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With high levels of diversity and academic excellence, Kent State's largest freshman class in five years has arrived.

Returning to pre-pandemic numbers, the 4,252 students that make up the class of 2028 represent 37 states and 35 countries. Together, they form the largest incoming class since 2019 and the eighth-largest class in Kent State's nearly 115 year history. 

However, these freshmen don't just have strength in numbers; they also excel in the classroom. This remarkable class boasts an impressive 3.61 average high school GPA, with a university record 692 students belonging to the Honors College.

Kent State's reputation for diversity and inclusion continues to shine, with 21% coming from underrepresented groups, including African American, Hispanic, Native American and multiracial students, and 34% being the first in their family to go to college. Both of these categories have seen an increase from last year's incoming class.

To put some faces to the numbers, we reached out to a few Golden Flash freshmen. They shared their stories and left themselves future graduation messages for 2028.

CLASS OF 2028 BY THE NUMBERS

Meet Jaden Auslander from Waxhaw, North Carolina

Major: Air Traffic and Airspace Management 

With both of his parents working in the aviation industry, you could say Jaden's career path as an air traffic controller was written in the clouds. But he certainly didn’t keep his head in the clouds when deciding where to go to college.

“I went through the list of schools with the FAA's [Federal Aviation Administration] AT-CTI [Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiatives] program, then looked into campus life, as well as performing arts programs, and Kent checked all the boxes,” said Jaden.

Aside from being around planes his whole life, there was a very specific event that inspired Jaden to take his future to new heights.

“During the government shutdown in February 2020, there were several air traffic controllers at the Charlotte airport who were married and had families, who suddenly had no income,” he explained. “My family, along with others in my community, gathered food and supplies to take to the tower. When we were delivering the donations, the supervising controller offered me a tour of the tower, and I knew that was what I wanted to do since then.”

When he’s not in class learning how to help planes take the sky, Jaden says he is excited to take the field as a member of the Marching Golden Flashes and experience all that Kent State has to offer. 

Jaden's message to himself in 2028

“Congratulations, you did it! Only a few more years of training left... You did a great job, and you are going to go amazing places!”

CLASS OF 2028 BY THE NUMBERS

Meet Isabella Rose from Independence, Ohio

Major: American Sign Language/English Interpreting

When deciding where to go to school, falling in love with the campus is definitely a good sign. And American Sign Language (ASL) student Isabella certainly knows a good sign when she sees one.

“I chose Kent State out of the many other colleges due to the great academics, but also the outstanding ASL program KSU offers to their students,” said Isabella.

After taking an ASL class her freshman year of high school, Isabella became interested in learning more about deaf culture and the community. That interest grew during her sophomore year when she began working on bigger projects. She says, “That's the moment I knew that I wanted to do this the rest of my life.”

After graduating from Kent State, Isabella plans to combine her degree in ASL with her cosmetology license to give back to the community that holds such a special place in her heart.

“Cosmetology and ASL are the two things I am most passionate about,” she said. “I want to be able to help others communicate but also be able to give them a safe space where they can get their hair or nails done.”

Isabella's message to herself in 2028

“Keep pushing yourself when things get rough and never give up on your dreams.”

CLASS OF 2028 BY THE NUMBERS

Meet David Washington from Youngstown, Ohio

Major: Geology

For some students, it can be a difficult decision when choosing a major. This is not the case for David, who knew that geology was right for him after realizing at an early age that rocks, well… rocked.

“I chose my major because it was the number one thing I did as a kid and was addicted to looking at rocks,” said David.

With the support of his family behind him, David decided to take his passion for geology to Kent State. Coming from just an hour away in Youngstown, he felt it was the perfect distance, saying, “I chose Kent because I wanted to go somewhere far, but not too far from home.”

As far as what he wants to do after graduation, David has a pretty good idea but says his plans are not rock-solid.

“My dream job is to be a paleontologist because fossils have always fascinated me, but I'm still looking at what else is out there,” he says.

While he’s on campus, David is looking forward to taking in the atmosphere of Golden Flashes home football games and other sporting events.

David's message to himself in 2028

“You did it. From all the things that have happened to you, you persevered through all of it. Thumbs up.”

