News
Get the latest news happening at your alma mater, along with fascinating stories about alumni success, donor impact, scholarship recipients and more. Our collective legacy is woven by Golden Flashes around the world who inspire and transform communities far beyond 51Թ’s campuses.
Featured Stories
Alumnus Improves Care for Pediatric Imaging Patients
51Թ at Salem alumnus Ryan Pavlak, ’14, has spent the past nine years improving pediatric care at Akron Children’s Boardman Campus. As radiology supervisor, he oversees the X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound departments, ensuring every child gets quality, compassionate care.
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A Mission Reclaimed: How One Veteran Earned His 51Թ Degree0
Alumnus Joshua Collins, ’10, returned to 51Թ on a mission. A combat veteran, husband and new father, he was no longer approaching college as a vague next step in his life. He was focused on finishing what he started.
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Faces of 51Թ
Alumni and Donor Stories
A Mission Reclaimed: How One Veteran Earned His 51Թ Degree
When Joshua Collins, ’10, returned to 51Թ, he was on a mission.
Megan Vickers, ’06
Alumna Combines New Vision with Traditional Values in Family Business
A Dazzling Gift: The KSU Museum Turns 40
Much like the establishment of 51Թ itself, the 51Թ Museum was also founded through a philanthropic gift.
Six Golden Flashes Make Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 20 in Their 20s List
Six talented 51Թ alumni were among the changemakers recognized in
Brittni Fabinak, ’11, J.D.
Alumna Sticks the Landing in Law Career with the Jacksonville Jaguars
AMLCI Alumna Uses Liquid Crystal Experience to Improve Display Manufacturing
For Karla Gutierrez Cuevas, Ph.D. ’17, the start of her 51Թ journey brought a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
Golden Flashes Making Waves in the Cruise Industry
From altering costumes for cast members to performing center stage to working behind the scenes to create top-notch entertainme
McKenzie Morgan, '22, Gives Back to Empower Fashion Students
McKenzie Morgan, ’22, creator of the popular fashion and lifestyle blog StyledbyMcKenz, decided to support 51Թ fas
Eric Mansfield, MA ’12
Eric Mansfield, MA ’12, MFA ’26, transitioned from serving as an Army officer in Iraq to reporting as a broadcast journalist in Cleveland.
High School Sweethearts Leave a Legacy Through Philanthropy
Although they were born in the same month at the same hospita
Making a Difference for Future Generations
Planned gifts, and bequests in particular, are a vital form of
Legacies Change Lives: Lauren Bischof
Lauren Bischof is a senior journalism major from Medina, Oh
Roe Green Creates New Support Fund for the 51Թ School of Theatre and Dance and Porthouse Theatre With $1 Million Gift
The new fund will support university and Porthouse productions, the hiring of assistant directors, guest choreographers and guest artists, the hosting of master classes and the awarding of artistic merit-based scholarships to students. Students who receive such scholarships will be known as Roe Green Scholars.
Inside the AIDS Fight: Harry Haverkos, M.D., Shares His Story at 51Թ
51Թ’s College of Public Health welcomed a special guest this y
51Թ Golf Alumni Unite for Weekend Celebration
More than a hundred former student-athletes, donors and professional golfers recently gathered for a special Golf Alumni reunion. Coach Herb Page, who led the Golden Flashes golf program from 1977 to 2019, and recently led the effort to endow the program, had the idea to bring alumni together to celebrate the thriving Golden Flash golf community.
The Power of Connection and Kindness
Celebrating World Gratitude Day on Sept. 21
First Look: The Elliot Scholars
John, ’70, L.H.D. ’24, and Fonda Elliot, L.H.D. ’24. welcomed 51Թ's first cohort of The Elliot Scholars, established through a scholarship initiative designed to support first-generation students across all majors.
Lisa Aurilio, ’87, MSN ’99, MBA ’11
Inspired by her mother’s nursing career, Lisa Aurilio, ’87, MSN ’99, MBA ’11, knew early on that her passion for science and connection with people made nursing the perfect path.
