Today's Update: Friday, October 3, 2025
October 3, 2025
Dear Student Life team,
Happy High Five Friday!
The University-wide Career and Internship Fair was a huge success. More than 2,000 students attended in person with another 126 taking part in the virtual fair. 184 employers registered; all numbers that exceeded this year’s goals. In addition to the High Fives for the Buckeye Careers leadership team that I mentioned a couple weeks ago, High Fives to everyone who helped out during the fair, including Alex Thomas, Chelsea Black, D’Arcy Oaks, Debbie Wakefield, Elle Carpenter, Jordan Smoot, Julie Schultz, Leah Halper, Kayleigh Benson and Tom Reeves. High Fives as well to those who played an important role in the career fair, including Anita McCoy, Bryce Hessler, Jeff Pelletier, Lauren Vetere, Mark Arthur, Molly Chandra, Sean Boiarski and Wendy DeBrosse.
High Five to Kelsea Brown and Madi Barnes for coordinating Pay it Forward’s annual Community Commitment Day of Service this month. Over 400 participants spent their Bye Week Saturday volunteering for 20 nonprofit community organizations. High Five to Austin Ahlborn, Félix Alonso, Aliya Beavers, Kristen Rupert Davis, Ryan Lovell, Kathy Krajnak, Jayden Messer, Akua Nelson, Gabi Nuñez, Julie Schnell and Mercedes Wallace for volunteering their time to support the event, and to Kady Gies for assistance with planning and managing the Day of Service. Ryan Lovell gets an extra High Five for his inspiring speech at the opening ceremony!
Risk and Emergency Management’s Jaylen Lindsey gets a High Five for his work on this year’s National Hazing Prevention Week.
Speaking of Risk and Emergency Management, the team appreciates Student Life Technology Services’ Zach Redecker for stopping by their office to help address some urgent needs, saying, “We appreciate Zach’s partnership and his willingness to always help us out even when he is juggling multiple projects.” High Five, Zach!
The love continues for Risk and Emergency Management, with a High Five to Teri Cugliari for her outstanding leadership of the Business Continuity Planning process.
High Five to the Events and Conferences team of Audrey Pinger, Josh Kraft, Olivia Davidson, Colleen Hoffman, Sabrina Broner, Sevil Kambarova, Kaitlyn Lipscomb, Zach Bryant, Jeroldine Oakley and Molly Chandra for their quick work in resetting an event to accommodate a luncheon.
Amelia Scheetz gets a High Five for stepping up when NBC4 made a last-minute request to interview someone live at the ‘Shoe about Homecoming Parade float building.
Last, but definitely not least, I have the particular pleasure of giving a High Five to the one-and-only Stacy Smith, who is Stac to me. In addition to keeping me in line as my Executive Assistant, Stac also received a High Five from a Student Life colleague who appreciates Stacy’s outstanding kindness and welcoming nature when team members visit our office suite. Thanks, Stac!
I hope everyone has a Scarlet and Great, and a GO BUCKS, Homecoming weekend!
Melissa S. Shivers, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Life
The Ohio State University