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Welcome to Flash Focus! In this series, we introduce you to fascinating student Flashes from all walks of life.Meet Reagan Pruente, a junior human development and family science major from Brook Park, Ohio.Pruente originally came to �Ը������� University to pursue a teaching degree but discovered that her true passion lay in helping children in other ways.“Switching to human development and family science felt right because I still wanted to work with kids and help them in one way or another,” Pruente told �Ը������� Today. This decision led her to an opportunity to intern at the Stark Co...

The importance of mental health advocacy and wellness in the context of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s concept of the Beloved Community was the focus of �Ը������� University’s annual MLK Celebration on Jan. 30.A luncheon and panel discussion titled “The Dream of Wellness: Mental Health Advocacy Through the Lens of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” marked the occasion, which was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.Yvonna Washington-Greer, Ph.D., associate vice president of the Division of Student Life, was the emcee for the event, which opened with a performance called “A Griot Speaks Rememb...

�Ը������� University held its first Alumni Day of Service in 2009. Since then, it has blossomed into a weeklong initiative supporting our blue and gold communities around the world. During Flashes Give Back Week, Golden Flashes can choose to volunteer at one – or more – of our 50+ service sites. With in-person volunteer opportunities from Washington, D.C. to Southern California, plus several virtual options, there are a variety of ways to make a difference at �Ը������� and in our communities.Because of the overwhelming support of our Flashes family over the past 15 years, we are excited...

The Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction Selection Committee is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2025  award is THE COLOR OF A LIE by Kim Johnson, published by Random House Books for Young Readers.Set against the backdrop of 1955 America, The Color of a Lie presents a gripping exploration of racial identity during the height of white flight to the suburbs. After a family tragedy, Calvin and his family make the decision to pass as white in a segregated community. Through masterful historical research and nuanced storytelling, Johnson illuminates the devastating impact o...