University College
![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 ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ. By the end of the year, Ms. Miley found herself academically dismissed for poor grades.
![Celeste Dawson credits ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ’s EXCEL program for making the Kent Campus feel like a second home.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Celeste2BC-web.jpg?VersionId=_1vb4EYWhP0sVC6g6P0LdomTlI5jm1F5&h=403207e6&itok=RwugD3B8)
Celeste Dawson had made up her mind. She was not going to attend college and that was her final decision.
Her story could have ended there, but the support of her parents and a program at ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ opened up a new chapter in her life – one filled with opportunities she never imagined.
![Jordan Wilkens stands in front of a background image of ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ's Kent Campus Esplanade](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/JordanWilkens.jpg?VersionId=OTu00BuysfNr8xHlIR7xZJIcWrC6u2YG&h=e6f36a9c&itok=QZ0RD2Or)
When Jordan Wilkins was a senior in high school, he thought he knew what he wanted after graduation – a career in the United States Air Force. However, his principal envisioned a different path, one where he would soar sky-high, not in a plane but at a four-year university.
![Pictured (left to right) are Barb Smith of KeyBank; Margot Copeland of KeyBank Foundation and ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ Board of Trustees; ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ student Jordan Wilkins; ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ President Beverly Warren; and ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ Foundation Board Chair Gary Brahler. Pictured (left to right) are Barb Smith of KeyBank; Margot Copeland of KeyBank Foundation and ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ Board of Trustees; ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ student Jordan Wilkins; ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ President Beverly Warren; and ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ Foundation Board Chair Gary Brahler.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/05.10.17%20Photo%20from%20KeyBank%20Foundation%27s%20gift%20announcement%20with%20Kent%20State.jpg?VersionId=JywFK0HAAJ3kq0g83yyY1HCEzu7Igj0j&h=11b85ac2&itok=uYa9b7pf)
KeyBank Foundation has granted $1 million to ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ to support programs to increase the recruitment, retention and graduation rates of underrepresented students.
![Pictured (left to right) are Barb Smith of KeyBank; Margot Copeland of KeyBank Foundation and ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ Board of Trustees; ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ student Jordan Wilkins; ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ President Beverly Warren; and ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ Foundation Board Chair Gary Brahler. Pictured (left to right) are Barb Smith of KeyBank; Margot Copeland of KeyBank Foundation and ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ Board of Trustees; ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ student Jordan Wilkins; ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ President Beverly Warren; and ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ Foundation Board Chair Gary Brahler.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/05.10.17%20Photo%20from%20KeyBank%20Foundation%27s%20gift%20announcement%20with%20Kent%20State.jpg?VersionId=JywFK0HAAJ3kq0g83yyY1HCEzu7Igj0j&h=11b85ac2&itok=uYa9b7pf)
KeyBank Foundation has granted $1 million to ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ to support programs to increase the recruitment, retention and graduation rates of underrepresented students.