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Maegan Richards
KENT -- Kent State University President Todd Diacon recently presented the 2020 President's Award of Distinction to Maegan Richards of the Salem and East Liverpool Campuses.
The award recognizes a staff member who demonstrates outstanding achievements, service, leadership and dedication to Kent State in advancing the university's strategic priorities and core values.
Richards is the Academic Learning Commons coordinator for the Salem and East Liverpool campuses. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2009 and a Master of Library and Information Science in 2011, each from Kent State, and has been a full-time employee on the Salem Campus since September 2011.
As a student, she began working as a writing tutor during her sophomore year on the Salem Campus and then worked in the Enrollment Management and Student Services Department. When she began graduate school, Richards transitioned to working in the Performing Arts Library on the Kent Campus, as well as in the library on the Salem Campus.
In 2016, Richards received the Staff of the Year Award for the Salem Campus, recognizing exemplary service to the campus. It, too, was based on nominations from students, staff and faculty.
"Maegan has matured from a student and student worker on our campus to one of our most valued employees," noted Dr. David Dees, dean and CAO of the Columbiana County campuses.
"As we learned to navigate through the COVID pandemic over the last several months, Maegan never stopped. She was very proactive in finding ways to reach out to students and faculty so that we could continue delivering on our promise of providing a quality education for each of them, even in a remote environment. Her impact on our students and our campus is astounding and quite worthy of this recognition."
Diacon noted that his office received nearly 200 nominations from employees' supervisors, peers and colleagues throughout the eight campuses and only 23 staff members were chosen to receive this honor.
Ava Wilson
COLUMBIANA -- Ava Wilson of Columbiana, a student at Columbiana High School, has received a 2021 National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) award in theater. Wilson has been recognized at the Merit level, the organization's third highest honor, for her caliber of artistic achievement and joins 659 of the nation's most accomplished artists in the visual, literary, and performing arts.
Wilson was selected by an esteemed discipline-specific panel of artists through a rigorous blind adjudication process. YoungArts award winners gain access to one of the most comprehensive programs for artists in the United States in which they will have opportunities for financial, creative and professional development support throughout their entire careers. A complete list of the 2021 winners, all 15-18 years old or in grades 10-12, is available online at youngarts.org/winners.
"YoungArts empowers artists to pursue a life in the arts beginning at the critical time when many are faced with decisions about life after high school and we are thrilled to announce this year's YoungArts award winners. This group of extraordinary artists has reminded us yet again that extraordinary artistry is ageless, and I encourage everyone to get to know these faces and names as we will be seeing them for many years to come," said Executive Director Jewel Malone. "To all of this year's winners, congratulations! This is just the start of YoungArts' commitment to supporting your careers, we look forward to working to with you and supporting your artistic and professional development."
Wilson will receive a cash prize and the opportunity to learn from leading artists such as Debbie Allen, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Frank Gehry, Wynton Marsalis, Salman Rushdie and Mickalene Thomas. Wilson is now also eligible for exclusive creative and professional development support including a wide range of fellowships, residencies and awards; virtual and in-person presentation opportunities in collaboration with major venues nationwide; additional financial support; and access to YoungArts Post, a free, private digital network for YoungArts artists to connect, collaborate and learn about additional opportunities.
As a YoungArts award winner, Wilson joins a distinguished group of accomplished artists including Daniel Arsham, Terence Blanchard, Camille A. Brown, Viola Davis, Allegra Goodman, Josh Groban, Judith Hill, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Andrew Rannells, Desmond Richardson and Hunter Schafer.
Taylor Clayton
POTSDAM, N.Y. -- Taylor Rae Clayton of Alliance, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering, was named a Presidential Scholar for the fall 2020 semester at Clarkson University. Presidential Scholars must achieve a minimum 3.80 grade-point average and carry at least 14 credit hours.
Ashtyn Morris
BEREA -- Ashtyn Morris of Salem stands among a distinguished group of students at Baldwin Wallace University who have reached BW's pinnacle of academic achievement with induction into the Dayton C. Miller Honor Society. Morris, a graduate of Salem High School majoring in English, was honored with membership that is achieved by less than 4 percent of the undergraduate student body.
Members are selected for consistently maintaining superior academic work. Students inducted into the society each year represent the top 100 students by grade point average who have earned a minimum of 70 semester hours with at least 32 semester hours at BW.
The society, which was founded at BW in 1948, honors the memory of BW alumnus Dayton C. Miller, who graduated in 1886. He served as a professor of physics at the Case Institute for many years, conducting notable research into the science of acoustics and assembling a unique collection of flutes, currently held by the Smithsonian Institute. Miller served as secretary and later president of the BW Board of Trustees, and he was active in the University community until his death in 1941.
Bradly Sloan
SALINEVILLE -- Bradly Sloan, son of Chastity and Richard Sloan of Wellsville, has been selected as the Kiwanis Student of the Month for September at Southern Local High School. He is ranked 12th in his graduating class with a 4.0 GPA.
He has been an Honor Roll student in the three years of his high school career and was inducted this past May into the National Honor Society as a junior. Bradly has participated in the College Credit Plus program and has taken Advanced Placement courses, as well as training for industrial maintenance at New Castle School of Trades. Outside of his studies, he is a member of the Spanish Club and the Varsity Club.
He is a four sport athlete who has accumulated 10 varsity letters in just over three years of competition. As a freshman, he qualified for the OHSAA State Track Tournament for the long jump and holds the school records for both the previously mentioned long jump and the 100-meter dash. A four year letter winner in football, Bradly has received recognition all four years from the Quad County coaches association, Columbiana County coaches, the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference, Ohio Valley Athletic Conference and the North East Inland District.
Bradly would like to attend the Military Academy at West Point.
Amanda French
FINDLAY-- Amanda French of Lisbon recently performed in the University of Findlay Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble's concert, "Familiar Sounds in Unfamiliar Times."
The performance included well-known traditional and holiday songs like "Rough Riders," "America the Beautiful," "The First Noel," and "Stille Nacht," among many others. The concert was conducted by Wes King, director of bands.
Garrett Brewer
SALINEVILLE -- Garrett Brewer, son of Kyle and Jenny Brewer of Salineville, has been selected as the Kiwanis Student of the Month for December at Southern Local High School. He is ranked 11th in his graduating class with a 4.012 GPA.
Garrett has been an Honor Roll student throughout his high school career. He is an active member of Southern's FFA. He has earned the Greenhand Degree, Chapter Degree, and been on the State Soil Judging team for 2 years. He served as treasurer his junior year and received FFA Gold Rated Treasurer's Book. This year he serves as president of FFA.
Garrett is a 2 sport athlete, competing in football and baseball. A 3-year letter winner in baseball, Garrett was named 2019 Defensive Player of the Year. He is also a 3 year lettermen in football.
Outside of school Garrett is a member of the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department, an attendant and volunteer at Riley's United Methodist Church, and works as a farmhand and landscaper.
Garrett plans on pursuing a career in law enforcement and becoming a game warden.
Christian Steff
YOUNGSTOWN--Artwork by Youngstown State University student Christian Steff of East Liverpool was featured at the McDonough Museum on the YSU campus. Steff is a Art Studio Graphic + Interactive Design track major at YSU.
The Fall Graduating BFA exhibit included works in the areas of photography, graphic+ interactive design and interdisciplinary studio art by students who earn bachelor's degrees in Fine Arts this fall.