Kent State University at Salem recently presented John Tonti the Friend of the Campus award, the highest honor presented annually to non-students. It recognizes community members, businesses and organizations that support increasing access to higher education in Salem and surrounding communities.
Tonti is the president of the Salem Community Foundation, a position he has held since 1992. He began his tenure with the organization in 1981 as its treasurer.
The Salem Community Foundation has maintained a strong relationship with the Kent State Salem Campus for more than 40 years through a shared commitment of expanding educational opportunities in the Salem community and surrounding areas.
Since 1998, the Salem Community Foundation has granted more than $1.5 million for the tuition grant program. Nearly 3,000 students have benefited from this program which covers 20% of a student’s needed tuition upon application.
Additionally, the Salem Community Foundation has provided the Kent State Salem Campus nearly $300,000 in grants for program equipment, technology and financial support for the construction of the health and science wing (now known as Centofanti Hall), as well as more than $116,000 to the Kent State Rising Scholars program.
Before presenting Tonti with his award, Interim Dean James Hannon, Ph.D., offered these remarks about the honoree:
“Tonight, we celebrate achievements – especially the dedication, perseverance and success of our students. You are the reason we are here. But behind every student success story, there are individuals and organizations who work tirelessly to create the opportunities that make those achievements possible.
“Our campus has always been more than just a place of learning. It is a reflection of the community that surrounds it and that community is strengthened by people who believe deeply in the power of education and in the potential of every student.
“Tonight, we have the honor of recognizing one of those individuals.
“The Friend of the Campus Award is presented to someone whose commitment to Kent State Salem goes beyond support. It reflects a lasting dedication to our students, our mission and our future. This year’s recipient embodies that spirit in every sense.
“For over four decades, the Salem Community Foundation has stood alongside Kent State Salem as a vital partner, helping expand access to higher education and opening doors for thousands of students. Through scholarships, grants and ongoing support, they have made a direct and lasting impact on student success.
“And at the heart of that impact is strong, steady leadership.
“John Tonti has devoted his life, not only to professional excellence, but to service. A graduate of Youngstown State University, he worked tirelessly days and nights to earn his degree in business administration. He went on to become a certified public accountant, building a successful career with Hill, Barth & King, where he rose to partner and served on the executive committee.
“But it was here, in Salem, where John truly made his mark.
“After transferring to the Salem office, he developed a deep connection to this community – a connection that would shape decades of service and leadership.
“Since 1981, John has played a key role in the Salem Community Foundation, serving first as treasurer and then as president in 1992, a position he continues to hold today. Under his leadership, the Foundation has made an extraordinary impact on Kent State Salem.
“Through grants supporting academic programs, campus improvements and innovative technology – including the Health and Science Wing and the virtual reality lab – the Foundation has helped transform the student experience.
“Even more meaningful is the Foundation’s direct investment in students. Since 1998, more than 2,800 students have received tuition support totaling over $1.5 million, helping make a Kent State education more accessible and achievable.
“For many students, that support is not just financial. It is life-changing.
“But John’s service does not stop there.
“He has contributed his leadership to numerous organizations throughout the region and has been recognized as Person of the Year by both the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the Salem YMCA, an honor that reflects the respect he has earned within the community.
“And beyond all his accomplishments, John is someone who believes in giving back quietly, consistently and with a genuine commitment to others.
“Simply put: his impact is woven into the success of this campus and into the success of the students we celebrate tonight.
“Because of individuals like John Tonti, our students have greater opportunities, our campus is stronger and our future is brighter.”
CUTLINE: John Tonti (right) receives the 2026 Kent State University at Salem Friend of the Campus Award from James Hannon, Ph.D., interim dean and CAO of the Salem Campus.