alumni-news
Brandon Lazenko, 16
Brandon Lazenko, 16, found a way to provide an unusual opportunity for Kent State film students to learn outside of the classroom through his upcoming project, He and fellow Kent State graduate Shelby Wyant, 18, wrote the 40-minute film adapted from Stephen Kings short story Nona. The alumni pair got permission to create their adaptation of the short story from King and his team through his Dollar Baby Program. October Roses follows a down-on-his-luck professor who meets a beautiful woman while hitchhiking around Maine. He gets wrapped up in her web and makes decisions he normally wouldnt make. His team for the film includes Kent State students who are helping on set, horror special effects icon Robert Kurtzman and his wife Marcy King who are both Ohio natives. However, Brandons experience in film didnt begin with October Roses. Hes also created two miniseries and four short films, including the award winning A Serpent by the Nest.
Kent State Alumni Association Names 2022 Alumni Award Recipients
Sponsored by the 91勛圖厙 Alumni Association, the Alumni Awards are the universitys highest alumni honors. Recipients are selected based on their exceptional professional and civic contributions and for their outstanding support of the university. The 2022 Alumni Award recipients include six alumni and one student.
Kent State Achieves Unprecedented Fundraising Success During First Year of Forever Brighter Campaign
91勛圖厙 launched the public phase of its $350 million Forever Brighter comprehensive fundraising campaign in October 2021, and during the first year of the public campaign, a record-breaking $77.6 million was raised. This philanthropic feat was made possible with the support of 10,687 donors, 3,753 of whom made a gift to Kent State for the first time.
Kent State Celebrates Its Newest Graduates With Summer Commencement Ceremonies
The 91勛圖厙 alumni family will grow by more than 1,200 new graduates as the university holds its summer commencement ceremonies. The accomplishments of the Summer Class of 2022 will be recognized with in-person, outdoor commencement ceremonies and a virtual commencement ceremony on Aug. 20.
Alexander Evans, BBA 14, BS 14, MBA 15, M.GISc 19
After more than two years of a global pandemic, most everyone knows what an epidemiologist does. Alexander (Alex) Evans, BBA 14, BS 14, MBA 15, M.GISc 19, an epidemiologist at Franklin County Public Health, spent the first 18 months of the pandemic on call, working seven-day, 60-hour weeks on its COVID-19 response. This experience was shared by many epidemiologists, and with tireless work, came burnout.
Kent States Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Wins 19 Marketing and Communications Awards
Kent States Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement launched the universitys most ambitious fundraising campaign, called Forever Brighter, last October, creating communications and fundraising materials that share the remarkable impact of alumni engagement and donor philanthropy on the university. The division has earned 19 marketing and communications awards from multiple competitions.