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  Commencement ceremonies were held May 14 at the county fairgrounds for the �������� Columbiana County campuses, acknowledging all the hard work of students and faculty, especially after a challenging year of living through a pandemic.  Dr. David Dees, dean of the �������� Columbiana County campuses, presided over the event, along with Dr. Susan Rossi, assistant dean.  Some commencement traditions were modified because of the COVID pandemic and the resulting safety protocols that had to be followed, yet the event was a true celebration. To manage attendance, two outdoo...

Following the success of its initial three wines, �������� at Ashtabula’s �������� Ashtabula Wines label is announcing the release of its newest vintage, Radiance.  Produced through a partnership with Laurello Vineyards, Radiance is a white wine blend made from Pinot Grigio, Muscat and Chardonnay grapes harvested from the historic Markko Vineyards located in the Conneaut Creek valley.  Markko Vineyards is the award-winning vineyard and winery founded by the late Ohio winemaking pioneer Arnulf “Arnie” Esterer, who passed away last year at the age of 88. “Arnie ...

From mental health on college campuses to forced child labor, students in the School of Communication Studies worked on campaigns across a range of topics during the Spring 2021 semester. Students learned that communication — the spoken word, social media, website content, news — is a powerful tool in advocating for causes, all while learning communication theory, fundamentals and tools. In Communication in a Global Society, taught by Stephanie Danes Smith, students were challenged to develop a social media campaign to help their peers understand a specific human rights issue. In Commun...

From mental health on college campuses to forced child labor, students in the School of Communication Studies worked on campaigns across a range of topics during the Spring 2021 semester. Students learned that communication — the spoken word, social media, website content, news — is a powerful tool in advocating for causes, all while learning communication theory, fundamentals and tools. In Communication in a Global Society, taught by Stephanie Danes Smith, students were challenged to develop a social media campaign to help their peers understand a specific human rights issue. In Commun...

As a single parent, DJ Smith made the tough decision to enroll back in school and ultimately complete her bachelor's degree in Business Management. Having been out of the game for a while and not knowing where to start, she turned to the Literacy and Independence for Family Education (LIFE) program through the Center for Adult and Veterans Services (CAVS). It ended up changing her life. Smith, who also works in the College of Business, Graduate Programs Office at ��������, walked proudly across the stage as a Class of 2021 graduate to receive her diploma following a path that w...

KENT, Ohio – Student entrepreneurs pitched their businesses to a panel of executive judges for $20,000 in cash prizes at the �������� College of Business Administration’s fifth annual CEBIpitch competition held April 7. Grace Irvin-Dillard, a senior entrepreneurship and pan-African studies major, took first place, earning $10,000 for her company, Touched by Grace. Touched by Grace provides all-natural, handmade personal care products for those with skin sensitivities. Products include facial, body and feminine care items Jonathan Henry, an MBA graduate student, won second plac...

�������� at Ashtabula senior Jesseca Housel was recently honored as the 2021 Outstanding Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies Senior Award recipient.  A third-year student, Housel’s nomination was selected from hundreds of students in the Department of Sociology throughout the �������� system. She was presented the award virtually during a recent departmental awards banquet. “It’s such a nice honor and very rewarding; it makes me feel good about the effort that I’ve put into my education,” she said.  “Part of the award is intelligence related, but I could...

Guacamole and chips are frequently on the menu of social gatherings for many �������� students, staff and faculty.  However, �������� President Todd Diacon says that the delicious creamy dip also holds a life lesson about expanding our worldview. “Avocados, salt, garlic and chopped onions go together. It’s natural. It’s self-evident. Well, not so fast,” Diacon said. Diacon said he grew up in Wellington, Kansas, which he described as a small, dusty town on the Kansas-Oklahoma border with a population that trended Hispanic and that allowed him to grow up eating ...