Education roundup: Walsh fundraiser set, students honored, educators' conference planned

The Repository
·4 min read

Walsh University event to provide financial support for students

Walsh University President Dr. Tim and Drenda Collins will celebrate their Southern heritage while helping address student financial need by hosting A Southern Soirée Dinner and Auction to help bridge the financial gap for Walsh University students. The event will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Walsh University Hoover Park Dance Hall and Grounds in North Canton.

The fundraising goal for this year’s event is $100,000. The inaugural Southern Soirée last year generated $70,000 in direct support for students.

Guests are encouraged to wear their finest Southern attire such as seersucker jackets, bow ties, chiffon and pearls. As they arrive, they’ll be offered a glass of sweet tea or a cocktail to enjoy while they peruse the silent auction items, sponsor a magnolia to be placed on the Magnolia Tree of Dreams, enjoy a whiskey tasting, take a chance on the wine pull, purchase tickets for the luxury raffle, which includes a half-carat diamond necklace and couples massage, and enjoy live music performed by Walsh University students. The live auction features a beach house getaway and out-of-town experiences.

The Magnolia Tree of Dreams represents the dreams of Walsh students to complete their degrees. The tree begins bare and is filled with hand-crafted magnolias designed by the Crafty Cavs. Magnolia sponsorships are available for $500 each before and during the Southern Soirée.

The $150-per-person cost includes a Southern meal, open wine and beer bar and whiskey tasting in the Whiskey River Saloon. To sponsor a magnolia or to make a reservation, visit www.walsh.edu/soiree.

Hoover students receive Believe in Ohio STEM scholarships

Isabella Dennison and Claire Wood from North Canton’s Hoover High School were among the 138 juniors and seniors from 89 high schools throughout Ohio that the Ohio Academy of Science recognized and awarded recently with Believe in Ohio STEM Innovation and Entrepreneurship Scholarships.

Each student receives a $2,000 scholarship to attend any Ohio college, university, or post-secondary career center. The application process evaluated academic achievement, answers to essay questions, and proof of an accomplishment in STEM Innovation or Entrepreneurship.

Funded by the state of Ohio through the Department of Higher Education and operated as a program of The Ohio Academy of Science, Believe in Ohio is a student-focused STEM Innovation and Entrepreneurship Scholarship Program that prepares Ohio’s future workforce for the demands of the changing labor market and the innovation economy.

Stark State students honored

Four Stark State College students are among nearly 80 students from Ohio’s 23 community colleges honored for their excellence in academics, leadership and community service by Ohio’s chancellor of higher education as part of the 2023 All-Ohio Academic Team.

Ella George was named first team All-Ohio Academic Team and Benjamin Nash earned second team. Randi Peters and Tammy Monroe were named to third team.

The top-performing students were nominated by college faculty, staff and leaders. Students recognized as first-team honorees receive $500 scholarships, while second-team members earn $250 scholarships to assist students transferring on to universities to complete their bachelor’s degree requirements. The All-Ohio Academic Team also includes high-achieving students who are planning to move directly into the workforce will also be recognized and receive awards.

The All-Ohio Academic Team program is a collaboration between the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, Phi Theta Kappa national honor society and Honda, the event sponsor.

Also, for the 19th consecutive year, Stark State College’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society earned the Five Star Chapter Award, presented at the recent Ohio Region Awards Convention and PTK Catalyst in Columbus.

Other Stark State PTK honors included:

  • Howdy Bear Certificate of Spirit

  • Order of Athena Chapter Officer Award: Tammy Monroe and Ella George

  • Cherie Barth Completion Scholarship ($1,000): Alexander Thompson

  • John C. Kessler Scholarship ($750): Joshua Crewes

  • Advising Milestone Award: Shari Brooks

  • 2023 Stark State College Outstanding Student Organization Officer of the Year Award: Benjamin Nash.

Early Childhood Educators’ Conference is June 9

Early Childhood Resource Center’s Celebrate Your Mission Early Childhood Educator Conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 9 at the NEW Center at Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown.

The event is designed specifically for early childhood professionals, including administrators, teachers, and family childcare educators. Participants can meet with representatives from local businesses, support agencies, and vendors that provide specialized services for small businesses.

Register for the event at celebrateyourmissionecrc.rsvpify.com by May 25. The $25 registration fee includes breakfast and lunch, and educators in attendance can earn five Ohio‐approved training hours.

The conference will feature two nationally recognized keynote speakers: Karen Foster‐Jorgensen, the author of "It's More About Strategy Than Math: Childcare Business Financial Success," and Ron Shuali, the author of "Breaking the Bullying Circle and Building the 21st Century Child."

For more information, contact Maria Spencer at 330‐903‐0804 or mspencer@ecresourcecenter.org.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Education roundup: Walsh fundraiser, students honored, educators' conference