Today's Update: Friday, November 21, 2025

November 21, 2025

Dear Student life team, 

Happy High Five Friday! 

Last week’s STEP Expo was a huge success with 1,219 students presenting posters on their Signature Projects and another 2,192 current second-year STEP participants attending to learn more and be inspired about possible projects. High Five to Program Director Julie Schultz and the Expo planning duo of Chelsea Black and Elle Carpenter. High Fives to the STEP team members including Rich Bruno, Audrey Evans, Sahmyah Kelley-Guilford, Brian Raison and Caitlyn Tietje. In addition, a number of Student Life team members supported the Expo as reviewers, speaking with students about their projects and the transformation they experienced through STEP. High Fives to Cecelia Albon, Christopher Antjas, Rane Baldwin, Mohammed Baseer, Gabrielle Bockelman, Scott Brown, Jennifer Chilman, Matt Couch, David DeAngelo, Matthew D'Oyly, John Faul, Kyle Fowler, Kathaleen Grant, Morgan Hammonds, Hunter Hartwig, Tanisha Jenkins, Julie Jones, Rebecca Kapusta, Robbie Long, Andre Love, Ryan Lovell, Cheryl Lyons, Julius Mayo, Kim Monteaux De Freitas, Leanne Moore, Paul Newell, Tara Nord, Gabi Nunez, D'Arcy Oaks, Rahul Ponappa. JR Rathjens, Tori Rehr, Kristen Rupert Davis, Julie Sanzone, Amelia Scheetz, Natalie Schroeder, Micky Sharma, Julia Skrabak, Qiana Smith, Alex Smith, Kelly Smith, Lauren Stazen, Alex Thomas, Debbie Wakefield and Angie Wellman.

Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement hosted a safety walk this week, canvassing the University District and talking with students. High Fives to our Student Life team members and partners who offered thoughts to students on Thanksgiving and Winter Break safety as well as Party Smart reminders before the game against that team up North: Tom Claypool, Michael Rengers, Jay Sierra, Michael Huggins, Greg Hedrick, Mark Hauenstein, Bruce Allen, Chief Dennis Jeffrey, Tom Schneider, Doug Welker, Mindy Clagg, Teri Cugliari, Emma Krawiec, Jay Lindsey and Nora Gerber.  

No High Five message next Friday for Thanksgiving, but I always appreciate you and all you do. Have a Scarlet and Grateful week and Go Bucks – beat Rutgers and TTUN! 

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD        
Senior Vice President for Student Life         
The Ohio State University