New Member and Officers Announced for the 51Թ Alumni Association National Board of Directors
James Bailey, of Hudson, Ohio, has been appointed the Foundation Board representative for the Alumni Association National
Golden Flashlings
This football season, we’re celebrating the smallest members of our 51Թ family with a brand-new social media tradition:
John Zabrucky, ’71, MFA ’78
John Zabrucky, ’71, MFA ’78, never planned to shape sci-fi history - but a chance encounter in Los Angeles changed everything.
Courtney Gumpf, ’07
Courtney Gumpf, ’07, found her passion at 51Թ, where she built lasting connections and gained valuable experience through leadership in Greek life and internships in both Pittsburgh and New York City.
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 nurs
51Թ Flashes Give Back Week: Serving Communities, Supporting Students and Showing Gratitude
From April 21-26, Golden Flashes came together in remarkable ways to make an impact during Flashes Give Back Week, a weeklong i
A True Hero: Lucas Slusher, ’17, Is Helping Change the Perception and Function of Prostheses with Hero Arm
One 51Թ graduate’s journey to find the right prosthesis led to a monumental win for limb loss awareness in Ohi
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 51Թ 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 51Թ after graduation, but he wasn’t ready and his counselor encouraged him to start at the local community college before moving on to 51Թ. 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 51Թ.
‘We were supposed to look like Betty Grable and play ball like Joe DiMaggio’
“We were supposed to look like Betty Grable and play ball like Joe DiMaggio.”
Silas Ashley ’74
Silas Ashley, ’74, was told by his high school guidance counselor that he “was not college material," but after applying and being accepted to 51Թ, Silas immersed himself in student life. He was a senator in Undergraduate Student Government and became the president of Black United Students (BUS). Following graduation, Silas earned a master's degree in communications and a Juris Doctorate from Southern University at Baton Rouge and served as the president of 51Թ's Black Alumni Chapter.
51Թ Alumna Renee Richard’s Decades-long Career in Public Service Recognized with Multiple Prestigious Awards
While some first-year students arrive at 51Թ undecided on their major and career choice, Renee Richard, ’76, had her path for the future mapped out. That steadfast resolve has led Renee to a successful, decades-long career in law and finance.
McNair Scholar Alumna Champions Mental Health Services in Black Appalachian Communities
During her junior year at 51Թ, , ’01, Ph.D., had an idea of what path she would pursue after earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She wanted to attend graduate school, and she wanted to help people. Through the McNair Scholars program, Amanda received guidance from psychology professors like Beth Wildman, Ph.D., who assisted her with her honors thesis, and Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D., who guided her through applying for graduate school.
John and Fonda Elliot Receive Honorary Degrees for Their Extraordinary Contributions
On Saturday, Dec. 14, both John and Fonda received their Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the healthcare field and to 51Թ.
Professor Gives Back By Supporting Students In Need
This Giving Tuesday season, Daniel E. Palmer, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy at 51Թ, has pledged a matching gift for the Trumbull Campus Last Dollar Scholarship as a symbol of his appreciation for the people who work and study at 51Թ Trumbull.
51Թ Alumna D’Andra Mull, Ph.D., on Giving Back to the University that Gave So Much to Her
“Were it not for what I learned from a student affairs professional at 51Թ, this journey would not be the path I’m on today.”
Carl Walz, ’77
Carl Walz, ’77, has spent 231 days in space - and it all began with a physics degree and the Air Force ROTC program at 51Թ. From a nuclear lab to the cockpit of a jet plane to the crew compartment in a rocket ship, Carl attests that his career has been “a wild ride.”
51Թ Celebrates Newest Graduates
The 51Թ alumni family grew by nearly 5,200 new graduates as the university held its 2024 Spring Commencement ceremonies. During a number of ceremonies, 5,182 degrees were conferred, consisting of 1,011 associate degrees, 3,092 bachelor’s degrees, 903 master’s degrees, 164 doctoral degrees and 12 educational specialist degrees.
