Impact Report
Changing lives and impacting our communities
THIS IMPACT REPORT highlights how lives can be forever changed by others who pay it forward. From fighting food insecurity and raising elementary literacy levels, to building partnerships and honoring those we love, to recognizing extraordinary accomplishments and providing essential scholarships for cutting edge research, all of these are ways we positively impact lives for decades to come!
Thank you for your continued support.
Ohio State Marion in a Nutshell
Student retention rate for first year students
(the highest among Ohio State’s regional campuses)
15%
Of incoming freshmen are in the top 10% in their high school graduating class
115
Number of first-generation students among incoming freshmen 849
Enrollment autumn 2024
17:1 Student to faculty ratio
$1.1 million
Scholarship funds awarded annually 200+ Ohio State majors you can begin in Marion
Paying It Forward
Our students’ success stories and facility improvements have been supported by the generosity of donors who pay it forward, inspire others to greatness, and become a lasting pillar that resonates with students for years to come.”
The quality of Ohio State Marion’s faculty and staff continues to rise— they are second to none. Their academic and service excellence, and their concern for the intellectual and personal growth of students, characterize this campus. Beyond the classroom, the undergraduate research opportunities our faculty provide to students have opened doors to professions of impact. We have responded to student needs by hiring retention and success staff, mental health and wellness counselors, and developing—with donor support— food pantries, “friendly fridges,” and a clothing closet. Through our culture of caring, we have enabled our students to create their own success stories, triumph over adversities, build resilience, and become the critical thinking leaders of tomorrow.
Gregory S. Rose Dean & Director
Naming campaign reaches $250,000 milestone for Greg Swepston Gymnasium
THANKS TO THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION of a local community committee, The Ohio State University at Marion is pleased to announce that the $250,000 fundraising goal has been met and the campus gymnasium in the Alber Student Center will be named the Greg Swepston Gymnasium in honor of the beloved Marion resident, coach, mentor and former major league baseball scout.
Fundraising to support the renovation of the gymnasium for current and future students at The Ohio State University at Marion and Marion Technical College began in July 2022 as part of the Phase 2 renovation project for the Alber Student Center completed in late summer 2023. Specific renovations to the gymnasium included refinishing the floor, replacing lighting and acoustical panels, replacing doors, adding a window, and painting the walls and ceiling.
According to Ohio State Marion Director of Development and Community Relations Cathy Gerber, two years of tireless efforts from grassroots community fundraising resulted in realization of the naming opportunity. Gerber shared that, “the university will celebrate with those who knew Swepston and contributed to honor his legacy during an Evening of Gratitude later this year that will include all the donors that made all the Alber Student Center renovations possible. This will be a wonderful time to celebrate the legacy of Greg Swepston, a man who meant
so much to so many.”
Committee members include Dave Gorenflo, Dick Brown, Roger George, Cheryl Huffman, Dave Webster, Dave White, Gary Iams, Jesse Hines, Bob Cyders, Larry Geissler, Julie Rivas, Greg Reynolds, Homer McDuffie, Jodi Somerlot, Tracy Schilling, and Cathy Gerber.
Ohio State Marion Dean and Director Greg Rose said, “the commitment and energy of this group was amazing to watch, and their appreciation of the impact Greg Swepston had in the community and in others’ lives clearly was a driving force.”
Swepston was a member of the Ohio State freshman baseball team, and after graduating from Ohio State he moved to Marion where his first job was as a teacher and coach in the Marion City Schools. He rose through the ranks, becoming a varsity baseball and basketball coach in the late 1960s and early 1970s before serving for a decade as Marion Harding’s athletic director. Swepston spent roughly three decades as a major league baseball scout with the Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos. He was also a longtime season ticket holder for Ohio State football and basketball games and routinely attended road trips and bowl games. READ
Greg Swepston
Stephen M. Geib to be inducted into Ohio State Marion Alumni Hall of Fame
STEPHEN M. GEIB, former Executive Director and Founder of Agape for Youth, Inc., will be recognized by The Ohio State University at Marion for his significant contributions to the university, the community, and the lives of young people at a formal ceremony, during spring semester in Maynard Hall’s Guthery Community Room.
