Courtesy of Off-Campus Student Services Student resident Adam Adair and his roommates spent more than 10 hours decorating the second-place finisher in the "Light Up the Night" competition. The students also were acknowledged by the Northwood Park Historical District for having a positive effect on the off-campus community.

Community Ambassadors promote pride in University District

By JESSICA SHERRICK, Media Relations

A beaming Brutus sitting shotgun in a sleigh, luminous snowmen and thousands of twinkling lights -- some spelling out O-H-I-O -- were just a few of the decorations students used to "Light Up the Night," the first holiday lights competition in Ohio State's off-campus neighborhood.

Creating a Buckeye winter wonderland was one way to build community pride in the off-campus neighborhood, which was the goal of the Community Ambassadors program initiated by Ohio State's Off-Campus Student Services and Undergraduate Student Government a year ago. The ambassadors are a group of 11 students representing the off-campus neighborhood and actively working with other off-campus residents, property owners and the city of Columbus to create community pride.

The program began when a group of students decided to do something that would positively impact the off-campus area, said Sean McLaughlin, assistant director of off-campus student services.

Planning and implementing programs such as the "Light Up the Night" competition is just one responsibility of the community ambassadors. Along with programming, ambassadors serve as liaisons between the university and the off-campus area and brainstorm ways to enhance the experience of living east of High Street.

Other projects include a new quarterly newsletter to create awareness of the various resources available for off-campus students. The newsletter features information about campus activities, an article about Ohio State's Student Housing Legal Clinic, a note from each ambassador and important phone numbers at Ohio State.

McLaughlin attributes the success of the program to the ambition of the students involved. Students were selected based on an application process that included an interview during which candidates discussed their ideas and vision regarding the off-campus area.

"The ambassadors are dedicated students who have taken the initiative to build a legacy of community pride that will hopefully continue from year to year," McLaughlin said. "Helping students meet the challenges of the academic programs and enjoy the community in which they live both contribute to the quality of the Ohio State experience."

For one ambassador, involvement in the program is a great way to give back to the university.

"By being an ambassador, I can show appreciation for everything Ohio State has given me during the past four years," said Kevin Smith, organizer of the "Light Up the Night" competition. "I want to be proud to say that I received a degree from Ohio State, and the ambassador program gives me the opportunity to have a positive impact on an area that has a direct effect on the reputation of the university."

For Smith, the competition, which took place Dec. 3, was one example of a simple idea turned into a reality. With a vision of creating an off-campus winter wonderland, Smith designed the competition to encourage other residents to participate in decorating their homes.

Residents from more than 160 apartments, houses, fraternities and sororities participated in the competition and some 6,000 people voted on the best-decorated residences.

"This small idea generated so much positive feedback. People from all over came to Ohio State's off-campus area to experience the holiday lights," Smith said. "The event brought back a feeling of a home away from home for everyone. Hopefully, this will lead people to treat this area with more respect."

Incentives included recognition on the Off-Campus Student Services Web site and prizes ranging from a big-screen television to a $500 gift certificate. Among the honors was the Clark Griswald Award given to the house with the most lights per square foot.

Through the Community Ambassador program, students have the opportunity to enhance the living environment for students who live east of High Street. However, for Smith, the benefits reach far beyond the boundaries of the off-campus area.

"I was just a regular student and never felt I did anything worthwhile until my involvement as an ambassador," Smith said. "I now can graduate knowing that I accomplished something bigger than my degree."

Adam Adair, a second-place winner in the "Light Up the Night" competition, spent more than 10 hours with his roommates decorating. For their efforts, Adair and his roommates also were acknowledged by the Northwood Park Historical District for having a positive effect on the off-campus community. He said the event brought his roommates together and made them feel more a part of the community.

"The whole program made all of us feel better about living on that street and more accepted in the community," Adair said. "We were viewed as more than just college students -- as people who respected the neighborhood."

Photos by Jo McCulty Candidates from the College of Human Ecology await their procession to the stage to collect their diplomas. The college granted degrees to 134 students during the ceremony.

