Student Success

 A first-generation student who began his education journey at the Twinsburg Academic Center now has his sites set on medical school.

Since she was a child, Caitlyn Skilton, a recent graduate of the zoology program at Kent State University, has harbored a passion for ecology, with a deep love for birds of all kinds. She chose to extend this love in her undergraduate work at Kent State. On December 1, Skilton, who also minored in photojournalism, hosted a reception for her “Flight of the Chimney Swift” immersive multimedia exhibit in the Design Innovation (DI) Hub’s Blank_Lab. 

While most 18-year-olds are finishing up their high school requirements for graduation and making plans to attend college or applying for jobs, a few exceptional students like Benjamin Mudrak are simply way ahead of their peers in their academic pursuits.

In March 2015, Nick Pizzi hit rock bottom. After receiving his third DUI, he decided to stop drinking. But unfortunately, it was too late. Four months later, before his daughter’s eighth birthday, Pizzi was sentenced to one year in the Ashtabula County jail, where his life would change forever for the positive. On May 14, 2021, he will pick up his bachelor's degree diploma during the 72nd Commencement Ceremony at Kent State University at Ashtabula.

Behind the scenes last spring, American Academy faculty and staff worked swiftly and efficiently to convert the program to remote learning.  

The jersey Kent State’s Kalin Bennett wore in his first game is now on display at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

Kent State University student-athletes conquered the unprecedented challenge of completing the final months of the spring term via remote classes by posting the highest term grade point average (3.563) in athletics department history. All 17 programs posted a term GPA of 3.1 or better with 14 setting a new term record.