Geib, a native of Marion, Ohio and graduate of The Ohio State University College of Social Work, has been an outstanding advocate for youth across Ohio and the university throughout his career.
After graduating from River Valley High School, Geib began classes at Ohio State Marion on his way to earning a Bachelor of Science in Social Welfare from Ohio State.
Geib parlayed his degree, experiences, and desire to help others into a lifelong career building a strong foundation for young people. He started at a children’s home shelter doing emergency care for kids who needed it. He later moved to a Delaware, Ohio to serve in a counselor coordinator position at Touchstone Group Home providing structure and guidance to youth in need. Geib was inspired to begin his own program called Agape for Youth, Inc. in Dayton, Ohio.
Geib shared his lifelong affinity to the university through service and involvement. Geib also participates enthusiastically in the College of Social Work’s homecoming celebrations and supports the college’s annual fundraising Gala “Shine On.” He is a member of The Ohio State University College of Social Work Hall of Fame, The Ohio State Alumni Society, and the Ohio State President’s Club. Geib’s dedication to the university is also evident through his role as a student mentor and community liaison, promoting the university and coordinating academic and professional training opportunities in the Dayton area.
Geib’s commitment to The Ohio State University and his professional achievements have earned him numerous
Stephen M. Geib
Executive Director and
Ohio State Marion was a stone’s throw from my house. Moreover, I knew I could go a few years there and go to Columbus and finish my degree. The transition from Ohio State Marion to Columbus was natural,” he explained and continued him down a path of helping others and a lifelong rewarding career.”
accolades, including the Distinguished Alumni Career Award from The Ohio State University and the Outstanding Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Award from Wright State University.
For Geib, his life has been about building relationships and helping others. “I have been fortunate to receive several awards. It is all about building relationships,” he said.
former
Founder of Agape for Youth, Inc.
Industry partners help prepare future leaders in manufacturing
The Ohio State University at Marion has partnered with business and industry professionals to prepare students majoring in engineering technology to become the businessoriented, industry leaders in the Marion region, across the state of Ohio and beyond.
Ohio State’s engineering technology bachelor’s degree is one of the majors offered by the university’s nationally ranked College of Engineering but is exclusively available on Ohio State’s regional campuses. Now, four short years after establishing the major, new graduates are fulfilling specific needs for area manufacturers. The engineering technology degree program is designed to produce highly skilled graduates with comprehensive training in manufacturing engineering, preparing them for a wide range of responsibilities, including process optimization, production management, troubleshooting, and company representative roles.
The need for these graduates is being driven by a resurgence of manufacturing, Ohio’s largest economic sector, and has increased demand for college graduates with this combination of skills.
According to Gus Comstock, the director of Marion’s economic development organization Marion CAN DO!, the benefit of having a regional campus of an internationally recognized university right here in Marion, Ohio is a huge competitive advantage to regional businesses and industries. Assistant Professor of Practice in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Dr. Nima Mansouri, said, “Marion County and Ohio being industrial hubs, have a significant demand for
a skilled workforce, particularly in manufacturing. This region requires a new generation of well-educated engineers to meet its industrial needs. By equipping students with the latest knowledge in manufacturing, we are helping local industries remain competitive and lead the nation in the future of manufacturing.”
Connecting engineering technology students with internationally recognized businesses and industries creates a win-win situation. For the students, it means real-world experience, networking opportunities, and a clearer path to future employment. For businesses and industries, it provides access to fresh talent, innovative ideas, and an avenue to shape the next generation of engineers who will drive their success. The collaboration fosters skill development and ensures that educational programs remain aligned with industry needs, ultimately benefiting both the students and the regional economy.
