Success Stories

Fifty Kent State University students from the College of Communication and Information participated in education abroad programs in Europe this spring, visiting Northern Ireland, Ireland and England in May.

Sarah Hider, a Kent State University graduate student, is the new Miss Ohio. The 24-year-old won the title this past weekend and will go on to compete for the Miss America title. Hider is the second Kent State student in the past two years to be crowned Miss Ohio. Heather Wells won the competition in 2013.

Kent State University student-athlete Jordan Italiano of Canfield, Ohio, was tabbed “Smartest Player in College Football” in NFL.com’s 15 for ’15 series released on June 16. The pre-medicine/biochemistry major and safety on the Kent State football team carries a 3.978 heading into his senior year.

Kent State University’s Jordan Italiano is getting national attention for his performance both on the field and in the classroom. NFL.com has named Italiano to its 15 for ’15 series.

What is the best way to truly understand the inner workings of the U.S. Congress? Not through watching the news or reading a textbook. Washington, D.C., insiders will tell you that you need to actually be on “the inside” and get firsthand experience, with access to closed-door meetings. 

Destination Kent State is back! The June and July advising and registration program is a one-and-a-half-day experience that includes an overnight stay in a residence hall. New, first-year students are encouraged to invite family members to participate in the program.

Scholar of the Month Denice Sheehan Associate Professor of Nursing College of Nursing 2007-present

The Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Kent State University held its Annual Fashion Show on April 24 and 25 at the school’s Rockwell Hall location. The 2015 show, dubbed “FS2: Visionnaire,” featured 17 collections and 55 individual looks created by 58 student designers. That sizable body of work spanned eveningwear, casualwear and sportswear, with a special category for sustainable production. There also were menswear, childrenswear and juniors collections.

In an office nestled inside Kent State University’s Nixson Hall, you can hear the voice of a third grade student coming from a computer screen. “Beach ball,” says the voice from Greenfield Exempted Village Schools in Greenfield, Ohio. Soon after, in the screen directly below, Kent State graduate student Lauren Ledzianowski responds with, “Yes, beach ball! Very good.”  

What does it take to become great in your field? Certainly motivation, dedication and creativity are important, but what about inspiration? For young scientists, that inspiration can come from a variety of places, including interactions with colleagues and especially the top scientists in their field.