President Kathy Myers welcomed the group.
Patriotic song My Country Tis of Thee was arranged by David Dix followed by our Rotary Hymn.
President Kathy led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Invocation was offered by John Flynn.
Brian Bialik handling Rotareminder duties
Visiting Rotarians
None
Guests
*Anthony Horton introduced the entire Khan family (related to the student of the month)
*Todd Kamenash introduced multiple members of Kent State University.
*Bill Childers introduced Tammy Hunter of Townhall II and Bill Drugan of the Kent Lions club.
Announcements
- Rotary Auction is May 6th…auction committee meets after lunch this afternoon.
- There is an ongoing need for audio visual help at lunch meetings. Please see President Kathy or President-Elect Dave.
- The district conference is scheduled for April 22nd and 23rd.President Kathy would like to encourage attendance, particularly in light of the fact that our District Governor is a member of our club.
- United Way is having an NCAA watch party at Ray’s, Friday, March 18th from 11:00am to 4:00pm.
- Bill Drugan from the Lion’s Club announced that there annual pancake breakfast is this coming Sunday…all are welcome.
- Tom Hatch announced that the College of Arts and Sciences is hosting a panel discussion on the Russian invasion of Ukraine today at 5:15pm in Bowman Hall, or via zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89892613500.
- Todd Kamenash will be back at the lunch table soliciting players in the men’s and women’s NCAA bracket buster tournament. All proceeds will go to towards the literacy programs.
- Amanda Senn announced that going forward, she would be sharing updated stories of former students of the month and how their lives have unfolded, professionally, personally, or otherwise.
Student of the Month
Simon Khan.
Dr. Taléa Drummer-Ferrell, KSU Assoc VP for Student Affairs & Dean of Students shares her career journey
Dr. Drummer-Ferrell shared that her passion for education started when she was in elementary school. As early as fourth grade, she was tutoring students who struggled with reading, and it was that experience where she realized that teaching was her calling.Dr. Drummer-Ferrell’s background is varied. As a photographer’s daughter and former intercollegiate athlete, she cites faith, family, and football as three of the most important principles that have guided her life. She admits to being a Bengals fan largely due to her Southwestern Ohio roots - much to the dismay of a few faithful.
Challenges are not new to her, and in fact, have been the source of her drive and will to succeed. This notion became very evident upon graduation from Miami of Ohio University, with a BA in Family Studies. Her application for the master’s program at the same was turned down.
Not to be deterred, she eventually applied to the University of Louisville, was accepted, and graduated in 2008 with a Master’s of Education. Somewhere along the way, she was crowned the Kentucky Derby Queen.
Subsequent to the completion of her Master’s, she took some time to work in a summer internship involving student housing. It was during that time she had been planning to complete her formal education by applying, and getting accepted into, the PhD program at KSU in Higher Educational Administration – a degree she completed in 2014.
A job opportunity became available to work at the Student Multi-cultural Center at KSU. This came at an interesting time when she became increasingly aware of numerous micro-aggressions in the broader community. She saw this opportunity as a way to affect change, working closely with students, digging deep into their lives to learn about their needs, and responding in ways intended to address changes, whether it was related to discrimination, food or housing insecurity, or something else not easy to detect.
On Juneteenth, 2020, she was named Dean of Students, overseeing student affairs and has never looked back.
“I am grateful for the gifts I have and believe I am my ancestors wildest dreams”
Today’s responder to the program was Steve Dennis.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian K Bialik