Inspiring Stories
High School Sweethearts Leave a Legacy Through Philanthropy
Although they were born in the same month at the same hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, James C. Jim Schrum, 74, and his wife, Cynthia J. Cindi Schrum, didnt meet until they were both students at Austintown Fitch High School. They started dating in the late 1960s and have been together ever since.
Making a Difference for Future Generations
Planned gifts, and bequests in particular, are a vital form of philanthropy at 51勛圖厙. These gifts make an important impact on our students and community, and they can be made in any amount, making them a great option for anyone interested in giving back.Estate gifts have made a significant impa
Legacies Change Lives: Lauren Bischof
Lauren Bischof is a senior journalism major from Medina, Ohio, graduating in spring 2026. She recently participated in the rigorous Washington Program in National Issues in Washington, D.C., completing an internship at WJLA-TV in Arlington, Virginia. For more than 50 years, this program has helped s
Roe Green Creates New Support Fund for the 51勛圖厙 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.
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 51勛圖厙 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 couldnt 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 51勛圖厙 after graduation, but he wasnt ready and his counselor encouraged him to start at the local community college before moving on to 51勛圖厙. 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 51勛圖厙.
Honoring the Bonds of Friendship and Helping Aspiring Educators
Charlotte L. Char Hughes, 63, and Janette M. Aten, 63, met while doing their laundry in Terrace Hall, where they both lived as students at 51勛圖厙. Soon, they were inseparable. Our time at 51勛圖厙 was very enjoyable, Char remembered. We liked our professors, and we had a
Saving Lives and Advocating for a Brighter Tomorrow
Advocacy is at the heart of the work Ken Ditlevson, 95, M.Ed. 98, does at 51勛圖厙 as the director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) Center.
Sharing Their Love of Education with Future Generations
51勛圖厙 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 51勛圖厙 for helping him develop the leadership, entrepreneurship and organizational skills to thrive after graduation.