Today's Update: High Five Friday
September 4, 2026
Dear Student Life team,
Happy High Five (and Scarlet and Gray) Friday!
High Five to the Buck-i-Frenzy team on another successful year. This event would not be possible without the collaboration of Rec Sports including Dave DeAngelo, Zach Talstein, Malina Gugle, Kyle Manley, Kaylee Savage and Gage Pohlmeier, the Facilities team led by Alex Jimenez, operations, housekeeping and the entire team at the RPAC; Marketing and Business and Finance. Additionally, High Fives to those who help make this event come to life including Jacob Armstrong, Matthew D’Oyly, Zia Ahmed, Felix Alonso, Josh Bailey, Elijah Balogh, Kirby Bell, Rashida Bowman, Lindsey Boyd, Daniela Burnworth, Maya Bygrave, Jemila Council, Brittany Crall, Carmen Cunat, Hannah Davenport, Nora Davis, Wendy DeBrosse, Rachel DeMooy, Ishpreet Devgan, Jack Dougherty, Chrisse Edmunds, Leah Fetters, Stephanie Fowler, Zach Gaskins, Kady Gies, Alex Green, Courtney Griggs, Molly Hall, Peter Hansen, Neil Hariths, Abby Hertzfeld, Sydney Hopkins, Erica Horn, Chloee Howard, Stella Hughes, Eric Jaburek, Adam Keller, Justin Khol, Matt Kotzen, Wes Lindsey, Ryan Lovell, Marcy Lusk, Cheryl Lyons, Lucia Martinez, Jasmine McKinley, Aidan McLaughlin, Grace Min, Leanne Moore, Vaidehi More, Faith Nelson, Charissa Newkirk, Laura Onianwa, Tiffany Quattlebaum, Brinda Raghavan, Erica Regan, Whitney Rule, Jordan Rutherford, Mark Sampson, Jamonae Scarborough, Amelia Scheetz, Taylor Schindley, Natalie Schroeder, Gracie Sprague, Lauren Stazen, Eric Stucke, Christina Szuch, Justin Turner, Morgan Vibbert, Hannah Warner, Angie Wellman, Re'Nesha Weston and Amy Young.
Housing and Residence Education wants to be sure Adam Cutright of Facilities gets a High Five, saying, “He has a really positive attitude, always has a smile on his face and is always willing to help. He helped ensure that our emergency housing is set up and safe, and he jumped in to help with an urgent issue during Move-In to help solve the problem and support the impacted residents.”
High Fives to HRE’s Desk Coordinators and Package Center Coordinator for all their work during Move-In and beyond.
Speaking of HRE, High Five to Hall Director Ariel Burns for taking on added responsibilities and is now heading up the Bradley Paterson Siebert communities with amazing energy.
And Jennifer Watley did an outstanding job representing HRE and Student Life with a podcast segment with NBC4 talking about life in the residence halls.
High Five to Travis Barnhart for pitching in on some mission-critical materials that were needed in a speedy way.
Sorority and Fraternity Life wants to share the love, and High Fives, with Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement’s Rachel DeMooy and and Jake Friedman of Counseling and Consultation Service for sharing information about their offices with chapter presidents this week.
Candice Williams on the Facilities team asked me for a High Five to all the managers on South Campus. She says, “I’ve been with Ohio State for over five years and this was one of the best summers I’ve had. Thank you to Lauren Meng and everyone else.” Well-deserved love and High Fives!
Dining’s Abby Hertzfeld and her team have been busy showing off the new Sloopy’s in the Ohio Union, hosting a reporter for the Lantern and the members of President Bellamkonda’s Cabinet. The consensus: Delicious!
Dining wants to give a High Five to Marketing Specialist Debbie Wakefield, saying “She has been a fantastic partner and has helped us execute our ideas as well as brainstorm new ones. Her work helps ensure that our students are informed about all the great dining options available to them here at The Ohio State University.”
High Five to those who helped make last week’s STEP Open House a tremendous success. More than 600 STEP participants attended, creating an exciting opportunity for students to learn about the program, explore resources, connect and begin envisioning their own extraordinary experience. Special High Fives to the STEP Administrative Team: Chelsea Black, Julie Schultz, Elle Carpenter, Jen Kunz, Audrey Evans, Brian Raison, Caitlyn Tietje, Rich Bruno and Sahmyah Kelley-Guilford. High Fives as well to STEP Mentors, including Ola Ahlqvist, Amanda Bird, Rebecca Delo, Rebecca Harmon, Josh Harraman, Courtney Hunt, Sarah Lang, Kim Lopez, Ashley Marietta-Brown, Steven Mousetes, Benjamin Philip, Gary Pierzynski, Emily Rodgers, Julie Sanzone, Wayne Schlingman, Qiana Smith, Kristin Stover and Tricia Zelaya-Leon. You can see photos in the STEP Open House Gallery.
The OUAB Graduate and Professional Involvement Fair and Picnic last week was a big success and a great deal of fun. It truly embodied our Culture Commitment of Connection, live and in action! High Fives to Alex Wenglein, Candace Floyd and Annie Maxwell for leading the effort and to the Student Org team of Erica McGwire, Anna Sullivan Kvam and Katie Conner.
Another High Five to OUAB coordinator Annie Maxwell in OUAB for helping her colleague in Student Activities gather some shirts so our friends in International Affairs could spread the good word of involvement on campus.
Have a Scarlet and Great, and safe, Labor Day weekend. Oh, and GO BUCKS on this football season opening weekend!
Melissa S. Shivers, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Life
The Ohio State University