CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION
The Regula Center promotes voter education and engagement every year but with heightened attention in presidential election years. This year, students were offering voter registration and absentee ballot forms while passing out giveaways and encouraging students to share why they find voting important. This outreach took place every Tuesday leading up to the election. Following the election, the center hosted weekly post-election discussions.
ALL IN CAMPUS DEMOCRACY CHALLENGE
Mount Union participated in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for the eighth year and collaborated with schools across the Ohio Athletic Conference to promote democratic engagement across campus.
VOTER FRIENDLY CAMPUS
The Regula Center received Mount Union’s Voter Friendly Campus designation for the 2023-2024 academic year and after successfully meeting all of the requirements Mount Union will maintain this designation for the 2025-2026 year. This designation is awarded to campuses that are committed to promoting democratic engagement.
DESSERTS AND DIALOGUE
The center facilitates civic dialogue using discussion guides from livingroomconversations.org. These discussions are meant to provide a model for thoughtful civic dialogue and respect across differences of thought. This year, the center coordinated many conversations that were open to the entire campus community.
AICUO INDEPENDENT COLLEGE DAY
Five students and the diredtor of the Regula Center spent the day at the Statehouse as part of the AICUO Independent College Day, advocating for higher education and the role of Ohio’s independent colleges.
TRIBUTE TO KIRK SCHURING
This year, the Regula Center recognizes the loss of one of its longtime supporters, State Senator Kirk Schuring. Senator Schuring dedicated time and effort to raising funds for the Regula Scholars Program, promoting the Regula Center, and educating students.
RAIDERS COVE
Raiders Cove launched in 2020 and continues to serve all Mount Union students. The resource center is part of a collaborative effort across campuses in Ohio coordinated by Community Campus Coalition (Triple C) to meet the needs of students. The space has food, hygiene items, and clothing for students. This year, 183 students visited 685 times, receiving more than 2,100 items.
STUDENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The center supports various Mount Union and community-wide initiatives with time and donations. One notable partnership is that with Alpha Phi Omega, the co-ed service fraternity for which our director serves as an advisor. In this role, we support various projects, events, community partnerships, and annual travel to Give Kids the World. In 2024, Abby Schroeder traveled with Chaplain Tim Morrison and 13 students for a week of volunteering at Give Kids the World.
THE ALLIANCE COMMONS
The Regula Center worked with community partners to revitalize the community center at 405 S Linden Ave., now known as the Alliance Commons. In doing so, the Center has received nearly $600,000 in grant funding since 2021, including significant funding from the Stark Community Foundation and the Alliance Health Foundation.
The center continues to assist with facility management, social media, publicity, grant seeking, and programming at the Alliance Commons. Additionally, the center has assisted in connecting the Commons to various classes, internships, and volunteer opportunities for students. Each week, Mount Union students volunteer at the Commons to serve a hot meal on Wednesday nights.
Health Program Coordinator Danille Kemp is facilitating programs in partnership with the Ohio State Extension Office, Alliance Family Health Center, Alliance Health Department, and more. The program offers various one-time events, community centered health sessions, health fairs, and a grocery voucher program that has dispersed more than $100,000 in vouchers.
The Regula Center co-hosted a TANF Town simulation for all education students at Mount Union. During the simulation participants learned about the day to day life of individuals having to make financial decisions, care for their families, and maintain employment.
EVENTS HOSTED AT THE COMMONS (2024-2025)
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
NEW PARTNER
Upon opening a chapter in Alliance at the Commons, Sew4Service partnered with the Regula Center to come to campus weekly. During their Thursday sessions, members of the Mount Union community can learn sewing skills and spend time making items that are donated to area organizations. Examples of projects include burp rags, pillowcases, and blankets. More than 50 participants have already taken part in these sessions this spring.
MEALS SERVED AT THE COMMONS
(NOVEMBER 2023 - FEBRUARY 2025)
The Center hosted more than 40 outreach events involving students and the Alliance community, and these are some of the highlights.
ORIENTATION
For the first time, community service was a component of orientation, and the entering class spent time giving back throughout the community.
