Donors and student award recipients recognized

Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of campus supporters, COTC and Ohio State Newark students received a combined $2.8 million in scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year. That remarkable figure includes a record $1.6 million awarded to Ohio State Newark students.

“That spirit of giving – and the unexpected rewards that come with it – is exactly what makes the evening so special,” said Kim Manno, COTC and Ohio State Newark director of advancement. “Whether it’s hearing the stories of students working tirelessly to create better lives for themselves and their families, witnessing the drive and heart of our student leaders, or being inspired by the generosity of donors who believe in the power of education, you can’t help but walk away feeling full.”

The event highlighted several donors including, Norman and Suzanne Kennedy, who established two separate scholarships – one to benefit COTC fire science and EMT students and one for accounting students attending either school; Trace Johnson, who, in memory of his friend and former math lab tutor, established the Tony Maric Mathematics Scholarship for students at both schools; and Megan Connell-Cox, a COTC human services alumna and disabled veteran who established the Empower, Inspire and Impact Scholarship for COTC students.

Students from both institutions have turned these scholarship opportunities into astonishing accomplishments during their time in Newark.

Student Leadership Award Recipients

Sophia Tosi received the Kelly Saffle Leadership Award, the first award presented. This honor is given annually to a COTC student who exemplifies strong and consistent leadership in the campus community. According to her nominator, Tosi’s community service efforts and organization of outreach projects showcased the leadership skills, integrity and pursuit of excellence necessary to earn the award. She was also nominated for the Community Service Leader of the Year Award.

Allie Nelson was honored with the William A. Kilpatrick Leadership Award, the corresponding leadership award for an Ohio State Newark student. Nelson received five nominations, all citing her ability to lead by example and make sound judgments in challenging situations. A second-year social work major, she’s been described as empathetic and supportive of her peers.

Abraham Haikal received the RESPECT Award, which recognizes a student from either school who is actively involved in promoting social and cultural awareness on campus. Haikal is involved in many student organizations where his strong value for equity has shined through. His nominator described him as passionate about helping people feel welcome and a pillar of respect within the campus community. Haikal also received a nomination for the Up and Coming Leader Award.

Dani Wuichner took home the Up and Coming Leader Award. This honor is given to an underclassman at either COTC or Ohio State Newark who demonstrates active involvement in student organizations and across the campus. The nominator said Wuichner is already an outstanding leader who’s devoted to the organizations to which she belongs. Wuichner was also called a great teammate and someone who manages her time extremely well.

Mitchell Mazzone earned the Community Service Leader of the Year Award, the final individual student honor of the evening. Mazzone’s multiple nominators noticed his volunteering efforts with numerous organizations throughout his community. The Newark native founded his own student organization focused on community service, and he’s been described as a tremendously motivated worker and a natural leader.

The Campus Activities Board(CAB) won the 2025 Outstanding Student Organization of the Year Award. CAB devises and organizes inclusive, engaging events across campus. Their efforts toward increasing overall campus involvement played a huge role in earning the organization this year’s award.

Shawn White was honored with the Above and Beyond Faculty/Staff Award, the only faculty-centered award given out during the event. A writing tutor at Ohio State Newark, White was described as uncommonly understanding and kind toward his students. He is also considered a great collaborator and a great representative of the university.

CAB and Pride Out Loud were honored with the Outstanding Collaborative Program Award, granted to a pair of student organizations that team up to achieve a common goal. The clubs earned the award for their work on the Welcome Back Bash.

The American Sign Language (ASL) Student Organization earned the Outstanding Student Organization Program Award. The award, the final one presented at this year’s ceremony, is given out based on the overall impact of a club’s work with a particular program. Throughout this academic year, the ASL Student Organization raised more than $1,000 for deaf and hard-of-hearing youth services through several fundraising efforts.

J. Gilbert Reese Next Generation Community Leadership Award recipients

The ceremony also involved presenting this year’s J. Gilbert Reese Next Generation Community Leadership Award to the deserving students. The winners, one from each college, are announced each November. Melissa Molzan, a second-year COTC nursing student, earned the prestigious award as well as the COTC Board of Trustees Scholarship. Chelsea Shipley, a third-year social work major, became the latest Ohio State Newark student to receive the honor. The award comes with a $2,000 scholarship that’s applied to the winners’ tuition the following year.