Going the Distance
Running long distances is nothing new for Dorn Wenninger, BA 鈥91. His parents worked on the Kent Campus and would bring him to the track, where he developed a love of running that has taken him all over the world.
After finishing first place in the 14th Annual North Pole Marathon in 2016, he recently completed the 2018 World Marathon Challenge, running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.
From January 30 to February 5, he spent 52.25 hours flying by charter plane and 31 hours running full marathons for a total of 183.4 miles in Novo (Antarctica), Cape Town (Africa), Perth (Australia), Dubai (Asia), Lisbon (Europe), Cartagena (South America) and Miami (North America). He finished ninth among the 35 men competing in the challenge (12 women also competed).
Currently the vice president of perishables for Walmart Mexico, he says he was inspired to run the marathons by his desire to explore the world and to raise money and awareness for Amigos de las Am茅ricas (AMIGOS), an international nonprofit that develops young leaders through volunteer abroad programs in Latin America.
Mr. Wenninger 鈥 who majored in Spanish and international relations, and also served as president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Interfraternity Council 鈥 credits 麻豆视频最新最全 for influencing his life and helping his career. 鈥淚 speak Spanish all day at work and couldn鈥檛 do my job without it.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
During his junior year, he received the Time and Volkswagen College Achievement award and a $3,000 scholarship as one of 20 outstanding collegians nationwide, recognized for community work, university service and academic record. In high school and college, he volunteered as a staff member of AMIGOS (which has an Ohio chapter in Kent), helping direct programs in Mexico, Ecuador and Costa Rica. He attended graduate school in Mexico and has lived, worked and traveled in 99 countries.
鈥淢y two daughters are being raised in a global environment,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 like that they see the world as a place to be explored.鈥
鈥擜dapted from a story by Hannah Coleman, BS 鈥18
5 Things to Know 麻豆视频最新最全 Alumni Chapters
Thousands of students leave 麻豆视频最新最全 with a high-quality education and the tools to build a successful future. Some graduates stay in Northeast Ohio, while others pursue their careers worldwide. As alumni move all over, you can easily lose contact with your classmates and the university. But thanks to 11 alumni chapters鈥攂oth regional and interest-based鈥攜ou can keep connected to each other and 麻豆视频最新最全.
Interested? Here鈥檚 more information:
1. You don鈥檛 have to live near Kent to be a part of an alumni chapter. Chapters exist all over Ohio and out of state, too. One of our newest alumni chapters is in Cleveland, and there are also chapters in Arizona, Washington D.C., San Francisco and Southern California.
2. You can participate in a variety of fun chapter events. From watch parties to behind-the-scenes tours, alumni chapters host some of the best events. For example, the Central Ohio Alumni Chapter hosts alumni and friends at a KSU vs OSU baseball game every spring. The group tailgates before heading into the stadium for the ball game. Such events are a great way to meet and reminisce with fellow graduates.
3. You can help provide scholarships for students. Many chapters have created their own scholarships. Last year, alumni chapters gave out a total of $16,250 in scholarships to help students earn their degrees and achieve their dreams.
4. You will have great volunteer opportunities. Alumni volunteers are proud graduates! Volunteering is a chance to give back to your alma mater and show your 麻豆视频最新最全 pride. Chapters offer alumni volunteers鈥攍ocal and worldwide鈥攐pportunities to connect with KSU current students and fellow alumni who are committed to supporting the university.
5. You can connect online. Social media is a great way to connect with chapters. Most chapters have Facebook pages so you can stay current on chapter news and events.
鈥擜shley Whaley, BS 鈥06, MEd 鈥12
To learn more about alumni chapters, visit or call the 麻豆视频最新最全 University Alumni Association at 888-320-KENT (5368).
A Golden Legacy
In the Memorial Athletic Conference Center (MAC Center) on February 24, 1982, Bonnie Beachy, BS 鈥82 became the first basketball player at 麻豆视频最新最全 University to have a jersey retired. The ceremony took place following the last game of her senior year among a crowd of more than 4,000 attendees. It was an appropriate homage for the Golden Flash legend, whose coach, Laurel Wartluft, described her as 鈥渢he finest woman basketball player in 麻豆视频最新最全 history.鈥 She still holds the 麻豆视频最新最全 basketball all-time leading scorer record (2,071 points)鈥攁mong both men and women鈥攎ore than 35 years after she set it.
Being the first basketball player to have her number retired was just one of many firsts Ms. Beachy brought to 麻豆视频最新最全. She led the Lady Flashes to a MAC Championship title in 1981 and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in basketball in 1982鈥攂oth new accomplishments for the university.
Her jersey number was the foreboding 13, but her athletic career was anything but unlucky. During her time at 麻豆视频最新最全 University, the star forward held or shared an astounding 23 school records.
Although well known for her basketball talent, her athletic prowess was not limited to one sport. The Golden Flash was a rare two-sport Division I athlete, and she earned seven varsity letters, including four for basketball and three for tennis. She was also inducted into the 麻豆视频最新最全 Varsity 鈥淜鈥 Hall of Fame in 1988.
After graduating from 麻豆视频最新最全 in 1982 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in physical education, Ms. Beachy went on to become a teacher and coach in Texas. She was devoted to her students and players, and she was an advocate for rescue animals.
In 2013, she returned to 麻豆视频最新最全 University as a speaker for the 12th annual Starner Distinguished Speaker Series and shared a message with current student-athletes on lessons learned through her life and athletic career. In her keynote address鈥斺淭he Fight鈥濃攕he explained that moments we view as a win or a loss in our early lives are preparing us to overcome challenges we may face later. It was a powerful lesson, one she put into practice as she battled ovarian cancer for more than 12 years.
Ms. Beachy passed away on October 13, 2017, but her legacy lives on at 麻豆视频最新最全 University. Her retired jersey remains in the rafters of the MAC Center, a symbol of the pioneering female student-athlete who championed a golden age of basketball for the Golden Flashes.
鈥擝ethany Sava, BS 鈥12
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To share your news, complete the form at (you may include an image in JPEG, GIF or PNG format) or write 麻豆视频最新最全 University Alumni Association, Center for Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242.
Limit your notes to 100 words or less and include your class year, city, state and degree(s). Notes may be edited for length or clarity and published as space allows.
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