Ohio State Marion 2021-2022 Impact Report

IMPACT Report Making a difference one student at a time

“Without scholarships like this there would be another layer of stress and concern covering me while trying to navigate becoming a young adult. I hope that in the future I am able to give back to the university and help people pay for their education.”

Kerrington Nelson Psychology

2021-2022

This Impact Report highlights what can happen when we work together with you to make our students and campus thrive! It is partnerships like this that lend strength during transformational times and build foundations that will enable success well into the future. Thank you for your continued support through time and change.

“What inspires me is knowing that one day I will be able to give back to my community.

From the skills and knowledge that I have obtained, I take pride in knowing that I will be able to inspire and encourage a generation of future leaders.”

Naomi Hammond African American and African Studies

Reenergizing the campus in a time of change

Dr. Gregory Rose

As we’ve learned all too well during the last two years, change is all around us all the time. As we returned to campus for autumn 2021, I reflected on our past and how far we have come. We have grown from humble beginnings at Harding High School in 1957 to a beautiful sprawling campus including our recently constructed Science and Engineering Building and just completed Phase 1 of major renovations to the Alber Student Center.

Our progress, our accomplishments, and our impact on the lives of countless students can be directly attributed to generous donors who believe in our land grant mission to bring a superior college degree within the reach of all Ohio citizens, in an accessible and affordable way. The philanthropic spirit of making a positive difference that will resonate for generations to come has enabled academic experiences and rewards in which our students learn and grow.

Our vision is to be the destination of choice for those seeking a university education at a campus recognized for excellence in teaching, research, community outreach, and global citizenship. We pride ourselves on our small campus environment in which students can regularly access faculty and staff and can experience our “culture of caring.” The continued support of donors to Ohio State Marion makes all this possible. Through generous gifts to building campaigns, scholarships, and student opportunity funds, we are bringing to our regional campus students the depth and breadth of opportunity synonymous with The Ohio State University.

This Impact Report celebrates all that is possible when philanthropy meets the student experience cultivated by dedicated faculty and staff.

As a result, students’ lives are enriched to ends we may never know.

With grateful hearts, Ohio State Marion students, faculty, and staff extend thanks to our donors.

Gregory S. Rose Dean and Director

The Ohio State University at Marion

CAMPUS

BY THE NUMBERS

$1.2M

SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS AWARDED ANNUALLY

75.2%

FIRST TO SECOND YEAR RETENTION RATE 2020

21.6% STUDENT MINORITY POPULATION

27%

FIRST GENERATION NEW STUDENTS

64%

FIRST CHOICE VS. OPTIONED STUDENTS (Percent of students on average who chose Ohio State Marion as their first choice to apply)

OHIO STATE MARION 3.0

A Five-year Strategic Plan (2019-2024) Ohio State Marion welcomes the opportunities and challenges posed by its dual role of being an open access campus within a tier-one research university. Our hope is that successful implementation of The Ohio State Marion 3.0 Strategic Plan will increase the number of Ohioans with bachelor’s degrees, and that it will assist in bringing higher education opportunities to a broader range of citizens, not only in our traditional service areas, but throughout Ohio and beyond. In developing this plan, we identified four strategic focus areas:

EXCELLENCE IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP As part of our focus on student achievement and leadership, we will develop new innovative programs including a Global Education for Citizenship program, a CYE (Culminating Years Experience) Program, and a Community of Scholars program.

STUDENT FOCUSED INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES Succeeding in the area of student achievement and leadership starts with a close examination of how we can provide a campus environment that is conducive to our students’ needs. To this effect, over the next five years, we plan on placing particular attention on our infrastructure and services.

DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE CAMPUS Ohio State Marion is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive campus culture that empowers all of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community to thrive and contribute in meaningful ways to an increasingly diverse world.

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS Ohio State Marion is committed to increasing the sustainability of campus operations and the environmental consciousness of our faculty, staff, students, and communities.

Recent developments such as designing our Science and Engineering Building to be energy efficient, installing several electric vehicle charging stations, and upgrading our outdoor lighting with LEDs, are examples of this commitment.

Alber Student Center

Grand reopening of student center

Over 100 community leaders, Ohio State Marion and Marion Technical College students, faculty, staff, alumni, and administration came together to officially celebrate the grand reopening of the Alber Student Center on the Marion campus during a Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting and Open House event held Wednesday, August 25th, 2021. Pictured above from left: Ohio State Marion student, Amber Alexander; Ohio State Marion staff members Cathy Gerber and Shawn Jackson; Ohio State Marion Dean and Director, Gregory S. Rose; MTC President, Ryan McCall; Laura Emerick of MTC; and Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, Lynette McCullough.

What does a legacy look like?