Meet Julia Smith from Eastlake, Ohio

Major: Mechatronics Engineering Technology

Julia dreams of working for a robotic manufacturing company. It’s a dream that started when she discovered a love for robotics in high school and began researching how she could turn that dream into a career.

“When I was in high school, I did trade school called CADD [Computer-Aided Design and Drafting] Engineering Technology,” said Julia. “I learned manufacturing engineering and architecture. I felt manufacturing was my best option and loved robotics, so I looked into mechatronics. I read a lot about it and how there’s different engineering in that one major and just fell in love with it.”

She knew exactly what she wanted to do but needed to figure out where to go to college. Thankfully, a very special Kent State alumna helped move Julia in the right direction.

“My grandma was the one who influenced me to come here,” she says. “She used to attend Kent and told me all about the welcoming feeling and how beautiful the campus was. She’s helped me with everything I needed to be here, all the way until classes started!”

As the newest Golden Flash in the family, Julia says she’s ready to start making friends, join clubs and be part of the Kent State community.

Julia's message to herself in 2028

“You deserve this, and you did it. You’ve overcome so much, and you should enjoy this!!”

Meet Harrison Miller from Houston, Texas

Major: Art History

They say, “everything is bigger in Texas.” The same must be true of the dreams of students from Texas because Honors College student Harrison certainly has some big dreams of his own.

“My dream job is to source art for private clients full-time,” said Harrison. “I love to travel, and I love art, so to get paid to travel and buy art on someone else’s dime is the ultimate dream.”

Harrison wasn’t always so sure about what he wanted to major in. His previous career aspirations spanned from teacher to fashion designer, but his path became clearer after touring Kent State. He says, “I have always really enjoyed art and museums, so when I found out I could go to school to work in a museum and/or with art, I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

But how did someone from Houston, Texas, learn about a school in Kent, Ohio?

“When I was trying to figure out where to apply, I knew only two things: I didn't want to stay in Texas and I wanted to major in art history,” explained Harrison. “So, I Googled, ‘best schools for art history not in Texas,’ and Kent State popped up as one of the top ones.”

A world traveler at heart, Harrison says he’s most excited about the study abroad opportunities offered at Kent State and hopes to spend “at least one year abroad” in Florence, Italy. 

Harrison's message to himself in 2028

“I love you so much and you are [awesome].”

Meet Gina Sferra from Boardman, Ohio

Major: Nursing

Gina, a fellow member of the Honors College, has a passion for serving others. Combine that with her love and fascination with the human body, and it makes perfect sense why she chose to pursue a degree in nursing. It also makes sense why Kent State was the perfect choice for her to earn that degree.

“Kent State has one of the best and most competitive nursing programs in the area,” said Gina. “It is the perfect distance from home to go home on the weekends, but also far enough to learn my independence.”

It helps that Gina had a great experience on her initial visit. She says, “When I took the first tour of Kent, I knew it was where I belonged. From the welcoming atmosphere to the beautiful campus, I fell in love with Kent.”

Gina also credits the strong support of her parents when deciding where to go to college, saying, “They were a constant support system in aiding me in my decision process. They helped me weigh out the pros and cons of each school I looked at and fully supported my decision to attend Kent.”

Gina's message to herself in 2028

“Congratulations on graduating. I am proud of myself for taking a leap of faith and not giving up on myself. You can go through difficult times and still reach your end goals.”

Meet Brayden Foster from Medina, Ohio

Major: Physical Education

Inspiration can come from anywhere. For Brayden, the inspiration to major in physical education came from his high school gymnasium.

“I chose it because I really liked physical education all throughout grade school,” said Brayden. “I really liked my high school gym teacher and was team manager for the boys’ varsity basketball team.”

Brayden also felt inspired after visiting Kent State’s campus for the first time, saying, “My first impression is that it is a nice and friendly community for classes and to hang out.”

Inspiration to attend Kent State also came from loved ones who ensured Brayden that he would thrive here. He says, “My family and older friends influenced me the most because they told me that I would fit in well and be really comfortable at Kent State.”

Now that he’s here, Brayden says he’s excited to learn more about his major, meet new people and have fun. 

Brayden's message to himself in 2028

“The first few weeks were rough with move-in and homesickness, but look where we are now – we made it!”

CLASS OF 2028 BY THE NUMBERS

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