An institution of higher education is not only defined by its programs and facilities, but also by its people. From the faculty who stay long after office hours to help students to the alumni who volunteer their time and talents to their alma mater, five, 10 or even 50 years after they turned their tassel at commencement, the impact these individuals make outside the college or university is equally important. There are more than 285,000 Kent State University alumni around the world helping their communities grow brighter every day. Whether through their work or volunteerism, Golden Flashes are making a difference. Here are five alumni whose personal and professional contributions make them – and their communities – shine.
Candace, ’02, and Ben, ’00, Curtis
While many know Ben Curtis, ’00, from his professional golf career, Ben and his wife Candace, ’02, have become equally well known throughout Northeast Ohio for their commitment to serving children and families through the Ben Curtis Family Foundation.
Candace grew up in Kent, and Ben was recruited to Kent State by Head Men’s Golf Coach Herb Page, ’74, M.A. ’76. Growing up, she saw firsthand the university’s impact on the community, and Ben quickly felt the family atmosphere.
“The relationships we built at Kent State have lasted a lifetime. Coach Herb Page and his wife, Paula Treckel, Ph.D., ’73, have remained important people in our lives, and their guidance has extended far beyond our years on campus,” said the couple.
In 2013, inspired by a documentary they saw following a middle-class family of four after both parents lost their jobs, the Curtises learned approximately 43 percent of students in Kent qualified for free or reduced-price lunches. Soon after, the Ben Curtis Family Foundation was established to help alleviate food insecurity. Today, it serves more than 6,100 children across 15 school districts in Summit, Stark and Portage counties through its take-home Birdie Bags and its holiday feeding program, A Very Merry Dinner. The foundation also helps address other basic needs that can impact a child's well-being and success in school.
“A seven-year-old child received a toothbrush through one of our programs. The school nurse taught him how to brush his teeth because he had never owned one before. Moments like that remind us the challenges children face are often invisible to the rest of us,” Candace said.
For the Curtises, one of the greatest gifts is watching volunteers, donors, teachers and community leaders do good every day.
“Seeing both our children now attend Kent State makes that connection even more meaningful. Kent has always felt like home to us. The university and this community have played such an important role in our lives, and supporting children and families here is one way we can give back," they said.
Nathan Edwards, ’12
After taking a leap of faith and leaving his 12-year career in TV news behind, Nathan Edwards, ’12, has taken his talents closer to home. He is now serving as economic development administrator in Harrison Township, near Dayton, Ohio, where his parents grew up.
“My favorite stories were always about economic development and the individuals making a difference in their communities,” he said. “While I enjoyed covering that, I realized I wanted to be part of the story, not just report on it.”
He is now funneling the talents and skills he learned from his time at Kent State student media and anchoring news professionally back into his community.
“Kent State helped me realize that journalism is really a form of public service. The university taught me to ask good questions, listen to different perspectives and look beyond the headlines to understand the bigger picture,” Nathan said.
The catalyst for his career shift was a devastating natural disaster that would impact the Dayton area for years to come. On Memorial Day in May 2019, a violent EF4 tornado ripped through the region, causing massive destruction and disinvestment. Nathan helped co-found DeWeese-Ridgecrest Youth Ambassadors, which has raised nearly $100,000 for park improvements and neighborhood projects since its launch.
“I've seen this region at its best and its most challenging moments. Through it all, I've been inspired by the resilience of the people who live here. As a dad, I think about this work through the lens of my own children. I want them to grow up in a community they are proud to call home,” said Nathan.
Amy Mucha, M.Ed. ’15
For Amy Mucha, M.Ed. ’15, owner and chief pop artist at Daisy Pops in Kent, Ohio, it’s always been about more than dessert. Not long after opening her cake pop business, she began receiving requests from local schools, sports teams and nonprofits looking for fundraising partnerships. This gave her a sweet idea: Cake Pops for a Cause. Through this program, partner organizations come to the pop shop for two to three hours, donating their time to help sell cake pops behind the counter. In return? Their organization receives 20 percent of all sales.
“As Daisy Pops grew, it felt important to use that platform to support causes, schools, organizations and families in meaningful ways,” said Amy. “Small businesses can truly make a local impact when they invest in the people around them.”
While at Kent State, she felt a strong sense of support and community, and she has etched those ideals into the culture and mission of her business by fostering connections with the community and working together to create moments that are joyful, not just transactional.
At Daisy Pops, success is defined not only by its business milestones, but also the lives it has impacted along the way.
“I hope people remember Daisy Pops as a business that brought creativity, joy and generosity together,” said Amy. “I want the impact to extend far beyond cake pops themselves, celebrating life’s moments.”
Marvin L. Logan Jr., ’15, MNA
No stranger to adversity, Marvin L. Logan Jr., ’15, MNA, faced challenges in his younger years that impeded his ability to excel academically, but at 13, he met three men who would change his trajectory: Deryck Toles of Inspiring Minds and Shawn Wilson and Gavin McGuire of what was then Usher’s New Look.
“I have always thought the highest calling one could be led to is service,” said Marvin. “Seeing Black men dedicated to uplifting their community ignited an inextinguishable spark in me to make a difference.”
His time at Kent State helped reinforce his ideals, especially the presence of community. A student in the Department of Pan African Studies, he learned that failing to spread knowledge means that knowledge stops with those who already possess it.
“I want to build systems that provide communities the opportunity to live dignified and prosperous lives while actively engaging in community building,” he said.
As a volunteer and member of several boards, Marvin is dedicated to supporting community youth and improving public space. At the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, he met a local student named Trent and encouraged him to enroll in the club’s Code to Career program, which created the foundation for his tech-forward clothing line. Trent has competed in fashion shows and app competitions across the country and is now working in tech.
Professionally, Marvin is helping families achieve stable homeownership so they can lead more prosperous lives as the director of education and employment at Rocket Community Fund.
“I aim to leave the people and spaces I enter better than I found them and to have fun while doing it. Too often, people make decisions from a desk. I like my feet on the pavement and my hands in the dirt to see how community investment is working in real time,” he said.