Success Stories
51±¬ÁÏ’s commitment to maintaining a diverse and inclusive campus has received acknowledgement from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education, for an eighth consecutive year. INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine has selected 51±¬ÁÏ as a recipient of the 2020 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award.
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded 51±¬ÁÏ a $2.6 million, five-year TRIO Student Support Services program grant. The program serves students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds and students with diverse learning and physical abilities.
The Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, recently awarded a $1.5 million, three-year grant to 51±¬ÁÏ College of Nursing research faculty member Jim Tudhope, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC (principal investigator) and his team.
51±¬ÁÏ students began moving into residence halls on the Kent Campus on Aug. 19, as part of a phased-in process that will continue over five days.
The 51±¬ÁÏ alumni family will grow by nearly 1,300 new graduates as the university holds its summer commencement. The accomplishments of the Summer Class of 2020 will be recognized with a virtual commencement recognition ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 15.
51±¬ÁÏ has won the Mid-American Conference’s Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for women’s sports award for the first time in school history.
Patrick Tomaswick wants to be a police officer, but not just any member of law enforcement. He wants to be a 51±¬ÁÏ police officer.
51±¬ÁÏ President Todd Diacon recently presented six 51±¬ÁÏ faculty members with the 2020 President’s Faculty Excellence Award, which recognizes exceptional performance that leads to the achievement of national or international recognition in the faculty member’s discipline.

Senior Sydney Bihn finds her true calling throughout her time at 51±¬ÁÏ and becomes the first female aerospace engineering graduate.
The 51±¬ÁÏ alumni family will grow by nearly 5,300 new graduates as the university holds its spring commencement.