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Communications Specialist, Cuyahoga County

As a communications professional for Cuyahoga County, Miranda Kortan is always prepared for the unexpected. A typical day in her role includes proactively developing stories about county projects and initiatives for external audiences, including media and residents. But she’s always ready to rise to the challenge, should a crisis occur.

Digital/Social Producer, Ty Bentli Show

Bryan Webb’s job as a digital producer and social media manager for the Ty Bentli Show begins each day before the sun comes up. He brings the show to listeners via social media and has the opportunity to work and broadcast from events like the CMA Awards in Nashville and the ACM Awards in Las Vegas.

Marketing Consultant, ESPN Cleveland

Corey Scott always had an interest in sports communications and marketing. But he knew he’d have to develop a wide range of skills to get him to where he wanted to be. Read about his journey to working for ESPN Cleveland.

Brittany Neish, '11

Global Social Media Strategist, Fortune Brand's Global Plumbing Group
Major: Communication Studies

JaRel Clay, '11

Associate Senior Director, Digital and Production, Hip Hop Caucus
Major: Communication Studies

Kent State Materials Scientist Again Named Among Most Highly Cited Scholars

It’s starting to look a lot like an annual tradition to see a certain Kent State University professor named on Clarivate Analytics’ list

Kent State Materials Scientist Again Named Among Most Highly Cited Scholars

It’s starting to look a lot like an annual tradition to see a certain Kent State University professor named on Clarivate Analytics’ list

Couple's Scholarship Benefits Students Studying in Two Different Programs

The Tirpaks have many wonderful memories of Kent State, and they wanted to honor those memories in a special way, by endowing a named scholarship. The problem was, they each graduated from different colleges within Kent State, and they wanted to have their award available to students from both. The unique solution they arrived at, with the help of their advancement officer, was for the Joseph E. and Judith B. Tirpak Scholarship support students studying in both the College of Business Administration and the College of Education, Health and Human Services.

Rebecca Herr, '71, and Husband, Eric, Founded and Endowed the Undergraduate Nursing Study Abroad Fun

"Although they can't be an expert at everything, they need to remain curious."

That is Rebecca Herr's advice for students, and her own sense of curiosity became a passion for adventure.

Legacies Change Lives

Second year graduate student Tricia Reed typically works 20 to 30 hours per week while also working on her M.Ed/Ed.S. in school psychology - a hectic schedule that leaves her little time for other activities. But, thanks to the E. Earline Long Endowed Scholarship in School Psychology, this past summer Tricia was able to take courses rather than work full time.

I Give Back Because Others Have Given Forward to Me

Tom Serwatka started his master's program at Kent State during the summer of 1970, a time of great social change. As a result, he says he enjoyed many life-affirming experiences during his time at the university while working toward both his master's and Ph.D. degrees in language disorders and deaf education.

Why I Made a Bequest to Kent State

Charles Harker's decision to create a scholarship to aid future students was easy. He found that he could create a scholarship with its intent now, and fund it through his will.

Bill and Margaret Clark - Creating an Educational Legacy

The Clarks spent many years supporting various programs and renovations at Kent State Geauga, including updates to the library, the main entrance and parking lot, and the complete renovation of the commons area, which was named the William T. and Margaret R. Clark Commons in their honor. An endowed general scholarship was established in Bill and Margaret's names, which has benefitted many students who live in the area.

Martin and Susan Goetz

It was love at first sight for Marty Goetz. The 18-year-old Long Island native and recent high school graduate was simply visiting a friend who attended Kent State when the campus worked its magic on him. To help honor Hoobler, Andra Polasky, director of planned giving, assisted Marty in creating a legacy gift that expressed how much the university played a defining role in his life. Marty and his wife, Susan, have made a bequest to the Atkinson-Hoobler Scholarship Fund that supports student (peer) tutors at the Trumbull Campus.

David and Patricia Grutzmacher Keep the Giving Circle Growing

If you've ever been a "band nerd," you have a lot in common with David and Pat Grutzmacher. When the two met in college, they shared a love of music (he played trumpet and she the oboe) and went on to share their lives as well. Today, David is a vice president at a small manufacturing company, and Pat is planning her "official" retirement from Kent State after 38 years in a variety of roles at both the Stark and Kent campuses: first as a graduate student, then as a professor, coordinator of music education, and a developer of degree programs. She and David are also planning their giving legacy by establishing the Patricia and David Grutzmacher Endowed Scholarship for Music Education with a bequest to the university.

Ed and Peg Hall - All Roads Lead to a Giving Legacy

Inspired by late faculty colleagues Jim Rinier (geology) and Art Herrick (biology) who designated Kent State in their estate plans, Ed and his wife, Peg, have funded a gift annuity, which at maturity will benefit the Map Library in the Kent State University Libraries.

Why I'm Leaving a Legacy: Randall Keller, '08

What's your motivation to give back?

Why I'm Leaving a Legacy: Patricia Grutzmacher, '85

Patricia Grutzmacher, '85, professor emerita of music education, remembers that as a student it was important for her to have time to study, reflect, philosophize and actually learn. Now, it's important to Patricia to give back to help future students have those same opportunities.

