In 2020, Kent State University President Todd Diacon announced to a group of high school juniors and their families that Kent State would cover four years of tuition costs and one year of room and board. For the LeBron James Family Foundation’s (LJFF) first I PROMISE class, the hard work these students had put in since third grade was paying off. Anthony Claytor of Akron, Ohio, can be seen among the sea of students gathered in the Kent Student Center Kiva that day four years ago. He remembers the day vividly, and he is now the first of this class to graduate from Kent State, having celebrated his commencement this May.
The I PROMISE Program is part of the LJFF’s work to provide educational opportunities and resources for students and their entire families in Northeast Ohio. Kent State’s partnership with LJFF demonstrates a collective promise to invest time, talent, resources and attention into students of James’ hometown of Akron, Ohio – students like Claytor.
“If it wasn't for the LeBron James Family Foundation, I don’t know if I would have gone to college,” Claytor said. “I don’t know where I would be.”
Claytor attended postsecondary classes at the University of Akron while he was a high school student and had sophomore credits by the time he came to Kent State. He graduated early with a Bachelor of Arts in criminology and justice studies with a minor in sociology. As he crossed the stage in Kent State’s Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center, Claytor became the first I PROMISE scholar to earn a bachelor’s degree. It was an incredible moment for Claytor, who had once worried whether accumulating debt due to tuition costs and other expenses would ultimately be worth it had he attended another university.
“If I went to the University of Akron or somewhere else, I wouldn’t have been able to live on campus and meet new people, develop relationships or join organizations,” he explained. “I really enjoy being able to do that at Kent State.”
During his time at the university, Claytor remained active in and out of the classroom. He served as a lab leader in Community Engaged Learning’s CommUNITY Lab – an undergraduate cohort program where participants reside in a living-learning community in Lake Hall, learn through specially selected courses, utilize campus resources and co-create individualized achievement plans with their support networks. He also serves as a mentor to other college students.
The support he received from his advisors and from University College, a Kent State unit that fosters an inclusive environment to empower all students to explore, engage and succeed, made Claytor’s college experience much smoother.
“There was more help financially, specifically with tuition and books,” Claytor said. “These programs also provided me access to different scholarships and internships. Overall, it made campus a lot easier to navigate.”
As his college experience came to an end with his graduation, the 21-year-old looks forward to his future. He's now working to gain employment with a federal agency.
Claytor credits the LJFF’s I PROMISE Program as the segue to the impactful experience he had at Kent State. Though the cost to attend Kent State may have been covered, the relationships, skills and experiences Claytor gained during his time at the university are truly invaluable.