Olivia Eader is a second-year Kent State University Honors College student from Bellefontaine, Ohio. She is the first recipient of the Dr. Elizabeth Howard Memorial Honors
The recipient of the $1,000 scholarship is chosen to reflect the academic and creative interests of Professor Howard. Olivia double majors in English and Environmental Studies, with an Italian Studies minor. She also serves as the Senator for the College of Arts and Sciences in Undergraduate Student Government and is a member of the women’s rugby team.
Olivia explained that the Dr. Elizabeth Howard Memorial Honors Scholarship will primarily help relieve her of some of the costs of her education. “College is expensive,” she remarked, and the financial assistance of the scholarship will be very helpful. Olivia also stated that the scholarship has presented some unique opportunities for her. “I got to meet the [Honors College] Dean, and talking with her was really cool.”
Criteria for the scholarship include pursuing either a Bachelor of Arts in English or a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with a concentration in Textiles - some of Howard’s passions. Olivia even shared: “The Dean told me that [Professor Howard and I] have a lot in common… a lot of the things I am interested in, she was interested in.”
Honors College Dean Alison J Smith, Ph.D., selects the recipient of the Elizabeth Howard Honors Scholarship. “It is always a pleasure and a challenge to select scholarship winners from our Honors students, because there are so many wonderful students to choose among. In this case, Olivia’s passion for the written word, her interest in languages and the creative endeavor, and her leadership abilities all indicated a good match for this first award of the Elizabeth Howard Memorial Honors Scholarship.”
Howard was a Professor of English for more than 20 years at Kent State. She was also a well-respected member of the Honors College community, having taught Freshman Honors Colloquium (FHC) courses, served on the Honors College Policy Council, advised many honors thesis writers, and won the 2016 Distinguished Honors Faculty Award.
With assistance from the scholarship, Olivia plans to finish her bachelor’s degree. Following that, she hopes to attend either graduate school or law school and pursue a career in politics.
The scholarship dedicated in memory of Professor Howard is endowed by family, friends, alumni, fellow Honors College and Department of English staff, and those who want to contribute to her memory. If you would like to join us in supporting Honors College students in Professor Howard’s memory, please visit the Dr. Elizabeth Howard Memorial Honors Scholarship giving page.
Please contact the Honors College at honors@kent.edu with any questions.
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PHOTO CAPTION 1: Honors student Olivia Eader takes children on a hike through the woods as part of her summer research with the SURE Program.
PHOTOS CAPTION 2: Memorial Scholarship winner Oliva Eader poses for a photo in nature with field and tree foliage in background.
Media Contact: Stephanie Moskal, smoskal@kent.edu, 330-672-2312