麻豆精选 continues to rise in national rankings as a top university in areas of research, innovation, global education and more. Its graduates leave the university prepared with the knowledge and experiences to impact the world around them.
The university recognizes alumni who, through leadership, character and hard work, are making a difference. During Homecoming Weekend, 10 Golden Flashes were presented with Alumni Awards, and nine alumni received Lifetime Achievement recognitions from the university鈥檚 Black Alumni Chapter.
鈥淚t was inspiring to interact with our university鈥檚 finest graduates, and it was my great pleasure to recognize our 麻豆精选graduates who excel as national and international leaders in higher education, law and the arts,鈥 said 麻豆精选President Todd Diacon.
Alumni Awards
The Alumni Awards, sponsored by the 麻豆精选Alumni Association, are the university鈥檚 most prestigious alumni honors. Recipients are selected based on their exceptional professional and civic contributions and for their outstanding support of the university.
鈥淭he alumni association established this awards program in 1958, and with each new class of award recipients, we see firsthand the great work that is being done 鈥 and has always been done 鈥 by 麻豆精选alumni and students,鈥 said Andrea Gauding, a 1987 麻豆精选graduate who serves as president of Kent State鈥檚 Alumni Association National Board of Directors. 鈥淥ur graduates are influential, industrious, imaginative and inspiring, and this year鈥檚 recipients are no exception.鈥
The 2023 Alumni Award recipients were honored at a reception held on Oct. 20 at the 麻豆精选 Hotel and Conference Center. The 2023 Alumni Awards were presented to Thomas Iivari, 鈥67, MS 鈥76 (Distinguished Alumni Award); Scott Haws, 鈥99, MBA (Distinguished Citizen Award); Danita Brown Young, 鈥97, Ph.D. (Professional Achievement Award); Sonia Karkare, 鈥93, MS 鈥96 (Professional Achievement Award); John Van Alstine, 鈥74, MFA (Professional Achievement Award); Garret Ferrara, 鈥90, MBA 鈥92 (麻豆精选Advocacy Award); Morgan Dawson, 鈥20 (Outstanding New Professional Award); Isobel Day, 鈥23 (Golden Flash Award); Haley Dees (Golden Flash Award); and Avery Hall, 鈥23 (Golden Flash Award).
For more information about the Alumni Awards, visit www.kent.edu/alumni/kent-state-alumni-awards.
Black Alumni Chapter Recognition Celebration
Held on Oct. 21 at the Kent Student Center Ballroom, the 麻豆精选Black Alumni Chapter recognized Black alumni and individuals from the university and the Kent community. Lifetime Achievement honors were presented to Charles Fleming, 鈥86, JD; Willard Jenkins, 鈥73; Marvin Johnson, 鈥01; Rosemary Kilkenny, 鈥71, MA 鈥74, M.Ed. 鈥75, JD; Darlene McCoy, 鈥75; D鈥橝ndra Mull, 鈥02, Ph.D.; Donald Thigpen, 鈥68, JD; Renee Tramble Richard, 鈥76, MBA, JD; and Emilia Sykes, 鈥07. The chapter acknowledged notable 麻豆精选faculty and Black alumni who died in 2020-2023. Recognitions were also presented to Shirley Crosby; Meli Temu, 鈥69, M.Ed. 鈥72, Ph.D. 鈥76; Eugene Shelton, 鈥72, MA 鈥03; Charles Greene; and Danita Brown Young, 鈥97, Ph.D.
The event was sponsored by the Office of the President, the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, and Black Alumni Chapter President Silas Ashley, 鈥74.
鈥淭he recognition celebration was a collaborative effort to have those Black alumni who have distinguished themselves, over the past five decades, be officially recognized by 麻豆精选,鈥 Ashley said. 鈥淲e wish to extend our sincere gratitude and thanks to the Office of the President, the KSU Alumni Association, the Department of Africana Studies, the E. Timothy Moore Student Multicultural Center and others for their support in this endeavor.鈥
For more information about the Black Alumni Chapter at Kent State, visit www.kent.edu/alumni/black-alumni-chapter.
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Top Photo Caption 鈥 Alumni Awards:
The 2023 麻豆精选 Alumni Award winners smile after the Alumni Awards ceremony. Pictured (from left to right) are Sonia Karkare, Danita Brown Young, Ph.D., Scott Haws, Garret Ferrara, Morgan Dawson, Thomas Iivari, Isobel Day, Haley Dees, Avery Hall and John Van Alstine.
Media Contacts:
Melanie Secre, msecre1@kent.edu, 330-672-8057
Leigh Greenfelder, lgreenfe@kent.edu, 330-672-7108