For Kent State University at Tuscarawas students, the future is here—and our community has the power to shape it. The Tuscarawas County University Foundation proudly announces the launch of the 2025 For the Future Impact Campaign, a bold initiative to expand scholarships, strengthen student success, and ensure access to world-class education close to home.
Leading this year’s campaign are three dedicated community and campus advocates: Doug Ross, Sr.; Doug Ross, Jr.; and Rick Ross.
Doug Ross, Sr., a lifelong Tuscarawas County resident and owner of Romig Agency, Inc in Uhrichsville, has been deeply connected to Kent State Tuscarawas for more than two decades. Doug, along with his wife, Jody, are proud parents of four Golden Eagles—three graduates and one current student—Doug has served n the Tuscarawas County University Foundation board since 2003, including as past president. His passion is simple but profound: to ensure local students have the opportunities they need to succeed.
His son, Doug Jr., knows firsthand the impact of a Kent State Tuscarawas education. A 2017 graduate with a bachelor’s in business administration and a member of the men’s golf team that won the 2016 Ohio State
Championship, Doug Jr. now works as an insurance consultant for Romig Agency, Inc. He is committed to giving back to the campus that shaped his future.
Also a proud alumnus, Rick Ross earned his bachelor’s in business administration from Kent State Tuscarawas before building a successful career in banking. Today, he serves as branch manager for SSB Community Bank, overseeing both Dover and Berlin offices. Rick, along with his wife Chelsea and their two sons, Lincoln and Landon, remains deeply invested in the success of the campus and its students.
Together, the Ross family embodies the spirit of Kent State Tuscarawas—where education transforms lives, families, and communities.
Scholarships: A Lifeline for Students
At the heart of the For the Future campaign is the Founders Fund, which provides vital scholarships and support services. These scholarships do more
than ease financial burdens; they send a powerful message of belief and encouragement.
Senior education major Elizabeth Keller understands this impact deeply.
“When I received a scholarship, it wasn’t just financial support—it was a message: We believe in you,” Elizabeth shared. “That belief gives me the strength to keep working toward my goals.”
Stories like Elizabeth’s are why the campaign matters. Scholarships open doors, fuel ambition, and make higher education possible for students who dream of changing the world.
A Call to the Community
Since its founding in 1968, the Tuscarawas County University Foundation has been committed to advancing excellence at Kent State Tuscarawas—through scholarships, student initiatives, and state-of-the-art facilities.
“We are asking the community to help us support our hardworking students by contributing to the For the Future Founders Fund,” said Chad Conrad, director of philanthropy. “Your gifts directly provide scholarships and services that transform lives right here in Tuscarawas County.”
Campus Dean Brad Bielski added, “Our students are determined, hardworking, and ready to make an impact on the world. By supporting this campaign, you are investing in their future—and in the future of our community.”
Or, as Bielski warmly put it, “The Ross father-and-son team have Kent State Tuscarawas passion through and through. I think they bleed blue and gold.”
How to Give
Gifts to the Tuscarawas County University Foundation in support of Kent State Tuscarawas may be sent to:
Tuscarawas County University Foundation
330 University Dr. NE
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
Gifts may also be made securely online at https://kentstate.evenue.net/events/TUSC-TCUF.
For more information, please contact Chad Conrad, Director of Philanthropy, at 330-308-7445 or cconra1@kent.edu.