Being in the right place at the right time couldn't be truer for Howland High School graduate Kayliegh Crumb.
Ms. Crumb, a broadcast journalism major, recently completed her third year at Kent State and an internship at State and Federal Communications, located in Akron, Ohio. The internship came about from a scholarship she earned in 2016 - the Elizabeth Z. Bartz Scholarship for Howland Tigers, which was created earlier that year by Ms. Bartz, a Howland graduate and President and CEO of State and Federal Communications.
Like Ms. Bartz, Ms. Crumb took classes at Kent State Trumbull before transitioning to Kent State. And after witnessing Ms. Crumb's first-year success at Trumbull, Ms. Bartz welcomed her as an intern in the summer of 2018. For the past year, she has gained invaluable experience in broadcast, video production, technical writing, and public relations. More importantly, she has had the opportunity to meet new people and network. Because of her experiences, she added two minors, economics and political science.
"This has been a tremendous opportunity for me," Ms. Crumb said. "Ms. Bartz has been a great mentor, helping me develop and encouraging me to become more confident in pursuing my purpose."
Besides earning the Bartz scholarship and some others, Ms. Crumb has been named to the Dean’s List. She has also been inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success and The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She is the risk manager for her sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and volunteers regularly with Destination Imagination as an appraiser, score room volunteer, and soon to be challenge master.
As she sets her sites on graduation next spring, Ms. Crumb is looking for more professional opportunities.
"I have been exploring a couple of options for my future, but I am looking at extending my schooling and becoming a meteorologist," Ms. Crumb said. "Right now, I am searching for an internship in local news. Working at (Youngstown television stations) WFMJ or WKBN would be my ultimate dream."
Like many students, she knows how important it is to have support. She will always be thankful to Ms. Bartz, State and Federal Communications, and Kent State Trumbull. And it’s students like Ms. Crumb, who inspire Ms. Bartz.
"Kayliegh has already done so well and has a bright future ahead of her," Ms. Bartz said. "I endowed this scholarship three years ago in honor of my 40-year graduation. I wanted to give back and help graduating seniors. I'm so grateful the first recipient was Kayleigh."
Ms. Bartz earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1980 from Kent State, and a master's degree in political science in 1982.
She founded her company (www.stateandfed.com) in 1993; it provides government compliance information and consulting to many Fortune 500 companies; to trade, labor, and professional associations; and to corporate and contract lobbyists in all 50 states. The firm's in-house attorneys are experts in state, federal, and municipal laws regarding lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying. The company distributes accurate, comprehensive, and timely information through online and printed resources, which its clients rely on to maintain compliance with laws in all 50 states, the federal government, and more than 125 municipalities.
Ms. Bartz's endowment will continue to assist Howland students who attend Kent State Trumbull. For more information about the Bartz Scholarship and others, visit www.kent.edu/trumbull/scholarships.