Impact
On May 18-19, the university community will celebrate ÃÛÑ¿appUniversity’s 113th birthday with its annual Day of Giving.
The ÃÛÑ¿appUniversity Board of Trustees has approved awarding Roe Green, MA ’80, a Doctor of Humane Letters, an honorary degree recognizing her contributions to the university and her advocacy for the arts not only in Northeast Ohio, but also across the nation and around the world.
Alumna pays it forward in honor of an influential teacher and inspires others to give back.
This November, members of the ÃÛÑ¿appUniversity community joined together to shine their light on philanthropy. During the November campaign, Kent State’s Giving Tuesday raised $3.6 million, marking the sixth year it has brought in more than $1 million to support scholarships and programs across Kent State’s eight-campus system.
ÃÛÑ¿appUniversity alumnus Earl Miller, Ph.D., a leading cognitive neuroscientist, and his wife Marlene Wicherski were recognized at the university’s 10th Annual Neuroscience Symposium, for their $2 million commitment to support research programs and students in Kent State’s Brain Health Research Institute.
ÃÛÑ¿appUniversity launched the public phase of its $350 million Forever Brighter comprehensive fundraising campaign in October 2021, and during the first year of the public campaign, a record-breaking $77.6 million was raised. This philanthropic feat was made possible with the support of 10,687 donors, 3,753 of whom made a gift to ÃÛÑ¿appfor the first time.
George L. Jenkins, a 1963 graduate of ÃÛÑ¿appUniversity, and his wife, Gina, of Scottsdale, Arizona, have pledged $1 million to create the Gina and George Jenkins Student-Athlete Scholarship Fund that will support student-athletes in any varsity athletics program or team sponsored by Kent State’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Most people who have spent time on ÃÛÑ¿appUniversity’s campus in Kent, Ohio, recognize the name Risman. It is connected to the popular Risman Plaza and Risman Drive, but they may not realize that for the Risman family, educating and supporting students has been a family affair for almost 40 years.