During the 2023 Spring Commencement Ceremony at Kent State University at Tuscarawas, where over 300 students graduated with bachelor’s and associate degrees, the Community Service Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award were presented to valued community members.
This year, Bob and Trudy Sensel, of Dover and Dover Hydraulics, are the 2023 recipients of the Kent State University at Tuscarawas Community Service Award. This recognition is given to valued members of the community who have generously made our community and Kent State Tuscarawas a better place.
Bob and Trudy have a true passion and vision to make the Tuscarawas County region a dynamic area to live, work and study. They are both graduates of Conotton Valley High School, Bob in 1962 and Trudy in 1964.
After attending Kent State University in Kent for 2 years, Bob started working at the former Warner & Swasey Company (now Gradall) as a systems analyst. In 1968, he began his banking career at The First National Bank of Dover (formerly, Bank One & now Chase). He ended his tenure at Bank One in Dover as a Vice President, accepting the position of Vice President of Commercial Lending for The Central Trust Banking Company in Canton, Ohio
Two years later, Bob rejoined Bank One in Dover, as vice president in charge of business development where he remained until 1982. In 1996 he was appointed to the Board of Directors for First Federal Community Bank in Dover, where he remained on the board until he retired as a Director Emeritus in 2022.
Over the span of their 58 years of marriage, Trudy has worked in several managerial and accounting department positions, ultimately joining Bob at Dover Hydraulics and working beside him to set up the administrative side of their successful business.
The Sensel family began Dover Hydraulics as a small family-owned business in 1982, growing their company to employ one hundred employees and adding Dover Fabrication and Burn in 2012.
Bob and Trudy, their family and the company all work continuously to make a significant impact on the area and invest in many charitable causes. Annually, the couple funds scholarships for Kent State Tuscarawas students and supports the campus Performing Arts Center and Buckeye Career Center.
The Kent State Tuscarawas 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award honoree is Lois Grandison. This honor recognizes the professional and community accomplishments of alumni from Kent State Tuscarawas and is the highest acknowledgement bestowed on a Kent State Tuscarawas graduate.
This year, we recognize Lois, who has excelled in her career and in service to our community.
Locally, she spends many hours working with the Twin City Christian Service Center and serves as its executive director. Other volunteering includes the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer, Rainbow Connection, Claymont Booster Club, Claymont sports programs, Claymont Band Parents and Share-A-Christmas. Lois also helps assemble and distribute Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets and “Back to School” items for the Park Christian Church children.
Professionally, Lois is a register nurse, earning her degree from Kent State Tuscarawas in 1980. She is the CEO of Ember Home Care, Inc., a home health agency and a company of residential homes that serves individuals across four counties. She also currently serves as president of the Claymont City School District Board of Education.
“We are so grateful for the support and dedication of these caring and compassionate individuals,” said Brad Bielski, Kent State University at Tuscarawas dean and chief administrative officer. “Their kind efforts are a tremendous investment in our students, campus and community.”