Today's Update: High Five Friday
September 11, 2026
Dear Student Life team,
Happy High Five Friday!
Sorority and Fraternity Life’s recent NPHC Yard Show was a great success. High Fives to all the Student Life team members who helped support the show, including Meagen Rinard, Brandon Horton, Erica Butler, Kirby Bell, Maia Gardner, Aliya Beavers, Annie Maxwell, Devon Stith, Josh Bensink, Madi Barnes, Kristen Rupert Davis, Mindy Clagg, Stacey Renker, Adrienne Gladish, Nate Darder, John Cronin, Christy Muhoberac, Anita McCoy, Candace Floyd and Zach Gaskins.
High Five to Student Life's Steven Waddell with Scarlet & Gray Advantage. He was “key” to helping a student retrieve their belongings recently. Here is the story: A student locked themselves out of a meeting room they were using to access their online class. Their phone, laptop and other belongings were inside. Steven happened to be nearby and contacted Public Safety to come and unlock the door, all while using humor to help defuse the situation and calm the panicked student.
High Fives to everyone, including HRE’s Barb Kefalas and Christian Thompson, for their help supporting students impacted by a facilities complication.
High Fives to Nancy Thompson, Paul Newell, Taylor Lowry, Michelle Norris, Ana Berrios, Taylor Koon and the rest of the Buckeye Commons team for successfully opening the third Career Studio in Busch House this semester. High Fives also go to partners in Housing and Residence Education and Planning, Projects and Space Management for their support of the Career Studio.
Scott Brown of Buckeye Commons gets a High Five for being featured as a Student Success Champion by the Student Success Research Lab. You can check out the article and Scott’s fabulous "elementary school style" online.
High Five to Stefanie Patsiavos and the entire Blackwell team who faithfully and consistently go above and beyond to support students.
Our Facilities team wants to give a High Five to Tom Novotny and the rest of FOD’s Environmental Health and Safety team for their support in responding to service requests.
High Fives to Marjorie Freggens, Leah Halper and Erica Regan for responding to so very many QTAPS (Quick Turn Around Projects) already this academic year. Student Life is also much better informed and able to make decisions because of their high-quality work.
The Student Life Disability Services team gets a High Five for launching a new school year while supporting each other through a busy time and unexpected team absences, and for creating a successful new Welcome Back Prep Party for students.
High Five to Kristen Rupert Davis for joining a meeting with a legislator who had questions about Ohio State’s efforts to share information about voting. Kristen’s answers highlighted the great work and dedication of the entire OSU Votes crew, so High Five to all involved, including Meagen Rinard and Emma Speyer.
BuckeyeThon is sending a big High Five to Dave Isaacs, Student Life’s Communications and Media Relations Manager. Dave recently supported BuckeyeThon’s participation in a 10TV live news segment at Ohio Stadium, as well as coverage on NBC4 and ABC6 of the BuckeyeThon 5K. They say, “He’s always a big advocate and supporter. We certainly appreciate him.”
I love this story: High Fives to two students, Myles Shaw and Chase Becker, for showing an incredible amount of compassion and patience toward a fellow student during a very difficult situation. Their actions impressed the OSUPD so much that Officer James Bass delivered letters from Chief Jeffrey to the students. They also received OSUPD challenge coins. Officer Bass said, "I really want to make sure these students know that what they did was noticed and appreciated."
Speaking of stories that warm your heart, High Five to Dining’s Trecie Shuler-Palmore for going out of her way to help a student with a visual impairment navigate the construction zone outside the Ohio Union. Trecie’s good work also prompted a review of the site to improve access.
Have a Scarlet and Great weekend, and of course, Go Bucks!
Melissa S. Shivers, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Life
The Ohio State University