George H. Alber

In Marion, Ohio, it looks like one O hio State education multiplying into many more. After George H. Alber graduated with a business degree from Ohio State in 1929, he went to work manufacturing fertilizer in his home town of Marion. Plant Life Fertilizer, the business he founded, became the largest p rivately-held fertilizer company in the country. When Alber passed away on Thanksgiving Day in 1997, he left half of his $32 million estate to be invested on behalf of The Ohio State University at Marion to provide scholarships for students at Ohio State Marion. From the extraordinary $16 million donation from Alber in 1999, Ohio State Marion has provided over $400,000 on average each year in scholarships for our students. Alber’s generous gift has benefited more than 6,000 Ohio State Marion students.

Renovations at the center of campus life Alber Student Center

QUICK FACTS

• Built in 1986 and named in honor of George H. Alber.

• A $2 million renovation of the Alber Student Center, its first major renovation in nearly 35 years.

After a year of renovation work to the building, the Alber Student opened just in time for the start of autumn semester 2021 for thousands of Marion campus students.

Improving and expanding student life facilities is something we need to do regardless of whether housing comes to campus, but if we are to have on-campus housing, the expectation is that we will have facilities in support of student life. The campus has additional work to do to find funding support to expand outdoor recreation facilities. Our goal is to provide for the education of the whole student. An element of our “culture of caring” includes having facilities where students can meet, unwind, recreate, share experiences, and learn leadership skills as members of student organizations.

• Renovations feature a new café where food items, coffee, and refreshments can be purchased via the GrubHub app on smart phones, credit/debit card, or a student ID. • The fitness area was expanded by 100 sq. ft. and upgraded.

• A new multi-purpose room is now available for new student programs and meetings, and community use.

• The main lounge area features a high tech projection system where movies can be shown.

• Student life and campus recreation staff now have private office spaces together in one location.

• Phase 2 renovations will provide for expansion of student and staff offices, campus clubs/ organization meeting rooms, locker rooms, additional windows, and gym enhancements.

How donor gifts impact the lives of our students “This scholarship has made me so appreciative and if anything else has motivated me. It keeps me motivated to work hard to keep scholarships like this one and to further my academic career and ultimately my work career. Gifts like these are so important to me and other students because they help us see one of many reasons why we work so hard.”

Alison Cotton Business Administration

“This scholarship being awarded to me has made an impact in many ways. I am responsible for the funding of my education and without scholarships I really wouldn’t be able to afford college at all. I want to thank you so very much.”

Skyler Ross

Early Childhood Education “With my father being disabled and my mom being the sole provider, this gives me a chance to not stress financially and allows me to put all my focus into my schoolwork. I can achieve my degree with help from donors like you.”

Youssef Essa

Biomedical Engineering

“The scholarship I received has helped me afford school and learn to have balance. I balance my work, school, and personal life which is a valuable skill to have for the rest of my life. I work in a pharmacy, and it isn’t a job I can do mindlessly, so this scholarship has helped reduce the stress of paying for college to a minimum. Ohio State wants you to do the best and be the best you can be, and the scholarship I received helps me do that.”

Juliana Tron Biology

New engineering technology degree responds to needs of Ohio manufacturers

A new bachelor’s degree program that launched autumn of 2020 on The Ohio State University’s regional campuses is preparing students to excel as business-oriented engineering leaders in the highly automated manufacturing industry. In partnership with the College of Engineering, the bachelor of science in engineering technology (BSET) with a concentration in manufacturing is offered on Marion campus.

A resurgence of manufacturing, Ohio’s largest economic sector, has increased demand for college graduates with a combination of skills in engineering, manufacturing, and technology. The engineering technology degree program prepares students to excel as the advanced manufacturing leaders of tomorrow in roles such as process engineer, manufacturing engineer, operational excellence team member, operations supervisor, and process improvement leader.

“We need to listen very attentively to Ohio businesses in order to create the workforce they need and to get our students ready for emerging opportunities,” said Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson. “It was the advice from Ohio manufacturers, for example, that led us to create a new engineering technology degree program with an emphasis on advanced manufacturing at three regional campuses and expanding to a fourth campus soon.”

Ohio’s manufacturing industry provided critical input on the program’s curriculum, along with more than a dozen local companies who serve as mentors and provide hands-on learning opportunities beginning with students’ first semester in the program.

By combining hands-on learning, Ohio manufacturers’ expertise, an integrative curriculum, and the ability for Buckeyes to study where they live and want to launch their careers, the engineering technology degree program is already proving to be a success.

Building a legacy of distinguished undergraduate student researchers One of the advantages of attending Ohio State Marion is that you can work closely with professors on various research projects. All full-time tenure track faculty at Ohio State Marion are engaged in research or scholarship. Faculty in a variety of disciplines are often looking for research assistants and they are also open to students conducting their own research or investigations under supervision. Participation in undergraduate research benefits students educationally, professionally, and personally.

