Alumni Success
![2022 Giving Tuesday results graphic](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/2022%20Giving%20Tuesday%20results%20graphic_0.png?VersionId=DokNtuQRbYJrRZSGVc94tN3GUQKnWM3P&itok=39G4j3y2)
This November, members of the Kent State University community joined together to shine their light on philanthropy. During the November campaign, Kent State’s Giving Tuesday raised $3.6 million, marking the sixth year it has brought in more than $1 million to support scholarships and programs across Kent State’s eight-campus system.
![Stephanie Johnson Gestures at Airport Advertisement Featuring Her Daughter Alex Johnson (left) and Laura Wilson](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Pilots-Mom2_2.jpg?VersionId=rwJxdlNkzsbjBRomvzwEpWHwgTik9rRd&h=e6f36a9c&itok=pzUcpYf6)
Delta Captain Stephanie Johnson is all smiles seeing her daughter, Alex Johnson, and Laura Wilson featured in a Kent State advertisement at Cleveland Hopkins Airport.
![First-generation alumni are part of this week's "I Am First' celebration. First-generation alumni are part of this week's "I Am First' celebration.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Kent_State_Today_FirstGen%20al_0.jpg?VersionId=bzYc7ADtseE7j4nJRr.bC31Ab6j8_VSG&h=e6f36a9c&itok=poLOeOnt)
Kent State University is celebrating its first-generation students this week with a series of events and programs to spotlight and encourage current students who will be the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Kent State University alumnus Earl Miller, Ph.D., a leading cognitive neuroscientist, and his wife Marlene Wicherski were recognized at the university’s 10th Annual Neuroscience Symposium, for their $2 million commitment to support research programs and students in Kent State’s Brain Health Research Institute.
![](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/file/kent_state_media_placeholder_0.jpg)
The Distinguished Teaching Award, sponsored by the Kent State Alumni Association, is presented to three faculty members who demonstrate extraordinary teaching in the classroom and a commitment to impacting the lives of students.
![Morgan Dawson launched Dawson Workwear construction pants in July 2022.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Dawsonwear2_0.jpeg?VersionId=ZQCDR2rqsjo3MYbZha_3oErqIZxJvOiq&h=8779381a&itok=T9BA2URs)
Alumna Morgan Dawson created Dawson Workwear, a line of pants specifically for women in construction, to provide comfort and an appropriate fit for the female body.
![Kent State University's 2022 Alumni Award Recipients](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/2022%20Alumni%20Award%20Recipients_0.jpg?VersionId=REFd0uM_FFomxjASeTozh1ECsfLYAyVy&h=e6f36a9c&itok=PhTvEHiW)
Sponsored by the Kent State University Alumni Association, the Alumni Awards are the university’s highest alumni honors. Recipients are selected based on their exceptional professional and civic contributions and for their outstanding support of the university. The 2022 Alumni Award recipients include six alumni and one student.
![Kent State University students celebrate their graduation at May 2022 Commencement as blue and gold confetti falls on them.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Kent%20State%20Commencement_0.jpg?VersionId=lUwvEdywn5hNEhtwIakq7IdGOc9.uZG_&h=c0eb9b69&itok=J2B_w4L6)
Kent State University launched the public phase of its $350 million Forever Brighter comprehensive fundraising campaign in October 2021, and during the first year of the public campaign, a record-breaking $77.6 million was raised. This philanthropic feat was made possible with the support of 10,687 donors, 3,753 of whom made a gift to Kent State for the first time.
![New Kent State University graduates from the Summer Class of 2022 celebrate together](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/BOB_0425%20copy_0.jpg?VersionId=re_gzjP5vTWXDMfDwJs8VPiLylHUnuMS&h=fb5fb322&itok=-oL0Zaax)
The Kent State University alumni family will grow by more than 1,200 new graduates as the university holds its summer commencement ceremonies. The accomplishments of the Summer Class of 2022 will be recognized with in-person, outdoor commencement ceremonies and a virtual commencement ceremony on Aug. 20.
![Kent State University’s Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement won 19 marketing and communications awards since the launch of the Forever Brighter comprehensive campaign.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Awards%20received%20by%20Kent%20State%27s%20Division%20of%20Philanthropy%20and%20Alumni%20Engagement_0.jpg?VersionId=CUC_EsFI8hv9SkZHNCsurjAbt5Ra2Ppn&h=06bc61b4&itok=KT7ie6-o)
Kent State’s Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement launched the university’s most ambitious fundraising campaign, called Forever Brighter, last October, creating communications and fundraising materials that share the remarkable impact of alumni engagement and donor philanthropy on the university. The division has earned 19 marketing and communications awards from multiple competitions.