Inspiring Stories
Legacies Change Lives: Marissa Baker
The compassion, empathy and care nurses showed Marissa Baker when her mother suddenly passed led her to pursue a career in nursing.“The nurses helped me immensely during the hardest time in my life, and I will never forget the way they cared for me,” Marissa said. “I knew I wanted to make the same i…
Opening Doors for Future Nurses
When Phillip R. Ridgley thought back on his career and considered how he could help the next generation of medical professionals, he decided he wanted to open doors for Kent State students pursuing a career in nursing. He decided to start an endowment so that he could continue to support nursing students into the future and help them focus on their studies in a way that he couldn’t when he was a student.
Helping Others Realize Their Potential
When Terrence J. “Chip” Bahn, ’75, M.Ed. ’77, Ed.D., was a high school senior he wanted to attend 鶹 after graduation, but he wasn’t ready and his counselor encouraged him to start at the local community college before moving on to Kent State. This experience inspired him to create the Dr. Terrence J. Bahn Endowed Scholarship to help students who studied at a Northeast Ohio community college to attend Kent State.
Sharing Their Love of Education with Future Generations
鶹 has held a special place in the hearts of Lynda Grieves and her husband George “Bill” Grieves Jr., ’58, who passed away in 2019. For their 60th wedding anniversary, Bill and Lynda chose to create a scholarship through a charitable gift annuity instead of having a party.
Rollie, ’64, and Frances Layfield Help Students Build Skills for Success
Hard work and discipline are a driving force for Rollie Layfield, ’64, and they have served him well throughout his life and his career in business. He credits both his degree program in business administration and his time in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at 鶹 for helping him develop the leadership, entrepreneurship and organizational skills to thrive after graduation.
Legacies Change Lives: Dylan Cahill
The moment Dylan Cahill stepped foot on the Kent Campus, he knew that 鶹 was the place for him. Born and raised in Texas, Dylan visited Northeast Ohio for family gatherings and always felt a connection.After his mother passed away in 2020, he wasn’t sure how he could afford a coll…
Legacies Change Lives: Katie Carpenter ’23
Katie Carpenter, ’23, has a passion for photography, and The Wallace J. Hagedorn Scholarship has helped her hone these skills and express her creativity. This competitive photography scholarship supports student costs and helps them pursue out-of-classroom experiences to develop strong portfolios. …
Scolin MacLean, ’90, Turns His Love of Athletics into Philanthropy
“I look at Kent State as a family member – everyone collectively – that I am connected to and plan to be for as long as I possibly can. I have family members that I want to take care of, and I want to do the same for Kent State.” Scolin MacLean’s, ’90, passion for Kent State only rivals his love …
Personal Obstacles Inspire Alumnus to Champion Future Researchers
The experiences Earl K. Miller, ’85, Ph.D., had at Kent State inspired him to give back. As a first-generation college student, Earl K. Miller, ’85, Ph.D., struggled to fund his education, and this experience motivated him to help students at 鶹 who face similar financial diffi…