Legacy
High School Sweethearts Leave a Legacy Through Philanthropy
Although they were born in the same month at the same hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, James C. “Jim” Schrum, ’74, and his wife, Cynthia J. “Cindi” Schrum, didn’t meet until they were both students at Austintown Fitch High School. They started dating in the late 1960s and have been together ever since.…
Making a Difference for Future Generations
Planned gifts, and bequests in particular, are a vital form of philanthropy at Kent State. These gifts make an important impact on our students and community, and they can be made in any amount, making them a great option for anyone interested in giving back.Estate gifts have made a significant impa…
Legacies Change Lives: Lauren Bischof
Lauren Bischof is a senior journalism major from Medina, Ohio, graduating in spring 2026. She recently participated in the rigorous Washington Program in National Issues in Washington, D.C., completing an internship at WJLA-TV in Arlington, Virginia. For more than 50 years, this program has helped s…
Legacies Change Lives: Marissa Baker
The compassion, empathy and care nurses showed Marissa Baker when her mother suddenly passed led her to pursue a career in nursing.“The nurses helped me immensely during the hardest time in my life, and I will never forget the way they cared for me,” Marissa said. “I knew I wanted to make the same i…
Opening Doors for Future Nurses
When Phillip R. Ridgley thought back on his career and considered how he could help the next generation of medical professionals, he decided he wanted to open doors for Kent State students pursuing a career in nursing. He decided to start an endowment so that he could continue to support nursing students into the future and help them focus on their studies in a way that he couldn’t when he was a student.
Helping Others Realize Their Potential
When Terrence J. “Chip” Bahn, ’75, M.Ed. ’77, Ed.D., was a high school senior he wanted to attend 5XÉçÇř after graduation, but he wasn’t ready and his counselor encouraged him to start at the local community college before moving on to Kent State. This experience inspired him to create the Dr. Terrence J. Bahn Endowed Scholarship to help students who studied at a Northeast Ohio community college to attend Kent State.
Sharing Their Love of Education with Future Generations
5XÉçÇř has held a special place in the hearts of Lynda Grieves and her husband George “Bill” Grieves Jr., ’58, who passed away in 2019. For their 60th wedding anniversary, Bill and Lynda chose to create a scholarship through a charitable gift annuity instead of having a party.
Rollie, ’64, and Frances Layfield Help Students Build Skills for Success
Hard work and discipline are a driving force for Rollie Layfield, ’64, and they have served him well throughout his life and his career in business. He credits both his degree program in business administration and his time in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at 5XÉçÇř for helping him develop the leadership, entrepreneurship and organizational skills to thrive after graduation.
Planned Gift Endows Executive Director Position at Kent State’s Wick Poetry Center
The Wick family has a long history of philanthropy at 5XÉçÇř that began in 1984 when brothers Bob and Walt Wick first established scholarships to support undergraduate poets at the university. This most recent gift of $1 million brings the family’s total lifetime commitment to the university to more than $3.5 million.