ASHBROOK CENTER’S NEW HOME IN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION DEDICATED

Jean Ashbrook helped cut the ribbon, Sally Schramm welcomed attendees and Marv Krinsky and Jeff Sikkenga delivered brief remarks, as the Ashbrook Center’s new home was dedicated in the Dwight Schar College of Education building on the Ashland University campus on Oct. 1.

“John would be so proud,” Mrs. Ashbrook said of the new location for the independent academic center established in 1983 and named in honor of her late husband, Congressman John M. Ashbrook, a Republican who represented Ohio’s 17th Congressional District for more than 20 years before his death in 1982 at age 53.

Krinsky, Ashbrook’s board chairman for two decades, joined Ashbrook in cutting the ribbon after he spoke about all of those who helped make the center what it is today, including the late Peter Schramm. Born in Hungary, Schramm’s family immigrated to the U.S. when he was 10 years old in 1956 to flee the Communist government there at the time. He was Ashbrook’s longtime executive director and his name honors the center’s new library, which has about 6,000 books he collected.

“Ashbrook’s reputation around the country can be attributed in great part to what Peter established,” remarked Krinsky, who added that Schramm’s passion was teaching about the freedoms in America.

Schramm’s widow, Sally, added, “I don’t think he would’ve been surprised by the growth.”

While Ashbrook’s only other home on the eighth floor of the AU library contained many fond memories, Sikkenga, the Ashbrook executive director since 2020, said the much larger second floor space in its new building was needed.

“The growth has been phenomenal,” said Sikkenga, who has served various roles with Ashbrook since 1997. “This facility will allow us to accommodate that growth and grow more. Plus, we’re able to keep the personal feel of the program.”

When Sikkenga came to Ashbrook 25 years ago, there were 27 Ashbrook Scholars and a couple hundred teachers in its network. Today, there are close to 150 Ashbrook Scholars and almost 30,000 teachers in its network across the country. The Ashbrook Scholar Program is a rigorous and top-rated academic program for undergraduate students at AU.

As part of its five-year strategic plan, Ashbrook wants to expand its scholar program to 250 students, add more academies for high school students and grow its graduate program, as well as have more seminars and events for citizens.

“We’re going to be the recognized national leader in civic education and this is the headquarters where it’s going to happen,” said Sikkenga.