Kent State University has announced two substantial philanthropic gifts in support of the Global Education Endowment, which was established in 2022 in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Kent State’s education-abroad presence in Florence, Italy. The fund aims to raise $20 million to provide every incoming undergraduate student with some level of scholarship support for an education-abroad experience.
“At Kent State, we believe that experiencing other cultures through education is vital to a greater understanding of the world around us,” said Marcello Fantoni, Ph.D., Kent State’s vice president for global education. “We know that an international experience is one of the most direct and effective ways to change the life of a student for the better.”
While one in four students currently participates in an education-abroad program during their time at Kent State, many students are unable to access an international education experience due to the cost. Once fully funded, the Global Education Endowment will serve as a differentiating factor for Kent State among other public higher education institutions while also supporting enrollment and retention rates and enriching the student experience.
The Lawrence R. and Sandra C. Armstrong Architecture Study Abroad Program
Lawrence R. and Sandra C. Armstrong of San Clemente, California, are longtime partners of Kent State. The Armstrongs’ time, talents and treasure have supported several areas across the university with a particular focus on the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, the School of Theatre and Dance, the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Their latest philanthropic gift to the Global Education Endowment provides students with the opportunity to encounter the rebirth of architecture in Europe and witness the historical evolution of European art, interior design and urbanism – including the chance to explore the contemporary art and design scene in Italy. In recognition of the Armstrongs’ generosity, Kent State has named The Lawrence R. and Sandra C. Armstrong Architecture Study Abroad Program in Florence in their honor.
“I studied in Florence in 1979, and I’ve always said studying here really changed my life and how I look at the world,” said Larry Armstrong during the program dedication in Florence, Italy. “For us, the ability to support global education is a way to help other students open their minds and see the world differently. Hopefully, it will change their lives by being able to be here and experience this.”
Larry Armstrong is a two-time graduate of Kent State, earning a Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 1979 and a Bachelor of Architecture in 1980. Sandy Armstrong attended Kent State and studied theatre and dance. Together, they served for numerous years as co-chairs of the Forever Brighter Campaign Executive Committee; Larry Armstrong also is a longtime member and past chair of the Kent State University Foundation Board of Directors, serving as a trusted advisor for the planning and development of the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center.
The Phares Program in Global Issues
Judith M. and Thomas B. Phares of Plano, Texas, have given generously to Kent State in support of global education. In 2020, they established the Judith M. and Thomas B. Phares Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship to support domestic and international undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing in accessing a Kent State-affiliated education-abroad program.
Their latest philanthropic gift to the Global Education Endowment promotes interdisciplinary coursework at Kent State Florence to enable students to study a wide range of pressing global issues and gain firsthand experience in policy and decision-making. In recognition of their generosity, Kent State has named The Phares Program in Global Issues at Kent State Florence in their honor.
Judi Phares graduated from Kent State in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Her education helped cultivate her entrepreneurial spirit and life and business skills, which prepared her for a successful career. Tom Phares graduated from the University of Akron and, like Judi, recognizes that education-abroad opportunities provide substantial benefits in a student’s education and the development of life skills.
“Global experiences expand academic, professional and personal horizons and lead to greater employment opportunities,” said Kent State Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Valoree Vargo. “Kent State’s Global Education Endowment will provide unprecedented access to global education, allowing more students to dream big and gain an expanded world view. We are so grateful that Judi and Tom Phares and Larry and Sandy Armstrong support this vision and are helping more students have these opportunities. Education abroad is the chance of a lifetime, and with this endowment, one that no Kent State student should miss.”
More information about supporting Kent State students with global education experiences is available at www.kent.edu/supportglobaleducation.
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About Kent State University
Kent State University is the highest-ranked public university in northern Ohio on the Top Public Schools and Best National Universities lists by U.S. News & World Report. The university also holds the esteemed distinction of being one of only five institutions in Ohio to be recognized as an R1 top-tier research university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Kent State is one of Ohio’s leading public universities and a major educational, economic and cultural resource far beyond the Northeast Ohio region it has served since 1910. The university has a global footprint with eight campuses throughout Northeast Ohio, a College of Podiatric Medicine, a Twinsburg Academic Center and academic sites around the world, including New York City; Florence, Italy; and Curitiba, Brazil. Kent State offers award-winning student support services that help students succeed. Its diverse student body comprises more than 33,500 students, including more than 2,000 international students from 101 countries, and the worldwide alumni family is about 275,000. Kent State provides transformational educational experiences and leads with its values, which include kindness, respect and freedom of expression.
For more information about Kent State, visit www.kent.edu.
Top Photo Caption:
Valoree Vargo (far left), Kent State University vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement, and Kent State President Todd Diacon (far right) stand with university donors Larry and Sandy Armstrong (center).
Media Contact:
Leigh Greenfelder, lgreenfe@kent.edu, 330-672-7108