Adam Cinderich, mathematics
program coordinator in TRIO
Student Support Services at Kent
State, was received the Louis M.
Brownlowe New Professional
Award at the annual Ohio TRIO
Professional Development
Conference.

Three Kent State University employees received recognition during the annual Ohio TRIO Professional Development Conference.

Adam Cinderich, mathematics program coordinator in TRIO Student Support Services at Kent State; Patty Robinson, Kent State’s assistant director of Upward Bound Public Health; and Crystal Davis, federal relations director in Kent State’s Office of Government Relations, were presented with the statewide awards at a recent ceremony.

TRIO began as part of former President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty through the Educational Opportunity Act of 1964. TRIO programs help students overcome class, social, academic and cultural barriers to higher education with the ultimate goal of college persistence and degree. Over the years, these programs have been expanded to a number of institutions across the country to increase educational opportunities for underrepresented students.

Kent State secured funding for TRIO in 1971 and currently supports three TRIO programs, including Upward Bound, Student Support Services and McNair Scholars.

Cinderich was awarded the Louis M. Brownlowe New Professional Award, which recognizes a TRIO professional who has demonstrated exemplary service to the mission of TRIO programs in his or her first through fifth year. In the Student Support Services program, Cinderich works as an academic program coordinator.

Serving students at the Kent Campus, Cinderich oversees the Mathematics Tutoring program while serving as a secondary advisor and campus resource to Student Support Services students. He also assists in the planning and implementation of various workshops and events focusing on financial literacy, academic and professional development, graduate school exploration and cultural awareness.

Patty Robinson, Kent State’s
assistant director of Upward
Bound Public Health, received
the James A. Rankin Award,
which honors the late state Rep.
James Rankin for his commitment
to high-risk, educationally
disadvantaged youth in the state
of Ohio.

Cinderich says his TRIO background began as a Student Support Services’ tutor in Pennsylvania. He later began teaching science courses during the summer for the Kent State Upward Bound programs and now continues to work with Student Support Services full time.

“I was surprised to learn the Upward Bound staff had nominated me, and I was truly humbled because this is a statewide award,” Cinderich says on winning the award. “I’m so excited to come to work every day knowing that I get to work with others who share the same passion in serving our students.”

Robinson was awarded the James A. Rankin Award, established in 1983 to honor the late state Rep. James Rankin for his commitment to high-risk, educationally disadvantaged youth in the state of Ohio. The award recognizes a member of the Ohio TRIO who has gone above and beyond and is given in recognition and appreciation of continued dedication, services and commitment to minority and disadvantaged youth in the state of Ohio.

In the Upward Bound Public Health program, Robinson serves Ravenna, Lorain and Windham high schools. Working directly with students, Robinson provides weekly on-site coordination and leadership of the Upward Bound program initiatives to high schools. She also leads, directs and provides oversight in the development and delivery of educational programming and external communication through school and community partnerships to increase students’ opportunities, including direct support from Kent State’s College of Public Health.

Robinson says that she is humbled to receive this award.

“We have a dynamic Upward Bound team,” Robinson says. “We work very hard for our students. Any one of us could have received this award.”

Crystal Davis, federal relations
director in Kent State’s Office of
Government Relations, received
the TRIO Achiever Award for
Ohio.

Davis was awarded the TRIO Achiever Award for Ohio, given to a TRIO alumni who has graduated from a four-year program, is a person of high stature within his or her profession and has adequately described the impact the participation in a TRIO program has had on his or her life.

Her work with TRIO and the university is based in her Washington, D.C., office. As federal relations director, she serves as the conduit for information between Kent State and the federal government. She says receiving the recognition is rewarding because of her past work with programs like TRIO.

“I’m happy to be honored in this way and have the opportunity to advocate now for the programs that have contributed to my life,” Davis says.

As recipient of the TRIO Achiever for Ohio, Davis will have her information forwarded to receive consideration for regional and national TRIO Achiever recognition.

For more information about Kent State’s TRIO programs, visit:
Upward Bound: www.kent.edu/upwardboundprogram
Student Support Services: www.kent.edu/asc/trio-sss
McNair Scholars: www.kent.edu/mcnair

For more information about federal TRIO programs, visit
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html