Community Impact
![Spring Student Employment Fair 2024 Spring Student Employment Fair 2024](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20240118_BC_Employment%20Fair_047.jpg?VersionId=IM3CGixrTr2oJrvtGpr8MbY59OX1DiBI&itok=Dinlb0BD)
![Kent State All-Star Band Weekend 2024 Kent State All-Star Band Weekend 2024](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20240113_MB_All%20Star%20Band%20Concert-6.jpg?VersionId=AYcmMIxCEw8SebSuavvTOE3DueTSocWT&itok=jXxGRL6w)
Students from area high schools came to campus for the Kent State All-Star Band weekend.
![The Flashes Fighting Hunger food pantry has seen a huge increase in users. The Flashes Fighting Hunger food pantry has seen a huge increase in users.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Flashes%20Fighting%20Hunger%202.jpg?VersionId=bmFB2.mC10ha9DJbsJ.PLEqcrmd_uWyn&itok=8zEGwYNH)
Usage of the Flashes Fighting Hunger food pantry has steadily increased since the pandemic, when the pantry remained open to serve the needs of the community. In addition, there has also been an increase in the number of international students using the pantry this past year as international student enrollment increased at Kent State.
![A symbol of the Kent-Akron rivalry: the fabled Wagon Wheel A symbol of the Kent-Akron rivalry: the fabled Wagon Wheel](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20230303_BC_MBBvsAkron_1370.jpg?VersionId=1mHry.8PdkWsVHZLvYjV.DFn8qpERh27&itok=buH56bij)
Kent State's Golden Flashes meet the Akron Zips for the first time this season on Jan. 19.
![Jonathan Maletic smiling for a group photo with his former Ph.D students and their Ph.D students](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Resized%20%282%29.jpg?VersionId=eTmLJ8ehUhBJu74in.ies.OI6L0T6ooX&h=dc60650f&itok=6puHH-z_)
Kent State University computer science Professor Jonathan Maletic, Ph.D., and alumnus Michael Decker, Ph.D., are developing a new software solution, creating a world where the computer science community can effectively track changes and improve group code development.
![Kent State graduate Mark Greer Kent State graduate Mark Greer](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Mark%20Greer.jpg?VersionId=uaqGHKjihl6czE4qLNesD.2L3CtT.nrh&itok=XcqCpsGp)
Mark Greer, who earned his master’s degree in music from Kent State in 2009, has been chosen to serve as executive director of Akron’s bicentennial campaign. His success exemplifies the sense of community and bright future created by Golden Flashes today.
![Local elementary school students cheer on the Golden Flashes on School Field Trip Day Local elementary school students cheer on the Golden Flashes on School Field Trip Day](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/231219-field-trip-game_RD-00256.jpg?VersionId=m5SEoqX8EWAJ5pUPHYze6WRKtQalEv15&itok=rGU8e4OX)
On a special field trip day, more than 1,500 students from local elementary schools cheered Kent State's women's basketball team to victory.
![Kent State is graduating students prepared for the most in-demand jobs of 2024. Kent State is graduating students prepared for the most in-demand jobs of 2024.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/230511-Spring-Commencement-Day1_RD-00218.jpg?VersionId=YAAIFISFs0qj1AtN3Dyi6y7lVYe8XUtg&h=829a77da&itok=Pe-nzd4V)
The newly released list of “100 Best Jobs for 2024” by U.S. News and World Report illustrates how Kent State University has the majors that are preparing graduates to lead in tomorrow's workforce.