Additionally in October 2023, The Ohio State University at Marion, Marion Community Foundation and Tri-Rivers Career Center marked a significant milestone with the debut of its state-of-the-art connected smart manufacturing (CSM) cell hosted within the manufacturing bay of the RAMTEC facility. This transformative addition, generously funded by The Ohio State University at Marion, the Marion Community Foundation and Tri-Rivers Career Center, represents a pivotal advancement in manufacturing education in Marion, Ohio.
One student’s perspective on the impact of scholarships Bush earns cancer research fellowship
Written and submitted by student Anna Gerber
The impact scholarships bring is the ultimate feeling of relief and accomplishment. These funds put relief on students such as me who may be worrying about how to manage the cost of tuition, gas (if commuting), and food. This exemplifies how much of a blessing these funds are to me and can bring to a student’s well-being.
Scholarships show appreciation of a student and help push them to continue not giving up even through trials because they know someone out there is supporting them. This push for finishing education will eventually lead to a career and further help communities.
I am entirely grateful for everything donors fund such as all the events I have enjoyed and participated in on campus. Ohio State would not be as welcoming and full of life without the support of donors. The campus events involve students by bringing attention to important causes, help students make friends, and remind students to take a break and relax.
Receiving financial support has changed my educational journey by allowing me to be able to transfer and further pursue my career at the Ohio State Columbus campus. This campus costs more in tuition, but deeper encapsulates me into the classes that hold requirements for my specific major.
Ohio State Marion junior biology major Wesley Bush was recently named a Pelotonia Undergraduate Scholar by The James Comprehensive Cancer Center at Ohio State. The award is the seventh such honor since 2018 for Ohio State students working with Ohio State Marion faculty research mentors.
The Pelotonia Undergraduate Scholars Program provides a one-year research award to the best and brightest Ohio State University undergraduate students who want to help cure cancer. The scholarship pays Bush well over $12,000 through the academic year to continue his research.
Bush shared that he is researching the fundamental mechanisms of cancer cells, providing a better understanding of how they operate that will allow the development of better drugs and therapies.
“My recent work examines how DNA damage repair machinery is altered or impaired in cancers,” said Bush. “I use large databases of many human tumor samples to identify patterns of damage. By determining these patterns, we may better understand mechanisms of cellular transformation and immortalization,” he explained.
All of his research experience, explained Bush, will help in his future education and career. “I plan to pursue cancer research not only due to its massive humanitarian importance,” said Bush, “but also due to its unique character because of multicellular life. There is still so much to learn about how our own cells work, even when healthy, and the understanding gained through the fight against cancer will almost certainly benefit other fields of science and medicine.”
Bush thinks Ohio State Marion has had a recent history of success with the number of Pelotonia Fellowships awarded to students because of the combination of people, facilities, and availability of equipment. Ultimately, Bush shared that undergraduate research could provide a valuable opportunity to interact with and contribute to professional academia. Bush’s plans include working towards a PhD and could see himself also working as a college professor because of his love for many elements of the job.
READ THE FULL STORY AT: osumarion.osu.edu/story/pelotonia2024
Anna Gerber Ohio State student
Wesley Bush Ohio State student
Scholarship allows freshman to pursue passion for animal science
Ohio State Marion animal sciences major, Jonah Bowdle, is making the most of his college education as a 2023 recipient of the Wm. Kay Davis Excellence Scholarship he earned as an incoming freshman.
The Marion Pleasant High School graduate was awarded $5,000 toward his tuition at Ohio State Marion. Having school paid for has given Bowdle the ability in his first year to focus on academics and to pursue his passion for learning about animals.
“I am very dedicated to academics,” he said. In fact, “I love academics. It (the Wm. Kay Davis Excellence Scholarship) has just enabled me to pursue my passions, which is primarily animals, educating people about animals, learning about animals,” Bowdle shared.
“For the last six years I have kept and bred exotic animals, specifically reptiles,” he said. “I also work with birds and fish and insects.”
Bowdle said that there are a couple different career paths he is thinking about.
“The main one right now is vet school. I am a pre-vet major. I am doing animal science but I’m also getting the prerequisites for vet school,” he said.