MLK DAY OF SERVICE
The MLK Day of Service was carried out by 382 UMU community members.
CHRISTMAS AT THE PARK
The center and student volunteers coordinated refreshments, games, and crafts for more than 500 attendees.
TRICK-OR-TREAT FOR CANNED GOODS
Students collected 3,832 pounds of food for the Alliance Community Pantry.
COMMUNITY MEALS
The center coordinated a monthly meal as part of the Alliance of Churches’ Tuesday night dinners at Christ United Methodist Church.
SALVATION ARMY THANKSGIVING MEAL
Partnering with the Salvation Army, 30 Mount Union students helped serve Thanksgiving meals to members of the Alliance community.
YWCA HOLIDAY OUTREACH
With support of many on campus, the center coordinated the purchase of and wrapping of Christmas gifts for more than 56 families.
MONTHLY TAKE-AND-MAKE SERVICE PROJECTS
Students participated in monthly take-and-make service projects, making blankets, placemats, and cards to be donated to local senior centers.
DROP-IN SERVICE
Each month, the Regula Center hosted drop-in service events.
COLLECTIONS
DIAPER DRIVE
A drive for Heart of Ohio Diaper Bank resulted in the collection of more than 9,000 items. Tanner Real Estate, the Greater Alliance Foundation, Nest on State, and Blooming Beautifully Boutique; the offices of the President, Admission, and Advancement; the departments of Nursing and PT; and organizations Delta Sigma Tau and Alpha Phi Omega participated.
EASTER BASKETS
The center coordinated its annual outreach for Project KARE, an organization supporting children in foster care in Stark County, with the help of the campus community, Nest on State, and Union House. Donated items helped craft more than 100 Easter baskets for children of all ages.
REGULA SCHOLARS
THE SCHOLARS
Chloe Orzo
Claire Fried
Sam Lee
Luke Wagner
Hannah Morrow
Hayley Koon
Lukea Pitinni
This year’s class of Regula Scholars spent time participating in civic dialogue, learning from guest speakers, and participating in various trips. The trips included visiting the Statehouse in Columbus, volunteering at Give Kids the World in Florida, and visiting Washington, DC.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
PAY IT FORWARD
The Pay it Forward program, endowed by David ‘63 and Elaine (Venen ‘63) Dabelko, allows Mount Union students to participate in servicebased learning based on a model used by Ohio Campus Compact. At the completion of the course, students award grants to area agencies. This year, two courses facilitated funding distribution.
TRAVEL
The Regula Center now oversees the Wilderness and Social Responsibility courses and trips that have been offered at Mount Union for decades. The annual trips promote teamwork, communication, understanding, and awareness about social and environmental issues.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TRIP
Mount Union students had the opportunity to participate in a week-long service trip to the Dominican Republic while participating in a social responsibility course discussing topics such as poverty, service work, and charity. Participants included students Jeziah Farrar, Alaina Metzler, Jaylie Berresford, Adrianna Brass, Luke Wagner, Cara Mooney; staff member Fatima Megana Meza; and faculty member Dr. Paul Tidman.
WILDERNESS TRIP
Mount Union students traveled to the Adirondack Mountains in New York, backpacking and hiking for eight days for the annual Wilderness Trip. Participants included students Dani Bisesi, Haley Koon, Riley Brown, Casey Kildow, Donovan Cornelius, Greg Reiman, Mathias Broyes, Grace Clark, Lauryn Chapman, Holly Roeder; alumni leaders Abby Daley and Derek Curry; and faculty member Dr. Paul Tidman.
STUDENT EMPLOYEES
Student assistants at Raiders Cove, the Regula Center, and the Commons are the backbone of all that is accomplished. These individuals coordinate events, carry out programming, network with the community, and complete all facets of work related to the center. Additionally, AmeriCorps Members Cory Arp, Ashely Cooper, Michele Hofacker, and Chloe Orzo take on further leadership roles in Raiders Cove.
