State and Federal Communications, Inc. President and CEO, Elizabeth Z. Bartz, was honored Friday, October 13, with the Kent State University Advocacy Award during the university’s fourth annual alumni awards. Elizabeth remains actively involved in Kent State University, especially with incoming freshman.

“I have always felt it was important to pay back Kent State by being actively involved in the alumni program, creating a scholarship and supporting the university and its students,” Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth works to give back to Kent State and the university’s students through the Elizabeth Z. Bartz Scholarship for seniors at Howland High School planning to attend Kent State university; and the Promising Scholar Program, a scholarship opportunity for incoming freshmen in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Read more about the ceremony from the university’s news paper, The Kent Stater; and learn more about Elizabeth and the Advocacy award from the Kent State Alumni Association!

Kayleigh Crumb has been an excellent choice as the first student to receive the recently endowed ‘Elizabeth Z. Bartz Scholarship for Howland Tigers.’ This scholarship is given to a graduate of Howland High School who is entering Kent State University at Trumbull Campus as a freshman.

Kayleigh received the 2016 scholarship award last fall, after graduating from high school, and enrolling at the KSU Trumbull campus. After her first semester at the university, she was named to the Dean’s List by achieving a 4.0 grade-point average. She also received a KSU Trumbull Freshman Scholarship for her efforts.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz, who provided $30,000 to Kent State University at Trumbull to endow the ongoing scholarship program, said, “I am delighted that Kayleigh was the first student from Howland High School to receive this scholarship. She has already done so well and has a bright future ahead of her. I endowed this scholarship last year in honor of my 40-year graduation anniversary from Howland High School because I wanted to give back and help graduating seniors from Howland High School attend the local area KSU Trumbull Campus, just like I did. Meeting Kayleigh has showed me I made the right decision to help promising students pay their early college costs.”

Kayleigh added, “I want to be a news anchor or work in the broadcasting field with my journalism major. Even while at Howland High School, I was able to take classes offered by Kent State and was able to obtain nine college course credits. This scholarship, generously provided by Ms. Bartz, helped me a lot so I could attend Kent State University at Trumbull, where I am getting the same education as the main campus in an affordable, safe and convenient location.”

Starting in the fall of 2017, Kayleigh will attend the main campus of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, for her second year of classes. She is also being inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success later this month, the nation’s largest leadership honor society.

For upcoming seniors at Howland High School who will graduate and then attend Kent State University at Trumbull this Fall, they can learn more about the ‘Elizabeth Z. Bartz Scholarship for Howland Tigers’ and apply starting May 1, 2017, at this KSU website: http://www.kent.edu/trumbull/campus-scholarships

Elizabeth, who graduated from Kent State University having earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism in 1980 and a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science in 1982, credits the KSU Trumbull Campus and its professors as the place and people who supported her at the beginning of her university journey. Her endowment now ensures a scholarship is awarded each year to a Howland High School graduate, in a program managed by KSU.

Sophia Avouris is a sophomore at Kent State University majoring in political science with a minor in public relations. She expects to graduate in the spring of 2019.  She enjoys playing quidditch.

Sophia has always been interested in political campaigns. Her first serious campaign was for Lou Gentile in 2010; he was running for a seat in the Ohio state House of Representatives. When he won, her passion for campaigning grew. It inspired her to go into political science and work in Washington, D.C. towards a career that would allow her to expand her political horizons and travel.

Sophia considers herself a quick learner, intelligent, and a good listener, which are all good traits to have in the political world. She believes humor and trustworthiness are important in any relationship, professional or personal. Because her family moves a lot, she thinks it is important to find stability in other social structures.

This summer, Sophia and her family are going camping at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. She plans on visiting a friend in Minnesota, and also eagerly anticipates seeing another friend who makes the best pizza in the world.

Out of all the technology and appliances that she uses, Sophia believes her laptop is the most essential. Her personal motto is: don’t forget to take a little time to laugh a little.

Tony Didion is a senior at Kent State University majoring in public relations and minoring in marketing. He will graduate in August of this year after his internship at State and Federal Communications. His hobbies include golf, canoeing, hiking, and anything outdoors.

When Tony went to Florence, Italy, to study abroad, he realized that the people there are full of joy and enjoy the little things in life. He found that enjoying life should come first and values positivity and living in the moment.

After he graduates, he wants to work in a public relations agency and eventually move to Florence. This fall he’s going to Maui, Hawaii, for a few weeks to visit with a friend. Later, he will be going to San Francisco for a week to attend his cousin’s wedding.

He likes to drink his coffee black and firmly believes that everything happens for a reason.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, has provided a $30,000 endowment to Kent State University at Trumbull, in Warren, Ohio, to provide scholarships for graduating seniors from Howland High School.

Ms. Bartz graduated from Howland High School in Warren 40 years ago, and enrolled at the KSU Trumbull Campus that fall, where she attended for two years before completing her Journalism studies at the Kent State University main campus in Kent, Ohio in 1980.

She explains why she endowed this scholarship… “In honor of my 40-year graduation anniversary from Howland High School, I wanted to give something back. I’ve heard about students today having issues with college debt and felt it would be great to help graduating seniors from Howland High School attend the local area KSU Trumbull Campus just like I did. I feel blessed to be able to help the students, today and in the future. This is very exciting for me and I hope it helps bring others to the table to help students pay their college costs.”