“My goal is to be a zoo vet.”
“The Wm. Kay Davis Excellence Scholarship is enabling me to do that, to pursue my bachelor’s degree, my career,” said Bowdle.
“I am extremely thankful that I did this first-year foundation,” as a freshman at Ohio State Marion, Bowdle said. “I am just trying my best to graduate with the least debt possible. It is going to really allow me to focus on my academics. That is the huge thing. Not having to stress so much about paying for it and just being able to dive in to learning.”
READ THE FULL STORY AT: osumarion.osu.edu/story/bowdlescholar
Regional workforce development professional honored
Director of Marion CAN DO!, Gus Comstock, was honored with the Ralph Howard Service Award in Morrill Hall Auditorium during the campus’s 2024 Academic Recognition Ceremony.
The Ralph Howard Service Award is presented each year by the Ohio State Marion Advisory Board to an individual or an organization that has contributed to the development of academic programs or the honors program and has made a significant impact on the quality of education at The Ohio State University at Marion.
READ THE FULL STORY AT: osumarion.osu.edu/story/comstock
Gus Comstock
Director of Marion CAN DO!
Jonah Bowdle Ohio State student
A group of 80 middle and high school students from across central and north central Ohio descended on the Marion campus June 10-14, 2024, to be part of Ohio State Marion’s annual high school STEM camp and high school and middle school engineering camps.
Coordinator of Engineering Programs at Ohio State Marion, Dr. Golrokh Mirzaei, shared that Ohio State initiated the summer camp program about 10 years ago to engage and motivate K-12 students in science and engineering.
“The goal is to show them how new inventions in these areas can change daily life and inspire them to be the creators of tomorrow when they come to college,” said Mirzaei.
Response to the annual hands-on academic camps meant to inspire students with a love for science, technology, engineering and mathematics was positive among
Sivakoff recognized with Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching Students elevate STEM skills at Ohio State Marion
Frances Sivakoff, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology and faculty member at The Ohio State University at Marion has been selected as a recipient of The Ohio State University’s 2024 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. Established during the 1959-1960 academic year, it is one of the university’s most prestigious teaching awards.
“Professor Sivakoff is what I like to call an educator of a lifetime,” wrote an alumni nominator. “She is a role model to all her students and genuinely cares about every one of them. She is also the professor who made me realize that I can do anything I set my mind to. I consider myself lucky to have had her as my professor because she not only taught me the content that I needed to learn for my degree, she also taught me that the sky is the limit.”
READ THE FULL STORY AT: osumarion.osu.edu/story/ sivakoff-award
attendees. One student who attended the STEM camp shared, “It was a great camp! The professors and the leaders were so kind.”
Another student who was part of the Summer Engineering Institute for high school students said, “I thought the camp was planned very well. The professors were nice and did a good job explaining various subjects. Overall, it was a good camp.”
What also made the camps unique for attendees were the community partnerships inviting students to travel to and engage in learning at locations throughout central Ohio. Short day trips included a tour of the Honda East Liberty Manufacturing Plant, participating in the camp’s annual Boat Regatta held at Marion Family YMCA and plant exploration at the Terradise Nature Center.
READ THE FULL STORY AT: osumarion.osu.edu/story/ stem-camps
Tibbals selected for 2024 Provost’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Lecturer
Amy Tibbals, a senior lecturer in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of English at The Ohio State University at Marion, has been selected as a recipient of The Ohio State University’s 2024 Provost’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Lecturer.
Students in Tibbals’ classes consistently remark positively on the service-learning aspect of her courses, praising them for their “real-world” application of writing and the fact that they help real people in their community.
“I loved that the work we did in class made a difference for Ohio State Marion students, the community and my professional life. It really helped me prepare for the real world,” wrote a student.
READ THE FULL STORY AT: osumarion.osu.edu/story/ tibbals
D.C. trip transformative STEP for Buckeyes
A group of ten Ohio State Marion students, who were recently part of the university’s Second-Year Transformational Experience Program (STEP) trip to Washington D.C. over spring break, found more than history and culture on their trip. They created bonds that will last throughout college and beyond.
