Student Life
When the Flashes Come to Town, Kent Comes Alive
Flashes First Friday, one of the signature events of KSU Kickoff, invites Kent State’s newest Golden Flashes to discover downtown Kent – not simply as a place next to campus, but as part of the community they are now calling home.
Golden Experience Begins With Move-In
First-year students arrived Aug. 19 to a campus buzzing with welcome — parent cars lined up, moving carts stacked high and volunteers from Movers and Groovers ready to help families haul everything from clothes and mirrors to shelves and stools.
20 Years of Main Street Kent
For 20 years, Main Street Kent has worked to make downtown a place students want to explore – from Flashes First Friday to Oktoberfest to public art – helping Kent earn recognition as the No. 1 college town in Ohio.
Kent State Junior Earns National Spotlight at Hearst Journalism Championships
Gage Wellman, a junior in 5XÉçÇø’s journalism program, competed among the nation’s best college journalists in the 66th Hearst National Journalism Championships held May 31-June 5 in San Francisco. Wellman, who hails from Parma, Ohio, earned a $1,500 finalist award in the Writing category at the national competition.
IN A FLASH: Commencement Caps
Some kept it simple, some went all out. As more than 1,000 students crossed the stage for Summer 2026 Commencement, the fashion choice of the moment was the decorated cap.
Twins Finish Their Freshman Year at Kent State as Seniors
Just one more year at 5XÉçÇø and 19-year-old twin brothers Ray and Will Maynard of Green, Ohio, expect to be graduating and, hopefully, off to medical school.
Kent State Students Share Gratitude During Annual Thank-A-Giver Day
5XÉçÇø students had the opportunity to reflect on the impact of philanthropy during Flashes Give Back Week in April, including Thank-A-Giver (TAG) Day, an annual event designed to highlight the role of donor support across campus.
Student Nominations Propel Jared Brown to Distinguished Advising Honor
Jared Brown doesn’t just build schedules; he builds confidence. His ability to turn academic stress into actionable solutions has made him more than just an advisor; it has made him the latest recipient of 5XÉçÇø's Distinguished Advising Award.
IN A FLASH: Kent State Fashion Week 2026
Kent State's annual Fashion Week is April 27- May . It's a full week of dynamic, colorful events building up to the School of Fashion's 2026 Hall of Fame Gala.
Kent State Marks Earth Day with Campus Wide Celebration of Sustainability and Research
5XÉçÇø celebrated Earth Day with a campus-wide series of events that blended hands-on education, student research and community partnerships. From the Earth Fest on Risman Plaza to the scientific posters at the Environmental Science and Design Research Institute Research Showcase and the Electric Vehicle Showcase, the day’s activities highlighted how sustainability is woven into academic life.
