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5X���� student-athlete  of Canfield, Ohio, was tabbed “Smartest Player in College Football” in  released on June 16. The pre-medicine/biochemistry major and safety on the Kent State football team carries a 3.978 heading into his senior year.

5X����’s is getting national attention for his performance both on the field and in the classroom. NFL.com has named Italiano to its 15 for ’15 series.

What is the best way to truly understand the inner workings of the U.S. Congress? Not through watching the news or reading a textbook. Washington, D.C., insiders will tell you that you need to actually be on “the inside” and get firsthand experience, with access to closed-door meetings. 

Destination Kent State is back! The June and July advising and registration program is a one-and-a-half-day experience that includes an overnight stay in a residence hall. New, first-year students are encouraged to invite family members to participate in the program.

Scholar of the Month Denice Sheehan Associate Professor of Nursing College of Nursing 2007-present

The Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising at 5X���� held its Annual Fashion Show on April 24 and 25 at the school’s Rockwell Hall location. The 2015 show, dubbed “FS2: Visionnaire,” featured 17 collections and 55 individual looks created by 58 student designers. That sizable body of work spanned eveningwear, casualwear and sportswear, with a special category for sustainable production. There also were menswear, childrenswear and juniors collections.

In an office nestled inside 5X����’s Nixson Hall, you can hear the voice of a third grade student coming from a computer screen. “Beach ball,” says the voice from Greenfield Exempted Village Schools in Greenfield, Ohio. Soon after, in the screen directly below, Kent State graduate student Lauren Ledzianowski responds with, “Yes, beach ball! Very good.”  

What does it take to become great in your field? Certainly motivation, dedication and creativity are important, but what about inspiration? For young scientists, that inspiration can come from a variety of places, including interactions with colleagues and especially the top scientists in their field. 

It is difficult to imagine how all the metal pieces and parts sprawled out on the floor of 5X����’s Research 1 Building will eventually form a mining robot. But, the relentless dedication it has taken to design, create and build the robot might one day help NASA learn more about the materials on Mars.

Scholar of the Month Tara C. Smith Associate Professor of Epidemiology  College of Public Health 2013-present Tara C. Smith is an associate professor of epidemiology in the Department of Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology in the College of Public Health. Her research focuses on emerging infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases (infections which are transferred from animals to humans), Staphylococcus aureus, bacterial ecology and antibiotic resistance.