Success a process, not an event, Kroger VP tells graduates

By JONI BENTZ SEAL, onCAMPUS staff

An estimated 10,000 guests filled St. John Arena Dec. 14 for Ohio State's 366th commencement, during which 1,700 graduates received diplomas. The near-capacity crowd -- and possibly the largest ever for an autumn commencement -- may have resulted from the move from Friday to Sunday for the graduation exercises, prompted by the university's student governments last spring to better accommodate the attendance of family and friends.

In her commencement address, M. Marnette Perry, senior vice president of The Kroger Co., acknowledged the accomplishment of the graduates thus far, and encouraged them to strive for excellence, accept life's lessons and continue to "do something great" beyond the boundaries of Ohio State.

"I love sharing your moment of celebration and recognition," Perry said. "But best of all, I love looking straight into the faces of all you who have accomplished so much and then contemplating, for a moment, just how you will leave your fingerprints on our world."

M. Marnette Perry addresses graduates at the first Sunday commencement since 1943.

Using examples from her own path to success, Perry reminded graduates that their success was -- and will be -- made possible by the support of many, and that expression of gratitude is requisite.

"Today every graduate here celebrates his or her own accomplishment, but there is also a certain 'duality' in this celebration -- no one did it alone," she said. "Help came in lots of forms and packages. It was the encouragement and support from family, friends, faculty and the community that no doubt got you through."

As a retailer, a marketer and a business executive, Perry said she is keenly focused on branding and has been impressed with Ohio State's "Really Smart People, Doing Really Smart Things" and "Do Something Great" campaigns. The commercials, she said, cleverly suggest that "you can be smart and that greatness is within your reach if you choose to reach for it."

The defining concept

Knowing just how far to reach can be daunting, however. Perry said she is often asked to share her defining moment -- that one specific point at which her future direction became clear. She prefers, however, to believe that her daily experiences form a defining concept -- instead of just a single moment -- that influences her decisions, goals and results.

"We are not born with all of these qualities in exactly the right proportion -- we are not as smart or as strong or as bold as we wish we were," she said. "What I find so important and exciting is that these qualities can be learned. Like all of our skills, they can be practiced and applied and in doing so, they will begin to come more easily."

Self-confidence is one of those learned skills, Perry said. Hers resulted in childhood from years of practice at the behest of her father, who expected her to greet and converse with prominent academic and political house guests while he was intentionally late. Those forced interactions gave Perry immense confidence, respect and boldness -- skills she said have proven vital throughout her career.

In addition to her father, she lauded the many mentors in her life who supported the idea that she could choose to stretch herself, to accomplish more, to think higher and to never quit.

The pursuit of greatness

In addition to her personal mentors, Perry mentioned several books that were influential in her professional philosophy.

One of Perry's favorites, Good to Great by Jim Collins, includes many well-articulated business and personal concepts, she said, "but nothing is more provocative than the first line of the book, which reads ‘good is the enemy of great.'

"The most resounding insight for me is that people, like companies (and companies are only as good as their people), achieve greatness when ordinary people do extraordinary things," she said. "It is the idea that ‘mere mortals' can and do achieve greatness."

In her career, Perry said she has had the pleasure of hiring, promoting and redirecting thousands of "mere mortals," but the ones with the best edge are not just well prepared for the next step -- that is a given. "They are also as ready to learn as they are to teach," she said.

In the book The Rise of the Creative Class, by Richard Florida, Perry said the author points out that a truly creative, open environment gives people permission to fail as they choose to reach for greatness, and that this freedom to fail is the key to the process by which profound accomplishment is achieved.

"You are the best prepared, the most ready. You don't have to be born great to do great things," Perry told the graduates. "Success is a process, not an event, and great things are entirely within your reach, so celebrate your success today and make the choice to reach for even greater successes tomorrow."

Staff advisory councils help USAC keep in touch

By SUSAN WITTSTOCK, onCAMPUS staff

The University Staff Advisory Committee (USAC) is working to forge closer ties with local staff advisory councils (SACs) to better coordinate efforts on behalf of staff throughout the university.

