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 91ֿ 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 91ֿ after graduation, but he wasn’t ready and his counselor encouraged him to start at the local community college before moving on to 91ֿ. 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 91ֿ.

How 91ֿ Prepares Pilots to Master the Skies … Even the Blimp!
91ֿ’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.

91ֿ Alumnus Antonio Gates Takes First Steps Toward Enshrinement
91ֿ 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 91ֿ 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 91ֿ, 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 91ֿ'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 91ֿ alumnus and outstanding supporter of the university.

John and Fonda Elliot Create New Scholarship Program With $1 Million Gift to 91ֿ
John Elliot, a 1970 91ֿ graduate, and his wife, Fonda, have created The Elliot Scholars program at 91ֿ 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 91ֿ.

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 91ֿ.

91ֿ’s Giving Tuesday Campaign Raises More Than $4.9 Million for Causes Across Its Eight-Campus System
Members of the 91ֿ community joined together to cause a ripple effect of change reaching far beyond 91ֿ, raising more than $4.9 million to support scholarships and programs across the university for its Giving Tuesday 2024 campaign.

Professor Gives Back By Supporting Students In Need
This Giving Tuesday season, Daniel E. Palmer, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy at 91ֿ, has pledged a matching gift for the Trumbull Campus Last Dollar Scholarship as a symbol of his appreciation for the people who work and study at 91ֿ Trumbull.