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Kent State University student entrepreneurs pose with judges of the CEBIpitch competition.

To a panel of seven executives circled like sharks, seven student-run businesses pitched their ideas for a chance to win $30,000 in cash prizes at the CEBIpitch Competition held at Kent State University.

Debra Thomas, pictured with her son, overcame devastation from two hurricanes, and with financial support from Kent State, graduated this past spring with her nursing degree.

Neither Hurricane Irma nor Hurricane Maria could stop a Kent State University nursing student from graduating, even though the Category 5 storms that hit the U.S. Virgin Islands last September forced Debra Thomas to make a difficult decision.

Kent State Stark students open Flash's Professional Closet Donation Station at Belden Village Mall. The students also participated in the proper presentation challenge.

Much like the Kent State University at Stark students who frequent Flash’s Professional Closet on their way from classrooms to first day on the job or internship, the secondhand clothing site in Campus Center is making its mark in a new way.

Dianne Centa, pictured here in 1977, has witnessed many changes at Kent State University since she started working there in 1973. She recently celebrated 45 years at Kent State.

In 1973, American pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn scored a number one hit on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Singles with the song “Tie a Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree.” That same year, Dianne Centa began working at Kent State University.