Flashes of Success

CEL's AmeriCorps Member Community Event Coordination 

On Saturday, January 27^th, Kalena planned and coordinated a youth and family engagement event at Ravenna’s King Kennedy Community Center. Approximately 25 student and staff volunteers from Kent State visited the center and facilitated activities that helped children from the community learn about and celebrate Dr. King, his life, and his work. Kalena herself also led a team of 20+ volunteers earlier that morning (including the entire Kent State Women’s Field Hockey team) in the Flashes Fighting Hunger Kitchen preparing lunch for the event prior to transporting it to King Kennedy and setting up four different activities. In addition to eating lunch together and learning about Dr. King, attendees played some basketball together and enjoyed some time outside. On Wednesday, January 31^st, the MLK Commemorative Events Committee hosted an event named “100 Plates — Peace and Conflict: MLK to Today” that was based on the Service Speaks model, on which Kalena has completed special training as an AmeriCorps Member. Participants ate lunch together and read Dr. King’s “When Peace Becomes Obnoxious” sermon from 1956 and John Lewis’s final message, “Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation,” an excerpt from his Common Dreams book published in 2020. Kalena then facilitated a series of small and large group discussions, during which participants shared how each piece made them feel, identified what questions the pieces surfaced, and named action steps participants will be taking moving forward.

Morgan Robinson Published in NCLCA Newsletter 

Morgan Robinson, Academic Coaching Coordinator in the Academic Success Center had her article The Evolution of Peer Academic Coaching Despite the Pandemic, published in the spring 2023 edition of the National College Learning Center Association newsletter. In her article, Morgan discusses the development, launch, and evolution of the Academic Coaching program during and now after the pandemic. You can read the full article here.

Ellen Kratky & Tracy Montgomery present at NCAA Conference 

Ellen Kratky & Tracy Montgomery for presented at the NCCA Conference held at Cleveland State University this past Wednesday. Their presentation, Hidden Objectives, was unique, interactive, and fun, highlighting the importance of turning workshops of any kind into a learning experience for students. 

Stephanie Jalwan NACADA Creating Peer Advising Programs Certification

Stephanie Jalwan successfully completed her certificate in NACADA’s Creating a Peer Advising Program.

Natasha Wolwacz Heinz Awarded KSU Staff International Innovator Award

Natasha Wolwacz Heinz was awarded the inaugural KSU Staff International Innovator Award. Natasha's work includes supporting CPT/OPT workshops and spearheading career events for international students, such as an International Student alum panel and Go Pro career readiness workshops. She has also provided training for the staff on the H-1B Visa sponsorship process, the process for international students interested in internships, and best practices in assisting international student career appointments.

Nate Colbert Community Engaged Learning's Learning Community Coordinator

Nate Colbert  will be Community Engaged Learning’s Learning Community Coordinator for CommUNITY Lab. Nate is no stranger to KSU or UC. Nate recently completed a term position with CEL serving CLAB students, graduated from the Sport’s Administration program in 2023, and has utilized many UC resources and programs during his time as a student. Nate will continue using his energy, passion, and talents to support CLab students full-time.