Community Impact
![Black squirrel eating an acorn Black squirrel eating an acorn](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/JGSquirrel3.jpg?VersionId=OcZir33WYPmeI1IuYXREl.IFx0X3gtEM&itok=T0uBBpOA)
Let's get nuts! The 41st Annual Black Squirrel Festival kicks off today at 4 p.m. on the Student Green and Risman Plaza.
A group of 22 secondary school teachers from 20 different countries is spending six weeks at Kent State University as part of a Fulbright program of professional development for foreign educators.
![Student walking near Manchester Hall with grandparents and dog Student walking near Manchester Hall with grandparents and dog](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20230922_BC_september%20feature_313.jpg?VersionId=ILs.GB.FmRrG5q3sOEukGz_GuMOIbWRm&itok=ozxpCJh4)
A full schedule of fun activities is planned for Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend – Sept. 29 and 30 – at Kent State.
![Scene of students enjoying a past Black Squirrel Festival Scene of students enjoying a past Black Squirrel Festival](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/190906_RD_BS-FEST_01013.jpg?VersionId=AuyU.7zKW76CSBI2B2NQ35fhhBr0CbxG&itok=k0Mu-pro)
The Black Squirrel Festival returns to Risman Plaza and the Student Green on Friday, Sept. 29, from 4-7 p.m.
![Torsten Hegmann, director of Kent State's Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, stands in front of the institute's advanced X-ray scattering device, which is drawing scientists to Kent State for their research. Torsten Hegmann, director of Kent State's Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, stands in front of the institute's advanced X-ray scattering device, which is drawing scientists to Kent State for their research.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/torsten%20machine.jpg?VersionId=T7xSe1y9IDhOKrYtTOHpsplrPqUvl5yU&itok=N9NlNVLl)
![United AutoWorkers Striker Banner Protesters](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/pexels-life-matters-4614148.jpeg?VersionId=.EQyuwhL1pnSWi0._m78z2deDy3n_oc1&itok=hxbbYcBh)
Kent State Today reached out to C. Lockwood Reynolds, Ph.D., professor of economics at Kent State, to talk about the United Auto Workers strike — and unions in general — and their effects on the Kent State community.
![Display of colorful hats at 2023 Latino Affairs Summit resource fair Display of colorful hats at 2023 Latino Affairs Summit resource fair](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20230915_Latino%20Affairs%20Summit-49.jpg?VersionId=RhHzewzeD3fYH92jW4PJMTyl.6nW7_Kc&itok=HJWBmaH0)
The 2023 Ohio Latino Affairs Summit, "¡Juntos! Latino Growth Is Ohio Growth," convened on Friday at Kent State University's Kent Campus.
![A large solar array atop the Kent State Field House. A large solar array atop the Kent State Field House.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/solar%20panels%20on%20field%20house%20.jpg?VersionId=zSParDSpiwH0gLCpD65G9UwVXipEldg2&itok=FB-fejIs)
Ohio EPA honors Kent State with a platinum award for environmental excellence.
![KSU students participating in tree-planting event at CVNP. KSU students participating in tree-planting event at CVNP.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/KSU-EHHS-CVNP-Service-07.jpg?VersionId=J_nKT11oOsr_XGw4O9TV0FeiF9hl6USi&itok=OiGos8kR)
Kent State students planted trees in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park on Saturday.
![The Rock in 1976 The Rock in 1976](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Screenshot%202023-08-21%20at%201.54.49%20PM.png?VersionId=2YkLlFOO4UhBvr8ZPmAyi8L73ILevlD_&itok=cCYy5Cqd)
The Rock on Kent State's Front Campus wasn't always where it is today.