STEP is a one-of-a-kind program that fosters real life connections between students, staff, and faculty that often extend beyond the traditional programming Ohio State provides students in the classroom. The spring 2024 trip included 37 Buckeyes from Ohio State’s Marion, Lima, and Wooster campuses. The group traveled via Amtrak train and DC Metro Subway to their hotel on Capitol Hill with the goal of providing what Ohio State Marion trip organizer and Student Success Counselor, Michelle McKinniss, defines as transformational. She would highly recommend the trip to any second-year student, gaining a new appreciation for the history, architecture, and true human experiences garnered from the trip.
Sophomore biomedical engineering major, Kaitlyn Tenzos of Centerburg, Ohio, said, “Visiting the capital
was eye opening and impactful. Seeing the amazing architecture and history associated with the White House, Capitol building, historic monuments, and museums was something I may never see again.”
Max Morrison, a social work major from Upper Sandusky, Ohio, shared a similar sentiment regarding the educational and emotional impact of the trip.
“Visiting the nation’s capital brought out many different emotions within myself and my fellow students,” Morrison said.
“Some museums and monuments brought about a sense of pride, like the African American History Museum. Others brought about deep feelings of frustration and sadness,” he added, “like the Holocaust Museum.”
“For me personally, even though all these feelings have stuck with me, the friendships I have made will stick with me the most. I had not spoken to most of the people during the autumn semester that I am now extremely close to,” he shared.
READ THE FULL STORY AT: osumarion.osu.edu/story/dcstep
Counseling & Wellness for Students
The Counseling & Wellness Center at Ohio State Marion is an important resource for our students.
The Counseling & Wellness Center provides a place where students can prioritize their mental wellness. With two licensed clinicians on campus, students can receive a diagnosis and treatment that can lead to resolve or decrease symptoms, which allows them to function better and focus on their academic work. The Counseling & Wellness Center also has a licensed case manager who can work on skill development with students to improve and enhance communication, time management, problem solving, and emotional regulation.
Traditional aged students are navigating much developmental growth, consistent with the emerging adulthood phase of life (18 -26 years). This can feel overwhelming and confusing as they work to establish an independent identity. Counseling sessions can help to normalize the situation and provide support to students as they progress through this stage.
Many students come to campus with a history of trauma or experience a traumatic event during their time as a college student. Both the campus clinicians specialize in trauma and are certified in trauma protocols, like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy. Trauma treatment is highly effective, allowing students to heal and move forward with their academic and personal goals.
The Counseling & Wellness Center engages students in a myriad of outreach programming that promotes and normalizes help-seeking behaviors. 75% of mental health symptoms begin before the age of 24. Having easy access to mental health resources on campus expedites the process to connect with services sooner rather than later, producing better outcomes for students.
Celebrating over 30 years of Five Nights on Campus
REMAINING 2024 - 2025 SEASON PERFORMANCES
1. NIC + DESI
Thursday, March 13, 2025, 7:30 p.m. – NIC+DESI sing, dance and share their love story in this duo celebration of classic and contemporary Broadway!
2. Long Time Gone
Thursday, April 10, 2025, 7:30 p.m. – Long Time Gone is a retrospective and celebration of the music of legendary artists David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young.
3. William Florian
Thursday, May 8, 2025, 7:30 p.m. – Join us for a Beatles acoustic sing-along featuring William Florian, a former member of the famous 60s group, The New Christy Minstrels.
FOR TICKETS OR TO LEARN MORE VISIT: osumarion.osu.edu/outreach/cultural-arts/five-nights
To learn more about giving opportunities or ways you can contribute to Ohio State Marion, contact:
CATHERINE GERBER
Director of Development & Community Relations
1465 Mount Vernon Avenue, Marion, OH 43302
740-725-6069 | gerber.10@osu.edu go.osu.edu/mariongiving
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