I Promise Students Find Treasure at Kent State Museum

An I Promise student follows his treasure map at the �鶹��ý Museum

I Promise Students Find Treasure at Kent State Museum

LeBron James Family Foundation I Promise students toured Kent State’s Crawford Hall and museum to learn about the university’s distinctive programs

�鶹��ý recently welcomed 26 high school students from the LeBron James Family Foundation I Promise network in Akron, Ohio, for a day of activities including a treasure hunt at the �鶹��ý Museum.

I Promise students took part in a treasure hunt at the �鶹��ý Museum.

Museum Director Sarah Spinner Liska, J.D., Ph.D., told Kent State Today the Feb. 14 visit fulfilled her goal of using the museum as a “center and platform for creativity and inspiration.”

Museum Director Sarah Spinner Liska engages with students during their visit. — Museum Director Sarah Spinner Liska engages with students during their visit, which included lunch, a treasure hunt and crafting.

The students, from grades nine to 12, and their two chaperones enjoyed a Valentine’s Day lunch at the museum and then participated in a treasure hunt led by Curator Sara Hume.

I Promise students engage in crafts at the �鶹��ý Museum — I Promise students decorated hats and tote bags as part of their visit to the �鶹��ý Museum.

Fourth-year fashion design major Kaitlyn Graham and Spinner Liska then led the students in Valentine’s Day-themed fashion activities: embroidering and decorating caps and tote bags. To inspire their creativity, Spinner Liska showed them hats from the museum’s collection.

Vintage hats that are part of the �鶹��ý Museum's Collection. — Vintage hats from the museum’s permanent collection.

Sherylynn L. Chapman-Thomas, director of pre-college programs and initiatives in the Office of University Outreach and Engagement, said her office builds visits and experiences for I Promise students as part of its partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation, which operates the school.

“These experiences center on access, exposure and opportunities for post-secondary education and beyond,” Chapman-Thomas said. “We collaborate with our campus partners like the Kent State Museum and the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship to create engagement and build connections with the scholars.”

Students also toured Kent State’s new Crawford Hall, home to Ambassador Crawford College.

I Promise Students tour Crawford Hall. — I Promise students learn about the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship during their recent visit.

Jimmal Ball, an academic advisor for Crawford College, led the tour, which began with a presentation about marketing and entrepreneurship.

“The students were very excited and eager to ask questions and participate in the presentation,” he said. “They were extremely respectful and curious as we did our building tour. At the end of the tour, students asked questions and got more information about other programs in the college.”

At the end of the day, Spinner Liska asked the students to share messages with their thoughts on the visit.

An I Promise student left this message at Kent State.

POSTED: Thursday, March 6, 2025 01:47 PM

Updated: Thursday, March 6, 2025 04:50 PM

WRITTEN BY:

Lisa Abraham

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