*Senior in bold (Include picture), Italics fall only
Adrianna Brass - Commons
Aleah Bach - Regula Center
Alyssa Dennis-Crespo –Raiders Cove
Andrew Datz - Commons
Ashley Cooper – Raiders Cove AmeriCorps Member
Blayne Maurer – Raiders Cove
Chloe Orzo – Raiders Cover AmeriCorps Member
Conner Arneson – Commons
Cory Arp – Commons, Regula Center, Raiders Cove
AmeriCorps Member
Eliza Botzman – Regula Center, Raiders Cove
Ellie Mines – Regula Center, Raiders Cove
Emilee Mathews – Regula Center
Esther Forbes – Regula Center
Grace Cataloni – Regula Center
Grace DiSalvatore - Commons
Grace Fabry – Regula Center, Raiders Cove
Grace Wrightnour – Raiders Cove
Halle Sell - Commons
Hannah Scott – Regula Center
Isabella Busack – Regula Center, Commons
Jeziah Farrar – Regula Center, Raiders Cove
Jillian Gallo – Regula Center, Raiders Cove
Jillian Rymer – Raiders Cove
John Roland - Commons
Kaylee Hearn – Regula Center, Raiders Cove, Commons
Kaylynn Thomas – Regula Center
Kenzlie Stafford – Regula Center
Lily Nelson - Commons
Ludovico Spada – Regula Center, Raiders Cove
Lukea Pitinii – Raiders Cove
Michele Hofacker –Commons, Regula Center, Raiders Cove AmeriCorps Member
Sabrina Spillios - Regula Center
Samantha Lee - Commons
Saydee Hodgson – Raiders Cove
Valeria Ypanaque-Vilcapoma – Raiders Cove
regula AWARDS 2025 WINNERS
THE RALPH REGULA AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
The Ralph Regula Award for Public Service recognizes an individual who exemplifies the ideals of the late Ralph Regula. It is given annually to a person employed in the public sector in Stark County who is dedicated to their career and works with betterment of Stark County consistently.
PAST AWARD WINNERS
Judge Edward Elum Sheriff George T. Maier
ALAN HAROLD
Alan Harold was appointed Stark County commissioner after serving as Stark County auditor for 14 years. He is recognized as a leader in the state for financial diligence and accountability and in the use of technology to make government efficient and secure.
Alan served as president of the County Auditors’ Association of Ohio and received the Richard J. Makowski Award as Outstanding County Auditor. He has received multiple awards from the Auditor of State, Government Finance Officers’ Association, and ESRI – the world’s leader in geospatial technology.
Prior to winning public office, Alan enjoyed 15 years in banking and private industry. He earned an MBA from The Ohio State University and is a graduate of Mount Union. A native of Louisville, he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Achievement.
Alan serves St. Michael Church and School as chair of its finance committee and serves on the Board of Central Catholic High School. He volunteers for Arts in Stark and is past president of the Avondale Homeowners’ Association. He has also completed Leadership Stark County and Leadership Stark County’s Government Academy.
THE MARY REGULA AWARD FOR COMMUNITYSERVICE
The Mary Regula Award for Community Service is given annually to an individual in Stark County who volunteers their time to improve the lives of others, much like Mary’s commitment to the legacy of first ladies, improving the lives of those in Stark County and serving others.
PAST AWARD WINNERS
Leigh Mainwaring Pat Gates
JOE FRENCH
Joe French is the president of Stark County Catholic Schools. Prior to his current role, he served as the CEO of Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health and the executive director of the Early Childhood Education Alliance, among other roles.
Joe is a graduate of Leadership Ohio and Leadership Stark County and is on the boards of the Stark County District Library, YMCA of Greater Stark County, and JRC. He is a Meyers Lake Village Councilman and serves on the Stark County Bar Association Grievance Committee.
For his work and commitment to the community, he has been named to Leadership Ohio’s Leader Among Leaders, Kent State Stark’s Distinguished Alumni, Louisville Senior High School’s Hall of Distinction, Leadership Stark County’s 30 Faces of Leadership, and the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Ystark Twenty Under Forty. He also received the Dehoff Emerging Philanthropist Award from the United Way of Greater Stark County.
Joe has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Kent State University and master’s degree in early childhood education from Ashland University.