Junior zoology major Lauren Frank is the latest to earn a prestigious research fellowship from the James Comprehensive Cancer Center, under faculty guidance.

Now entering her junior year, Frank was named the campus’s third Pelotonia Fellow in the past four years. The Pelotonia Undergraduate Fellowship Program provides one-year research fellowships to the best and brightest Ohio State undergraduate students who want to help cure cancer. Undergraduate fellows are paid a $12,000 annual stipend to work on their independent research projects.

PELOTONIA 2021

Members of Team Marion raise over 10K for cancer research at Pelotonia 2021.

The Ohio State University at Marion was well represented at Pelotonia the weekend of August 6-8 as eight people from the campus came together to raise over $10,000 for cancer research during this year’s ride to raise research funds for Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

Team Marion 2021 members included faculty members Ruben Petreaca, John Maharry, Renee Bouley, emeritus faculty Rich Bradley, staff member Janey Arnold and her husband Ed Arnold, staff member and volunteer Maryjo Mundey, and 2021 undergraduate Pelotonia Fellowship recipient and zoology major Lauren Frank.

Ohio State Marion Professor of Mathematics and returning Pelotonia participant John Maharry has seen the long-term impact those riding in the annual event have had.

“This is Marion’s 8th year and so far, we have raised over $92,000 goes directlyon totheir Ohiolife State’s cancer “I could see that Ithat made an impact because when center,” said Maharry. appreciate thewere support they first started out, they“We weretruly nervous and they both we havewith received over the said. years“Progressively, from the Marion struggling college,” Anna especially community Pelotonia and see cancer during secondfor semester, I could thatresearch. they wereEvery totally dollar raised is improving treatments and saving lives.” different people.”

In 2021, more than 10,478 people participated in Pelotonia raising almost $13 million. Since the inception of this event 13 years ago, more than $230,374,500 has been raised.

New student fund affords unique opportunities for students

History majors gain real-world experience

SEE THE WORLD! Amazing experiences via the Student Opportunity Development Fund

The Student Opportunity Development Fund allowed Seville Davis to experience exciting sites in the western United States in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and South Dakota. This fund helped her finance a trip to explore, hike, learn more about these awe inspiring parts of America. “I got to visit so many different national parks, and I really have a deeper understanding of our world through those,” said Davis. “The Student Opportunity Development Fund was a huge help and very flexible with what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. I am very grateful I had this opportunity and thankful for all the people who help make it possible for people like me, who might not have the resources otherwise, to do something like this. It was an experience I will never forget,” she added.

Ohio State Marion students are serving as volunteer archivists at the Marion Women’s Club Home, working alongside club members as they scan, catalogue, and research club records dating back to the 1890s. Ohio State Marion history alumna, Keily Cunningham, serves as the club archivist and supervises the project.

Internships for interested students began autumn semester 2021.

“Regarding my thankfulness to the donor(s) of this scholarship, it cannot be understated.

I am truly, earnestly beholden to them. The truth is that I am not in a position, nor would I be anytime in the foreseeable future, to attend OSUM. I see others who regardless of who pays for them to go don’t appreciate it like those who have to work and pay to go themselves. I make it a point to remain aware of the fact that my possibility for a higher education is the result of someone’s kindness and do my best to aspire to not disappoint them.”

Owen Browning, Welding Engineering

“Thank you so much for helping me accomplish my dreams. With your help I will be able to do what I love for the rest of my life, and learn every day. I’ll be able to help people live their lives the way they want to, and help them heal. Not only have you helped me start my journey to accomplishing my dream, but you have helped hundreds of people on their way to happiness.”

Oumykalsom Sane, Psychology

“This scholarship allowed me to finish my last year of college. Since the pandemic, I have struggled a great amount with my own expenses. I did not have the funds to pay for the rest of my tuition. I genuinely thought I would have to postpone my last year of education. This put me in a tough position as I already found my interning agency. When the scholarship was awarded to me, I found hope again. The scholarship has become my greatest blessing this year. I will continue my path and maintain my GPA so I can graduate with honors. I will finally be able to provide for my children rather than struggle with paying for them. Thank you. I have the most gratitude for this scholarship.”

Shelby Mark, Social Work

“Between all my club involvements, classes and leadership positions, I am only able to work 15 hours a week on campus so money can be tight. I pay for my own tuition, rent and living expenses. Being gifted with this scholarship has given me the opportunity to pursue all the positions and involvements I have on campus. I am so thankful, and I really believe that I would not have had this experience at any other university and for that I am forever grateful.”

Tiffany Rossetti, Biology

CATHY GERBER Director of Development & Community Relations 1465 Mount Vernon Ave. Marion, Ohio 43302 740-725-6069 gerber.10@osu.edu go.osu.edu/mariongiving