Alumni Success
![A new Kent State University graduate smiles during his commencement ceremony.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Kent%20State%20graduate%20during%20Commencement_0.jpg?VersionId=UY8JnbPSrSLr_4HV_2nugNlhERTw7FWl&h=cbcf42ef&itok=Qjif0iWN)
Kent State University publicly launched a $350 million comprehensive fundraising campaign Saturday, Oct. 2. During a special halftime announcement at the Homecoming football game, campaign co-chairs Sandra C. and Lawrence R. Armstrong joined Kent State President Todd Diacon to publicly unveil Forever Brighter to thousands of alumni, donors and friends.
![Members of the Class of 2020 lead the way down Main Street, serving as the 2021 Homecoming Parade Grand Marshals.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/HMPG-parade_29.jpg?VersionId=9vb6K0wJrQCeLYb9DHrsaIPzPrEXWOaH&h=340b1bdd&itok=AMb2lAwQ)
It’s reunion time for the Kent State University Golden Flashes family. Kent State celebrated Homecoming 2021 with a week of activities and events leading up to the Oct. 2 Homecoming Parade and Homecoming football game.
![2021 Alumni Awards graphic 2021 Alumni Awards graphic](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/09.23.21%202021%20Alumni%20Awards%20graphic_0.jpg?VersionId=hsaj9tMHE0P6R6C31VhBuMmnTKSqPTud&h=25035e46&itok=EOEctPig)
Each year, hundreds of nominations are submitted to Kent State University, showcasing some of the best and brightest alumni and students who excel in their fields and communities. This year, seven alumni and one student will be honored as 2021 Alumni Awards recipients.
![Campus Flowers](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/page/B0B_1008-Medium.jpg?VersionId=eZS1SVSxhEbjUf6VGhYcs5J5vt401Icd&h=10d202d3&itok=llCCbeKY)
The National Collegiate Honors Council has announced Kent State University Honors College graduate Sarah Hagglund as a 2021 Portz Scholar. Hagglund is the 10th honors student from Kent State to be named a Portz Scholar since the national competition began in 1990.
![Jermaine Jackson, Jr.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/JermaineJackson.jpg?VersionId=vVIBK9nHWTzmGEeZhVGq2TRC2polKd8z&h=e6f36a9c&itok=Yfv3A1yK)
Influenced by artists like René Magritte and Piet Mondrian, Kent State University alumnus Jermaine Jackson Jr. believes the best way to get the point across in a photo is by keeping it simple.
![Kent State University's Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, home of the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/22Vargo_Aug21PressRelease_Header_0.jpg?VersionId=84s..Vq9pLgXKdOeB4DBe4c3pc_2QE3c&h=96cb6d4a&itok=tYKSaUn5)
Kent State University President Todd Diacon today announced the appointment of Valoree Vargo to the position of vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement, effective Aug. 1, 2021.
![Alumna helps students take flight](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/file/22OGE005_Homepage_DELTA_370x250_0.jpg?VersionId=dAtp_2NmZkD0VqRtJ0iUvz_0aSWA8CP.&h=c6eb0cd4&itok=lq4y1zmu)
The first cohort of KSU students returned to Florence, Italy, this June with the help of an alumna.
![Kelsi Headshot](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/file/21ALR213_KelsiM_1500x600_0.jpg?VersionId=4nSvrLlV38.kiDBVEG6s3TuggxJ65HVU&h=e6f36a9c&itok=-nRHlF1V)
Kelsi McCafferty, ’16, was laid off from her full-time job at FOUNT Leather Goods in December 2020 because of the pandemic, but that didn’t stop her from doing what she loved.
![Jeannette Reyes](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/JeannetteReyes.jpg?VersionId=ZyDuyOiVTM0W0YJmOpblcH0.iSn3sphH&h=e6f36a9c&itok=KACvQCkr)
Kent State alumna Jeannette Reyes, ’12, uses TikTok for fun outside of her television anchor responsibilities at FOX 5 Washington, D.C. Last October, Reyes posted a video with her husband using their “anchor talk” voices to decide on choices for dinner. She never expected her video to gain so much momentum.
![Alan Canfora (left), one of the nine Kent State University students wounded on May 4, 1970, gives a tour of the historic May 4 site. Thomas Grace (right), who also was a student wounded on May 4, looks on while Canfora talks.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/04.27.21%20Photo%20of%20Alan%20Canfora%20and%20Thomas%20Grace_0.jpg?VersionId=vgLEjVns5mo7zVw9onP_RGXkQWNCYHqC&h=10d202d3&itok=1Gy2FvlB)
Members of the Kent State University community and people around the world will gather virtually for the 51st Commemoration of May 4, 1970, the day the Ohio National Guard fired on Kent State students during an anti-war protest, killing four students and wounding nine other students.