‘One-of-a-kind research' opportunities: President Drake visits Wooster campus

Ohio State University President Michael V. Drake’s July 6-7 tour of northern Ohio included a stop at CFAES’s Wooster campus. The tour highlighted his 2020 Vision and commitment to access, affordability and excellence. It also included stops in Mansfield, Akron, Youngstown and Canton.

“Our Wooster campus is crucial in addressing our top university priorities: access, excellence and affordability,” Drake said in comments during a luncheon in the campus’s Shisler Conference Center. “It’s a great pathway to provide more students access to an Ohio State education.

“As home to OARDC and Ohio State ATI, Wooster offers one-of-a-kind research opportunities.”

Drake also said, “As we can see, community engagement is intertwined with campus life” as he introduced and thanked the local officials attending the luncheon. They included Wooster Mayor Bob Breneman, the Wayne County Commissioners and State Rep. Ron Amstutz, the event’s surprise honoree.

Amstutz “has been a tireless advocate for Ohio State, and has dedicated his life’s work to serving the state of Ohio,” Drake said in introducing the Wooster resident. “We cannot thank him enough for his support of our Wooster campus and our Extension program.”

Drake cited among Amstutz’s contributions his “steadfast support for research” that can be traced back to his high school summers spent working at OARDC; his help in securing funding to replace OARDC’s Agricultural Engineering Building, which was damaged beyond repair by a 2010 tornado; and his advocacy in helping promising youth, especially from rural backgrounds, go onto higher education.

“Most importantly, Ron cares very much about other people,” said Drake, who presented Amstutz with a special framed aerial photograph of the Wooster campus.

Drake’s tour of northern Ohio also included, among other stops, a town hall forum in Youngstown on college affordability and Ohio State’s Young Scholars Program.

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