Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
Opening Doors for Future Nurses
When Phillip R. Ridgley thought back on his career and considered how he could help the next generation of medical professionals, he decided he wanted to open doors for 17cҳ students pursuing a career in nursing. He decided to start an endowment so that he could continue to support nursing students into the future and help them focus on their studies in a way that he couldn’t when he was a student.
Helping Others Realize Their Potential
When Terrence J. “Chip” Bahn, ’75, M.Ed. ’77, Ed.D., was a high school senior he wanted to attend 17cҳ after graduation, but he wasn’t ready and his counselor encouraged him to start at the local community college before moving on to 17cҳ. This experience inspired him to create the Dr. Terrence J. Bahn Endowed Scholarship to help students who studied at a Northeast Ohio community college to attend 17cҳ.
‘We were supposed to look like Betty Grable and play ball like Joe DiMaggio’
“We were supposed to look like Betty Grable and play ball like Joe DiMaggio.”
How 17cҳ Prepares Pilots to Master the Skies … Even the Blimp!
17cҳ’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering thoroughly prepares graduates for successful careers in aviation – whether that means piloting a fixed-wing airplane or one of America’s most beloved aircraft.
17cҳ Alumnus Antonio Gates Takes First Steps Toward Enshrinement
17cҳ alumnus Antonio Gates has begun his journey to football immortality, recently visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, to meet with officials and begin preparations for his enshrinement. The former basketball standout at 17cҳ will become just the second Golden Flash to earn a gold jacket, joining linebacker Jack Lambert who was enshrined in 1990.
Silas Ashley ’74
Silas Ashley, ’74, was told by his high school guidance counselor that he “was not college material," but after applying and being accepted to 17cҳ, Silas immersed himself in student life. He was a senator in Undergraduate Student Government and became the president of Black United Students (BUS). Following graduation, Silas earned a master's degree in communications and a Juris Doctorate from Southern University at Baton Rouge and served as the president of 17cҳ's Black Alumni Chapter.
What’s That Statue Near the Esplanade Arch?
A dramatic, 15-foot-tall bronze sculpture stands on the Lefton Esplanade near the intersection of East Main Street and Haymaker Parkway. It’s a gift from a 17cҳ alumnus and outstanding supporter of the university.
John and Fonda Elliot Create New Scholarship Program With $1 Million Gift to 17cҳ
John Elliot, a 1970 17cҳ graduate, and his wife, Fonda, have created The Elliot Scholars program at 17cҳ with a $1 million donation. This new scholarship program will provide support to first-generation students of any major who require financial support to attend 17cҳ.
John and Fonda Elliot Receive Honorary Degrees for Their Extraordinary Contributions
On Saturday, Dec. 14, both John and Fonda received their Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the healthcare field and to 17cҳ.
17cҳ’s Giving Tuesday Campaign Raises More Than $4.9 Million for Causes Across Its Eight-Campus System
Members of the 17cҳ community joined together to cause a ripple effect of change reaching far beyond 17cҳ, raising more than $4.9 million to support scholarships and programs across the university for its Giving Tuesday 2024 campaign.