Kent State University at Tuscarawas recently honored Alfred and Maryann Fearon as the recipients of the Toast to Education Award, recognizing their lifelong dedication to education, student success and the enrichment of the Tuscarawas County community.
The Toast to Education Award honors individuals whose leadership, generosity and service exemplifies Kent State Tuscarawas’ mission of access, opportunity and community engagement. The Fearon’s were selected for their enduring commitment to education and their broad philanthropic impact across the community.
Mr. Fearon is a lifelong resident of the Tuscarawas Valley and a 1962 graduate of Strasburg High School. He was among the first students to attend Kent State University at Tuscarawas when classes were held at New Philadelphia High School before transferring to Kent State’s main campus. A proud Army veteran, he was honorably discharged after completing counterinsurgency training with the 6th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces.
Mrs. Fearon is a 1963 graduate of Grove City High School in Grove City, Pennsylvania, and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Arizona in 1967. Prior to joining her husband in business, she taught in Stark and Tuscarawas counties and later founded Computer Programming Education, serving students in both counties.
Married since 1968, the Fearon’s are former owners of OIC International, Inc., an import/export company headquartered in Bolivar with additional operations in Dallas, Texas and Wuxi, China. The company operated successfully for 56 years. Though retired, the Fearon’s remain active supporters of educational, environmental, and community‑based initiatives throughout the region.
Through the Alfred & Maryann Fearon Business Scholarship Fund, they continue to support the academic endeavors of Kent State Tuscarawas students. They are also sponsors of the Kent State Performing Arts Center and actively support local trails, green space projects, and numerous charitable organizations benefiting the community.
The award was presented during the annual Toast to Education Gala, hosted at Kent State Tuscarawas. The elegant wine and culinary experience celebrate a shared passion for education while raising vital support for student scholarships, student opportunities and youth educational experiences that strengthen the vitality of the region.
The next Toast to Education Gala is planned for April 3, 2027, and will once again bring together campus leaders, alumni, donors and community partners to celebrate and invest in the power of education.
For more information about the Toast to Education Gala or opportunities to support Kent State Tuscarawas, please contact Chad Conrad at cconra1@kent.edu or 330‑308‑7445.