Why I'm Leaving A Legacy: Marilyn Seifert Flower, B.S. '61, M.E '86

Marilyn Flower and her late husband, Don, were passionate supporters of the men's basketball and wrestling programs at Kent State, and Marilyn loves Porthouse Theater as well.

Why We're Leaving a Legacy: Andy, '73 and Micheal, '72 Sonderman

Andy and Micheal Sonderman have fond memories of their time as students at both the Trumbull and Kent campuses. That's why they decided to make a planned gift that will benefit both.

A Heart for First-Generation Students

Rick and Janis Krumel remember well what it was like to be the first in their families to attend college. The Krumels funded the DeLong-Krumel Family Endowed Scholarship over a five-year period. They're turning their scholarship into four individual Founders Scholarships by adding funds to it through their estate plan's retirement accounts.

Her Gifts Keep the Music Coming at KSU

Lovers of classical music and all other things NPR will find a friend in Sandie Kramer. The retired social studies teacher and long-time volunteer at WKSU turned her passion for the station's programming and outreach programs into two legacy gifts that will touch many other lives in the future.

His Charitable Trust Gifts the MPA Program

"It's important to me to give back because I had such a good experience at Kent State," says Jim. "I have a revocable living trust currently that will convert to a charitable trust after I pass. Every year it will spin off a certain amount of money for the university." Jim's gift will support the Master's of Public Administration Program by establishing and staffing a Service Learning Center. Jim explains that both MPA students and faculty will benefit from the program.

Legacies Change Lives: Gus Markanton

Even though he passed away in 2011, Brittany Caldwell, a sophomore at the East Liverpool campus, feels like she knows Gus Markanton well. "I know he owned Gus's Party Center and was full of encouraging words to people who wanted to continue their education," she says. "I really wish I could have met him -- and tried one of his sandwiches!"

A Fast Friendship Takes Flight

Lellan "Mac" McFarland has had a love affair with airplanes and aviation for most of his life. He joined the Air Force right after high school in 1955, and served as a crew chief on F-86 Sabre jets for four years, before joining Warner Swazey as a machinist. Over many subsequent years, Mac went on to college and earned a B.S. in aeronautical engineering, an M.S. in mechanical engineering and eventually, an M.B.A from Kent State in 1980.

A Fast Friendship Takes Flight

Legacies Change Lives

Sarah Mull loves animals. She's a zoology major, and her dream has always been to become a veterinarian. Thanks to the Dr. Harold R. Papiska Scholarship in Biological Science, she's one step closer to making that dream a reality.

Nancy Baird is "All In" at WKSU

Nancy Baird is probably one of the most enthusiastic supporters and believers in public radio you'll ever meet. She has been a member of WKSU since April 1997 when she moved to Ohio from Pennsylvania, has served as chair of the station's Community Advisory Council for several years, and has even hosted events for the station in her home. According to Nancy, it was only natural for her to make a planned gift to WKSU that will be used to fill the station's greatest needs.

A Quiet Life, Accentuated by a Passion for Education

Phil and Mary Lou Herbert were like many couples who grew up in Ashtabula after World War II. They met in high school, got married after Phil served in the Korean War, bought a house and went to work to build their dream - Phil as a chemist at General Tire (GenCorp) and Mary Lou an office manager for the Illuminating Company.
According to their friend and estate planner of more than 30 years, Stuart Cordell, they lived a quiet life, and were extremely devoted to each other. "Neither of them had a college degree," he says, "But they both believed that education was vitally important, and wanted to help students in Ashtabula County."

Small Steps Add Up to Big Impact

A faculty member at Kent State since 1995, David Kessler has had an insider's perspective on the unique needs of the university for many years. His wife, Audrey, also has been an active member of the community and an admirer of the music program at Kent State. The variety of passions they've pursued at the university led them to create four endowed planned gifts: a professorship and a speaker series in the new School of Peace and Conflict Studies, a professorship in forensics and a scholarship for oboe students.

Robin Selinger Elected to APS Board of Directors

On Nov.

Free Application Week!

We have extended the deadline for graduate applications until the end of January!  We will continue to consider all graduate applica

History! Kent State Wins First Bowl Game 51-41

Kent State made history in Texas with a 51-41 win over Utah State in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl.

Alumna Named Small Business Champion of Ohio

Claudia Kovach, ’03, M.A. ’09, has been part of her family business, City Machine Technologies, Inc since 2006. Her time and dedication to the company has proven successful, as Claudia was recently named the National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Champion of Ohio.

Golden Flashes Leave Lasting Memory with Frisco's Children

Hours before they will do battle on the gridiron, Kent State’s football players and other students paused to spend time with kids from Texas facing tough battles of their own.

Bigger Than Football. Kent State Players Take Time to Help Provide Meals to Needy Children

At the same time that Kent State is competing in a bowl game, as many as 1,000 kids in Texas will be eating a meal that the Golden Flashes helped provide.