black Mothers and Children

�������� has received a grant from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation for the Spirit of Motherhood Program, an innovative program with a goal of reducing trauma and stress symptoms experienced by its pregnant Black mother participants.

Making the Local Justice System Easier to Access

Summit County Domestic Relations Court Judge Kani H. Hightower is on a mission to make the justice system in Summit County, Ohio, more accessible for underprivileged and underrepresented citizens. Whether it’s related to transportation challenges or helping them sort through the red tape of documentation, Hightower, a �������� graduate, is creating solutions to streamline the process for Summit County residents.

Gaining International Business Experience

Business students who participate in an annual study abroad experience to Ireland gain awareness about Ireland’s culture and people while acquiring hands-on skills and learn about the country’s dynamic role in the European Union and global economy.

Mobile Flashes Wellness Unit Makes Its Debut

The brightly colored blue and gold Mobile Flashes Wellness Unit from ��������’s College of Public Health will be hitting the streets to help bring public health services to the people of northeast Ohio.

Propelling Future Aviation Professionals

�������� has received a significant grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create an initiative to bolster the workforce for aircraft pilots and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operators in Northeast Ohio.