Legacy
Betting on the Next Generation of Kent State Students
When Jason Zygadlo, ’02, sat down with his family to make a will, he knew he wanted to include a planned gift to support Kent State University students as part of his estate plan. “When I was a student, I was always worried about money,” Jason said. “If I can help offset those costs for a…
Alumni and Giving
Legacies Change Lives: Emma Troyer
Emma Troyer is a senior music education major from Sandusky, Ohio. As a student in the Kent State Glauser School of Music, she has found a strong sense of community while preparing for a career in music education.“Kent State was always my top school, but I didn’t know if I could afford to come here,…
Alumni and Giving
What the 2026 Tax Law Changes Mean for Planned Giving
As you consider your long-term philanthropic goals, changes in federal tax law beginning in 2026 may influence how you structure your charitable giving. If you’re thinking of including Kent State in your estate or financial plans, understanding these updates can help you maximize both your impact an…
Alumni and Giving
Strengthening the Bonds Between Kent State and the Community Through Scholarships
Community is important to Timothy “Tim” Crock, and as a lifelong resident of Kent, Ohio, he wants to help Kent area students advance their education right here at home, empowering them to achieve and build their careers in their own community.“You develop ties to the place you go to college,” Tim ex…
Alumni and Giving
Couple Channels Their Love of Science and Technology Into Their Legacy
Ronald R. “Ron,” ’88, and Mary L. Rivett, ’72, MS ’84, had a mutual love of science and computers. Although they were both from the same town in Northeast Ohio and attended the same high school, they didn’t get to know each other until a chance encounter in 1971 when she was student teaching. When R…
Alumni and Giving
High School Sweethearts Leave a Legacy Through Philanthropy
Although they were born in the same month at the same hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, James C. “Jim” Schrum, ’74, and his wife, Cynthia J. “Cindi” Schrum, didn’t meet until they were both students at Austintown Fitch High School. They started dating in the late 1960s and have been together ever since.…
Alumni and Giving
Making a Difference for Future Generations
Planned gifts, and bequests in particular, are a vital form of philanthropy at Kent State. These gifts make an important impact on our students and community, and they can be made in any amount, making them a great option for anyone interested in giving back.Estate gifts have made a significant impa…
Alumni and Giving
Legacies Change Lives: Lauren Bischof
Lauren Bischof is a senior journalism major from Medina, Ohio, graduating in spring 2026. She recently participated in the rigorous Washington Program in National Issues in Washington, D.C., completing an internship at WJLA-TV in Arlington, Virginia. For more than 50 years, this program has helped s…
Alumni and Giving
Legacies Change Lives: Marissa Baker
The compassion, empathy and care nurses showed Marissa Baker when her mother suddenly passed led her to pursue a career in nursing.“The nurses helped me immensely during the hardest time in my life, and I will never forget the way they cared for me,” Marissa said. “I knew I wanted to make the same i…
Alumni and Giving
Opening Doors for Future Nurses
When Phillip R. Ridgley thought back on his career and considered how he could help the next generation of medical professionals, he decided he wanted to open doors for Kent State students pursuing a career in nursing. He decided to start an endowment so that he could continue to support nursing students into the future and help them focus on their studies in a way that he couldn’t when he was a student.
Alumni and Giving
