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Meet Ryanne Bunting, a Kent State sophomore double majoring in international studies and anthropology from Fairfield, Ohio, combining human rights, culture, global interactions and history into a formidable career path.

Pictured are the 2024 Kent State University Alumni Award winners at the awards ceremony, held Sept. 27 during Homecoming weekend at the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center in Kent, Ohio. (Photo credit: Andrea Hallgren)

Sponsored by the Kent State Alumni Association, the Alumni Awards are the university’s most prestigious alumni honors. The 2024 Alumni Award recipients include seven alumni, two recent graduates, one staff member and one current student.

Azat Atayev, the deputy minister of education of Turkmenistan and President Todd Diacon exchange handshakes following the signing of an agreement for an educational partnership with the Central Asian nation.

Kent State University has entered into an agreement with the Turkmenistan Ministry of Education to begin exploring the possibility of creating an educational partnership with several national institutes of higher learning there. The effort is part of Kent State’s ongoing commitment to using education to foster global understanding and peace in a divided world.

Kent State Today
Taylor Pierce at the Ohio Statehouse with Gov. Mike DeWine

For Taylor Pierce, her first experience in Kent State’s Columbus Program in State Issues turned out to be more than most people would expect. She spontaneously entered and won a contest. She met Ohio’s governor and lieutenant governor. And, she considered a new career path. Not bad for a few weeks in a new city.

2nd Lt. Vincent AhSam-Kreiter takes his oat of office as a commissioned officer in the US Air Force.

It took three years, a move from California to Ohio, and several other bumps in the road. Still, recent Kent State University graduate Vincent AhSam-Kreiter has achieved his goals of earning a bachelor’s degree, becoming a registered nurse and being a newly commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Flash Rides a bike on campus

Hundreds of Kent State University students use bikes and scooters to get around the university's two hundred and fifty-three acres of land. With that in mind, keeping your bikes and scooters safe and available to you at any time is extremely important.

Fourth Annual Read-In 2024

Think about a time you finished reading a book that provided a new meaning and connection to you. Now imagine that book that changed and shaped a part of you being banned, unavailable to new readers. The Kent State University community joined for the fourth annual open mic night Read-In to discuss banning and challenging books.

Ariane Robinson - 2024 Homecoming Queen

Homecoming Weekend at Kent State came with a full schedule of events including a parade, alumni activities, a tailgate and a football game at Dix Stadium.

Honors College Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend

As part of the university's annual Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend, Kent State's Honors College presented a day of fun activities for their students and their families.

A Year with a Flash

Kent State Today will be following a group of six Golden Flashes for the 2024-25 academic year, chronicling their efforts and successes during the fall and spring semesters. The group of students are at various places in their Kent State University academic careers and will share their experiences throughout the year as they take part in our distinctive programs, research and global experiences.