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Jasmine Long and Sharon Ware grew up in different neighborhoods, but their connection transcends residential blocks. Broken barriers now build the dreams to change their communities for the better.

�鶹��ý Geauga Campus is being recognized as the 2019 recipient of the Geauga Growth Partnership’s (GGP) Frank Samuel Distinguished Service Award for “relentless determination, diligence and dedication” and for making “significant contributions to enhance the value, quality, effectiveness, and stature of the Geauga Growth Partnership.” 

With nearly 400 student organizations, �鶹��ý has plenty of options for students to find a club that fits their interests. But if students can’t find one that piques their interest, they can always create their own. That’s what Kent State freshmen Tara Wade and Ryan Leflar did. The pair did not hesitate to turn their passion for choreography into a student organization.

�鶹��ý at East Liverpool officially opened its new virtual reality classroom, providing students and staff with technology that will greatly enhance learning experiences across several areas of study.

For the first time, �鶹��ý has been designated as a Voter Friendly Campus for the 2019-20 time period. The Voter Friendly Campus initiative, led by national nonpartisan organizations Campus Vote Project and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, acknowledged Kent State’s goals to break down barriers and empower students with the information and tools they need to participate in the political process.

This year’s match results were released on March 15th, and �鶹��ý’s College of Podiatric Medicine graduating class of 2019 is proud to announce that 100 percent of eligible, seeking students in the class of 2019 received a residency placement.

�鶹��ý’s inaugural director of the new School of Peace and Conflict Studies, Neil Cooper, Ph.D., said as the university builds toward the 50th commemoration of May 4, 1970, and the 50th anniversary of the school, he is looking forward to working with colleagues on the next phase of the school’s history.

�鶹��ý’s Mock Trial Team recently competed in the Regional Mock Trial Association Competition held at the Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse in Columbus. Kent State’s team is made up of students from the Kent Campus, including sophomores, juniors and seniors, who are majoring in a variety of programs such as marketing, paralegal studies, criminology and justice.

When most people think of varsity or club-level sports programs on college campuses, names like Overwatch, Hearthstone, League of Legends and Rocket League are not normally mentioned. But at �鶹��ý, these popular game titles are the new electronic landscape for a varsity sports program that launched in fall 2018 at Kent State.

Several �鶹��ý departments have come together to produce Create Awareness, an art exhibit located on the first floor of the University Library that focuses on using art to depict the personal experiences of Kent State students, faculty and staff with mental illness.

From the Kent State Magazine, “I want to be a voice in the renewable energy community,” says Angela Deibel, reluctant to give up her marketing edge. “I don’t want to just be an engineer—though I love it—but I want to tell [the public] about renewable energy.” 

When business administration major Deneen Penn started her college career at �鶹��ý at Trumbull, she had no plans to become Miss Ohio USA 2018 or to launch her own honey business. By her senior year, however, she had accomplished both. 

David Kaplan, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Geography in the College of Arts and Sciences at �鶹��ý, has been elected president of the American Association of Geographers (AAG), the premier academic and professional geography organization in the United States, for 2019-20. 

Best Buddies is an international nonprofit designed to foster real-life friendships between students and those in nearby communities with intellectual or developmental disabilities and is just one example of the ways that �鶹��ý and the city of Kent are supporting each other. The organization is back at Kent State thanks to Kent State senior Katie Mapus.

A lack of skilled labor is one of the top hiring challenges that businesses in Stark and Wayne counties face, according to the results of a wage and benefits survey conducted by the Corporate University at �鶹��ý at Stark. More than 120 area companies completed the online survey, which was conducted in 2018.

�鶹��ý has always been a place where breaking down barriers and changing the norm are encouraged and alumna Julia Montgomery Walsh serves as proof. Her work in business and finance was featured recently on Bloomberg’s list of women who broke barriers in business over the last 150 years.

�鶹��ý’s Community Engaged Learning Initiative selected the Walls Community Garden for its Outstanding New Service Initiative award. The garden was selected for the award for understanding the needs of the community and making a positive impact on �鶹��ý, Walls Elementary School, where the garden is located, and the city of Kent.

Due to an overwhelming response for free tickets for the �鶹��ý Presidential Speaker Series featuring Bob Woodward on May 4, the university has moved the event to the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MAC Center).

Richard Costes, BA ’06, was born deaf, but grew up in a hearing environment. He told himself he wasn’t deaf. He refused to learn sign language and declined any assistance in the classroom and his grades often suffered as a result. Professors at Kent State helped Mr. Costes embrace his identity.

The Excellence in Management Cup from The College Sports Lab at Texas A&M recognizes athletic departments who maximize fiscal resources that lead to championships. The unique scoring system awards more points to athletic departments that win conference and national championships while efficiently allocating money to win championships.