Starting fall semester 2016, Kent State University at Trumbull will award its first $1,000 scholarship from the new endowment ‘Elizabeth Z. Bartz Scholarship for Howland Tigers.’

The annual scholarship winner, selected by Howland High School, will be a graduating student who will attend Kent State University at Trumbull on a full-time basis. This endowment is funded to continue a scholarship every year going forward, and will be managed by Kent State University.

The formal signing of the endowment was held at a ceremony on May 5, 2016 at the Kent State University Trumbull Campus. In attendance were Ms. Bartz and school officials from Kent State University at Trumbull and the Howland Local Schools.

During the ceremony, Ms. Bartz explained that she decided back in 1976 with her parents to “stay local” after graduating from Howland High School and to attend the KSU Trumbull Campus. She studied there for two years, where she also worked on the campus newspaper and became its editor. This journalism training certainly helped her toward obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from KSU in 1980, and go on to launch Akron-based State and Federal Communications, today regarded as the leader in providing government compliance information and consulting services.

Ms. Bartz is also still very active at Kent State University and serves on the KSU National Alumni Relations Board of Directors, as well at the KSU School of Journalism and Mass Communications Alumni Board, and other committee leadership roles at the school.

During the ceremony kick-off presentation, Mr. Dave Smith, Director of Advancement, Kent State University, Trumbull Campus, said, “At our regional campus, we want to target more scholarships to help high school students within our local community. This new scholarship certainly helps that effort as we can assist students graduating from Howland High School. This will be a perpetual scholarship that will proudly be here forever, in her name.”

Mr. Kevin Spicher, Superintendent, Howland Local Schools, added that this gesture from Ms. Bartz “is philanthropy at its finest.” This was agreed with by Ms. Sandra E. Williams, Principal, Howland High School, who commented, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to help our kids. This scholarship gives them a head start to get to college. And this is a tribute for any student who wants to stay locally after graduating high school.”

Dr. Lance Grahn, Dean, Trumbull Campus, Kent State University, concluded comments, with, “This scholarship from Elizabeth acknowledges the success of our students from Kent State University at Trumbull… that this is a good place of quality education that prepares you for the adult world. One of the pillars of my vision for our university is to gain more involvement with our local schools to tie us together. This scholarship achieves that. I am also keen on energizing our regional campus to re-connect with our alumni. You can see the results now when that happens with a connection as represented by Elizabeth Bartz.”

In the photo above: Launching the new annual ‘Elizabeth Z. Bartz Scholarship for Howland Tigers’ at Kent State University at Trumbull, are (left to right) Ms. Elizabeth Z. Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communication; Mr. Kevin Spicher, Superintendent, Howland Local Schools; Dr. Lance Grahn, Dean, KSU Trumbull Campus; Ms. Pam Anderson, KSU Institutional Advancement Representative; Mr. Dave Smith, Director of Advancement, KSU Trumbull Campus; Ms. Sandra E. Williams, Principal, Howland High School; and Ms. Sarah Helmick, Assistant Director, Enrollment Management & Student Services, KSU Trumbull Campus.

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications, Inc., was invited to close out the last session for students in a five-week public affairs class at Kent State University. Bartz led a discussion of why it is so important to understand state and federal laws when assisting clients and how it may affect decision-making. She encouraged the students to stay true to themselves and remember to remain ethical during those tough decisions.

The class is for students in The School of Journalism and Mass Communications (JMC) who have an interest in government relations. JMC Director Thor Wasbotten also had a chance to stop by.

The October Akron Roundtable luncheon featured Kent State University President Dr. Beverly Warren. Dr. Warren adjusted her scheduled presentation “Reflections from a New Northeast Ohioan” to address the dramatic events of the past 24 hours revolving around the Ebola crisis. She discussed the university’s crucial role in providing health professionals who are on the front lines meeting the health needs of the community and offered her vision for the future of Kent State University.

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications, is Vice President of the Kent State University Alumni Board of Directors and enjoyed a visit with Dr. Warren at Akron Roundtable.

We have an exciting announcement. Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications, will be the guest speaker at the Kent State University Trumbull Campus 2014 spring commencement ceremony. The event will take place on Friday, May 9, 2014.

Bartz is featured in a news release on the KSU Trumbull news page. According to the release, “Bartz, a former Trumbull County resident, is a Howland High School graduate, and attended classes at Kent State Trumbull (1976-78) before receiving a bachelor’s degree in journalism (‘80) and a master’s degree in political science (‘82) from Kent State University. Bartz currently serves on Kent State’s National Alumni Association Board; the Community Advisory Council for the university’s National Public Radio affiliate, WKSU; and serves on the Journalism Professional Advisory Board.”

Congratulations, Elizabeth!

On October 19, 2012, Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, received the Kent State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication William D. Taylor Distinguished Alumni Award.

“The William D. Taylor Award is the highest distinction given by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication to alumni who are nationally and/or internationally recognized for preeminent contributions to their professions or life’s work as they relate to the field of journalism and mass communication.”

Here is Elizabeth Bartz’s acceptance speech: