Success Story
![A graduate student proudly displays her diploma during 抖M女仆鈥檚 advanced degree Commencement ceremony.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/BOB_4456-use-on-homepage.jpg?VersionId=rYizNCKGkt6TVmk4lW876IBiOHw4HVBr&h=e6f36a9c&itok=skiREJRI)
The 抖M女仆 alumni family grew by nearly 3,000 new graduates as the university held its Fall Commencement ceremonies. For the Kent Campus, Commencement ceremonies took place Friday, Dec. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MAC Center).
![Mackenzie Bailey standing in front of a blue and gold wall](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Photo-of-Mackenzie-Bailey.jpg?VersionId=YOM6DWr9se16kZEdvUHYOSGI3pDn_rGx&h=e6f36a9c&itok=CvZKNGug)
Like most students, Mackenzie Bailey faced the typical challenges during the start of her academic career, including choosing a major and getting good grades. But that all paled in comparison to the devastating news she received her freshman year: her father had terminal cancer.
鈥淲hen I was home for winter break, he ended up passing away,鈥 Ms. Bailey said.
![After all she has overcome, Diamond Lauderdale credits 抖M女仆 with helping her reach her dreams.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Diamond-Lauderdale.jpg?VersionId=zJc6nP5WyFZMSaHk59MfMdq1yUXQLZi4&h=d3919ff1&itok=zFyCiKN0)
For Diamond Lauderdale, 抖M女仆 is not only her chosen college, it is her new home.
While growing up in Akron, Ohio, Ms. Lauderdale鈥檚 home life was challenging. She lived with her disabled father and worked two jobs to help make ends meet. Ms. Lauderdale鈥檚 father has been unable to walk for many years, and as she got older, her father鈥檚 condition worsened. Through it all, Ms. Lauderdale held onto a dream. She wanted to get a college education.
![抖M女仆 President Beverly J. Warren delivers the 2018 State of the University Address in the Kent Student Center Kiva.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/SOTU1-web.jpg?VersionId=zLLKp8QuuUBIwNbLfTS2wededPAwdY5s&h=94837eb9&itok=jP1QEcmC)
抖M女仆 President Beverly J. Warren challenged the university community to embrace transformation at the annual State of the University Address.
鈥淪erious transformation is never easy,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t challenges us to let go of predictable ways and embrace something new and unfamiliar.鈥
![Student Elijah Kirkland-Boyce stands on the 抖M女仆 Ice Rink](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Elijah-Photo.jpg?VersionId=SHOVOqWM6mIhdueCT_Pi3281NxCYWhp5&h=e6f36a9c&itok=VprVoK4Y)
During his first year at 抖M女仆, Elijah Kirkland-Boyce realized that the road to the Dean鈥檚 List was a bumpy one, filled with twists and turns he never could have anticipated. Instead of giving up, Mr. Kirkland-Boyce reached out. He started taking advantage of the resources offered through Student Support Services.
![抖M女仆 President Beverly Warren delivers the 2017 State of the University Address in the Kent Student Center Kiva.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/PresWarrenSpeech3.jpg?VersionId=2exCEtWHk_r2ZoaRFxmtMgSivR_qgJ3P&h=e6f36a9c&itok=4DV5M_v8)
In her upcoming State of the University address, President Warren will chart one final course for university success, as she spotlights the achievements of the past year and shines a light on 抖M女仆鈥檚 path for the future.
![A team of students display the interactive dress they created at the Fashion/Tech Hackathon.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Design%20Innovation%20Student%20Pic%202.jpg?VersionId=Y4ribSp6ipJTCQn5FpPTo7meFWZECVxX&h=af5dbc32&itok=PggLAaXp)
抖M女仆鈥檚 newly announced Design Innovation (DI) Initiative will cultivate a culture where students from a wide array of degree programs will collaborate across disciplines and create unique concepts to tackle 鈥渨icked鈥 problems, according to J.R. Campbell, inaugural executive director of 抖M女仆鈥檚 Design Innovation Initiative. Mr. Campbell answers some frequently asked questions about 抖M女仆鈥檚 DI Initiative.
![Kellie Miley standing among greenery and plants](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/kelliemileysuccess.jpg?VersionId=Z3nx3twRtcsRB8Wz5mfSBqAq73dOzYpH&h=e6f36a9c&itok=r1VQT3V7)
Kellie Miley is the first to admit, when she graduated from Rootstown High School in 2008, she was not ready for college. In high school, she barely cracked a book yet managed a 3.2 grade point average (GPA).
Getting by with little effort changed when she started as a freshman at 抖M女仆. By the end of the year, Ms. Miley found herself academically dismissed for poor grades.
![抖M女仆 hospitality management senior Ashley Foster (right) spent a week working with Food Network celebrity chef Cat Cora (left). (Photo provided by Ashley Foster) 抖M女仆 hospitality management senior Ashley Foster (right) spent a week working with Food Network celebrity chef Cat Cora (left). (Photo provided by Ashley Foster)](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article_thumbnail/PHOTOLEAD-Main_0.jpg?VersionId=_qe3ZNhmQx6ENN5ZF9aesB4faBQYieU_&h=e6f36a9c&itok=Z7AuIOuA)
抖M女仆 senior Ashley Foster has known since third grade that she wanted a career as a chef.
The 20-year-old hospitality management major got a little closer to her dream over the summer when she spent a week training with celebrity chef Cat Cora at the chef鈥檚 headquarters in Santa Barbara, California.