In 2002, Kent State Men’s Basketball, led by Head Coach Stan Heath, celebrated its legendary NCAA tournament run as the men’s basketball team charged into the Sweet 16. After beating Pittsburgh in overtime 78-73, the Flashes advanced to the Elite Eight. The Golden Flashes' 21-game winning streak ended with an 81-69 loss to Indiana, the eventual tournament runner-up. Bryan Bedford, ’04, M.Ed. ’06, (34); Antonio Gates (44); Demetric Shaw, ’02, (10); Trevor Huffman, ’02, (24); Nate Gerwig, ’06, (2); and John Edwards, ’03, (54) celebrate a win at the MAC Center during the 2001-02 season. Phot...

For Anthony W. “Tony” O’Leary, ’72, MPA ’76, the path to college was not always clear. After losing his mother, his teachers helped him imagine a different future. “My mother passed away just as I was starting high school,” Tony said. “I had a couple of teachers at the high school level that kept me on track. They were life-changing influences for me.” Decades later, Tony and his wife, Patricia E. “Pat” O’Leary, have found a meaningful way to honor those teachers, along with the nurses who cared for them during critical moments in their lives. Through a blended gift of outright ...

“Life is about people. It has no meaning except for its effect on others.” Professor emeritus of accounting Donald “Don” McFall, MSA ’91, embodies this approach to life, focusing on ways he can connect with and make a difference for others. He retired from Kent State University in 2012 after 28 years of teaching and mentorship, but he remains closely connected with the people and program he loves so dearly.  With the help of and in honor of his former students, Don created the Accounting Department Student and Alumni Engagement Fund, which will receive additional support through...

Sebastian Van Hauter is a junior history major from Akron, Ohio, who is expected to graduate in 2028. He was recently awarded the Dr. Thomas H. Smith Endowed Scholarship, which is helping him study at the American University in Bulgaria. “Receiving this scholarship helped me cover my tuition and study abroad this school year,” he said. “I feel deeply appreciative and honored.” What Sebastian likes most about Kent State is the atmosphere and how thorough the history program is on campus, especially its Modern History class, which is his favorite. Sebastian said that those who sup...

For many retirees, taking a required minimum distribution (RMD) from an IRAis simply part of managing retirement income. But if you are age 70½ or older and are charitably inclined, you may be able to turn all or part of your RMD into meaningful support for Kent State through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). A QCD allows you to direct funds from an eligible IRA directly to Kent State, and the distribution can count toward your RMD while generally being excluded from your taxable income. Start Early: Don’t Wait Until December IRA administrators may require paperwork, pr...