"We want to keep them updated on what we're doing. Sometimes we are aware of issues and concerns that they're not aware of," said Tonia Harper, co-chair of USAC's Communications Committee, which is responsible for the outreach effort to the smaller councils. "We'd like to get a grassroots effort going, work a little closer and allow them to use us as a resource, as well as tap into their membership for feedback."

Technology is helping the effort to move forward. This fall, USAC redesigned its Web site (usac.osu.edu). The site's new design includes up-to-date information on events and meetings; postings of agendas and reports; member names and contact information; and a page that lists local SACs, with contact information. Currently, 19 councils are on the list. USAC also is working to keep local leaders abreast of USAC's participation in various universitywide committees by adding them to the recipient list of e-mail updates.

Opportunities for face time also are increasing. SAC leaders have always been invited to attend USAC's annual Staff Compensation and Benefits Committee report to the president and senior administration, but beginning last year, USAC began hosting bi-annual luncheons specifically for staff council contacts. This year, the Nov. 19 luncheon attracted 14 SAC members who participated in a dialogue with USAC members and Associate Vice President for Human Resources Larry Lewellen. Local SAC members also will be invited to attend the morning session of a USAC retreat in May.

USAC member Gerry Raimann, who is co-chair of the Communications Committee with Harper, has first-hand experience of the assistance USAC can give to a local council. As a first-year member last year, Raimann drew on USAC support to help him start a staff committee for the Department of Chemistry. "There is no staff committee in the entire College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and since I'm on USAC, we thought it would be a nice place to start a pilot program and see if we could create a local staff council."

The chemistry group began meeting this fall, and has taken on several tasks, including reactivating the outstanding staff award for the department. USAC is currently working with several other university units exploring the option of starting a council.

Raimann and Harper point out that there is no standard template for local councils. "Many of the SACs operate very differently, depending on the department they are located in," Harper said. "Some are very involved in politics, some with nuts and bolts and others are involved in employee recognition."

At the Moritz College of Law, the local council is charged with improving the work environment for staff. "When we started the group about six years ago, we wanted to create ways to recognize and reward staff for their accomplishments and improve and enhance the climate at the law school," said Kathy Jones, fiscal and personnel officer for the college and chair of its SAC.

The council, whose eight members (seven staff, one faculty) meet once a month, recently conducted a survey to gauge the climate for the approximately 50 staff and found responses to be positive overall. The council also organizes social events and professional development workshops and training; facilitates monthly luncheons for staff with the dean; sponsors an annual staff appreciation luncheon and awards ceremony; donates welcome baskets to new employees; supports several community service projects; serves as a sounding board for staff concerns and grievances; and addresses policy issues -- the council helped the college implement a flex-time program.

"It keeps us very busy," Jones said. "We really have been very successful with the program and it has grown a lot over the last six years. I like helping make staff feel that they are recognized and appreciated. There are so many things you can do that don't take a lot of effort to make people feel good about themselves."

Over at the College of Optometry, the local SAC was started about three years ago. Paul Todd, assistant director for student affairs and college secretary, is chair of the five-member group, which meets on an as-needed basis and functions as a sounding board for staff concerns, both large and small. Todd said his group doesn't sponsor social and recognition activities because those efforts are handled by the dean's office.

"Currently, we are very active, because the college is right in the middle of a search for a new dean," Todd said. "It's important for staff to have a voice in the search and to keep informed of how it is progressing. We're helping to keep information flowing in both directions."

The Optometry SAC also is taking steps to help staff from the college's administrative, clinical and research areas (which are housed in separate locations) interact more. "We have not met as a whole before. We think it would be good to do a collegewide staff meeting," Todd said.

Todd attended the recent USAC luncheon. "It's good to get an update on what's going on at the university because I know that I'm probably missing some things. It was useful to hear what projects USAC is working on."

Jones has participated in several of USAC's luncheons, and said she enjoyed the chance to learn from her colleagues across the university. "I think it's important for colleges and departments to share what they're doing. It's nice to hear some new ideas," she said.