Community and Society
![April 2024 Washington D.C. trip April 2024 Washington D.C. trip](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/425767491_18220859596285931_7064575079786080184_n.jpg?VersionId=bmCkhGuXbiNWX9H0l9LJbpWC1imrbMSI&itok=tdhkhIvu)
During an April trip to our nation's capital, representatives from ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø met with U.S. politicians as well as ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø students and alumni working in national government.
![AAAPI faculty and staff marked AAPI Heritage Month with a speaker, Lynn Itagaki, Ph.D. AAAPI faculty and staff marked AAPI Heritage Month with a speaker, Lynn Itagaki, Ph.D.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/AAAPI%20Banner%201.png?VersionId=4JtHE5rne7Jfqyd1p18MFYs.6OHUqE.7&itok=B2tpJ6Oz)
In 1977, the U.S. government established a time to recognize Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and their accomplishments. The commemoration started as a week but in the 1990s evolved into a monthlong celebration.
![Rep. Emilia Sykes, Democrat, 13th District, speaks of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Airport in her support for FAA Reauthorization Act. Rep. Emilia Sykes, Democrat, 13th District, speaks of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Airport in her support for FAA Reauthorization Act.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Kent%20State%20Airport_0.jpg?VersionId=rqPycxzreX_uvsWQTjKussywoOIsjqnN&itok=bNgHI8RN)
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act affects millions at airports large and small including in the Akron-Canton Airport, the Akron Fulton Airport and the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Airport.
![Willard Jenkins receives an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Willard Jenkins receives an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Willard%20Jenkins%20Banner%201.0.jpg?VersionId=Kcreh_Gsl127Ynq67WVLEE4kvCtkIkY9&itok=tAtBcvAp)
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø conferred a Doctor of Letters honorary degree to alumnus Willard Jenkins for his “extraordinary contributions in promulgating jazz music and its importance to American culture and in advancing ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.â€
![Kaitlyn Werner of Bonita California and her peers who started college in 2020 will graduate in 2024 after enduring the COVID-19 Pandemic Kaitlyn Werner of Bonita California and her peers who started college in 2020 will graduate in 2024 after enduring the COVID-19 Pandemic](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/KaitlynWerner%20with%20Mom%202.jpeg?VersionId=_4fFwsXLt7hJv0.KOuxpPtp7hu1DlLjE&itok=7jCkVPAJ)
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø students who started college during the COVID-19 pandemic in Fall 2020 have shown great grit and resilience as they graduate in the class of 2024.
![Sophomore Ivory Kendrick, who lost his dad in high school, was recently elected as a USG senator for the College of Public Health. Sophomore Ivory Kendrick, who lost his dad in high school, was recently elected as a USG senator for the College of Public Health.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Ivory%20Kendrick%20USG%20Banner.jpg?VersionId=IoWP6y3pssFV4aCAGBwSqRw84E2KtkME&itok=YvrBJAjQ)
In the Fall 2023 sophomore Ivory Kendrick said he wanted to be a senator in University Student Government (USG). He made it happen.
![ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø students at 2023 May 4 Commemoration ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø students at 2023 May 4 Commemoration](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/May%204%20civic%20academy%20banner.jpg?VersionId=pSPMzjl00kjsJk6r0kNhn30MPkQxSEIh&itok=89IwFgLI)
An all-day conference, presented by the May 4 Education Committee for K-12 educators, students, and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø faculty and staff, will help participants demonstrate knowledge about the critical history of student activism and organizing at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, emphasizing the significance of May 4.
![ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alum Jessica Clonch is a naturalist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources at Pymatuning State Park. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alum Jessica Clonch is a naturalist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources at Pymatuning State Park.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Jessica%20Clonch%20banner%20cropped2.jpeg?VersionId=bw5W6Nxy9J702uUs2BIR8AI03KI1LE5V&itok=avYsIvbN)
Since childhood ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alum Jessica Clonch has wanted to combine her love of the outdoors with her career. Now, to her delight, she’s living the dream.
![Nick Belluardo, 2015 ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alum, co-owns four aviation businesses and teaches at the university part-time Nick Belluardo, 2015 ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alum, co-owns four aviation businesses and teaches at the university part-time](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Nick%20Belluardo%20Kent%20State%20Works.jpg?VersionId=KM.l_FBd51YleYuQ7EmhunHYS_YldWCy&itok=r2w_fKtw)
Nicholas Belluardo is a part-time faculty member at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and the co-owner of four aviation businesses.
![Healthy Communities Research Institute provides the opportunity for faculty and students to do meaningful research togethe Healthy Communities Research Institute provides the opportunity for faculty and students to do meaningful research together](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Healthy%20Communities%20Research%20Institute%202.jpg?VersionId=bdNQF66dUIYMEd2E0lkHzSHSjJ6fM2av&itok=t-lNgz8f)
The Healthy Communities Research Institute conducts interdisciplinary basic and applied research that will lead to the discovery of practices that “enable people to thrive free of preventable diseases and injury.â€