Success Stories
![Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ President Beverly J. Warren poses with 2018 Homecoming King Jordan Euell and Queen Jennifer Uren on the field at Dix Stadium.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/thumbnail/public/article_thumbnail/King-And-Queen.jpg?VersionId=B6PSv4ixDvxcjE_86QAuTaqwtCMl03Kq&h=fe2e3722&itok=VsQ1FJ3N)
The Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University fight song blared down Main Street, the city of Kent was flooded with blue and gold, alumni and friends gathered and reminisced about their Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ days, fans packed the stadium to cheer on their beloved Golden Flashes, and the entire campus boomed with Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ pride.
Celeste Dawson had made up her mind. She was not going to attend college and that was her final decision.
Her story could have ended there, but the support of her parents and a program at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University opened up a new chapter in her life – one filled with opportunities she never imagined.
In a class by itself, Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University is the only public university in Northeast Ohio to be ranked in the top tier of the Best National Universities list released by U.S. News & World Report.
Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ was flat out dominant in a 54-14 victory over Howard University Saturday in its 2018 home opener at Dix Stadium. Behind six rushing touchdowns, the Golden Flashes out-gained the Bison on the ground 355-65.
A Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University tradition for 37 years, the annual Black Squirrel Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 7, from noon-5 p.m. on the Student Green and Risman Plaza. The Black Squirrel Festival, which is hosted by the Flash Activities Board, attracts more than 3,000 students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the Kent community.
The Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University alumni network again grew its ranks this summer as more than a thousand Golden Flashes got their degrees. Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University held its Summer 2018 Commencement ceremonies for the Kent Campus on Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MAC Center). The Kent Campus conferred 1,325 degrees.
![A Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University student proudly displays an award certificate during the university’s Lavender Graduation ceremony, which honors the achievements of graduating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ally students. A Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University student proudly displays an award certificate during the university’s Lavender Graduation ceremony, which honors the achievements of graduating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ally students.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/thumbnail/public/article_thumbnail/PHOTOLEAD-Lavender3.jpg?VersionId=tnUP1_4y_h2bNK_8JWIAHbtbuuNtn36I&h=e6f36a9c&itok=1NJv5Aau)
An inclusive campus acknowledges and respects diversity, and offers a welcoming environment for all community members regardless of their differences.
![Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University students model original designs created by Fashion School students during the school’s 2018 spring fashion show. Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University students model original designs created by Fashion School students during the school’s 2018 spring fashion show.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/thumbnail/public/article_thumbnail/PHOTOLEAD-Fashion1.jpg?VersionId=jctkDRJHXelawMI.NY4VL.VkCSqI0w0u&h=e6f36a9c&itok=GdbyKyyu)
Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University’s School of Fashion Design and Merchandising is once again ranked high among the nation’s elite, according to .
Their remarkable work takes place in studios, classrooms, laboratories and outdoors. They have been published in prestigious journals, authored books and received significant research grants. Now, they add a new honor to their list of notable achievements.
A group of sophomores from Firestone Community Learning Center in Akron spent a week at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University exploring university programs and learning more about college and careers.