Eastern Gateway’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapter Alpha Omicron Nu Earns Awards

Steubenville, Ohio – The Ohio Region of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recently recognized Eastern Gateway Community College’s leadership and students.

“As a college, we built a strong and vibrant PTK organization as a way for our students to be recognized for their achievements in the classroom, as well as their dedication to community and service,” said Associate Professor Karen Spindler, Eastern Gateway program chair for business management and advisor of the college’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Alpha Omicron Nu chapter. “As an advisor to this impressive group of students, many of whom are working parents and caregivers, I am incredibly proud and inspired by how hard they work to give back.” Spindler is based in Steubenville, Ohio.

Eastern Gateway Community College President Michael Geoghegan was named one of the Ohio Region Paragon President Award winners. This award recognizes new college presidents for their outstanding support of student success and the PTK program. Eastern Gateway students and advisor nominated President Geoghegan for this award which, according to PTK, acknowledges college presidents who are providing students “more opportunities and stronger pathways to completion, transfer, and employment – even amid a global pandemic.”

Additionally, Rob Hodge, of Washington, an Eastern Gateway  business management – labor studies student is a semifinalist for the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer scholarship. This competitive scholarship is for the nation’s top community college students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university.

As a chapter, Alpha Omicron Nu at Eastern Gateway Community College received the following distinctions:

  • 5-Star Chapter Award
  • Catch A Shining Star Award for increase in membership of 61.4% for 2021
  • Nominated for Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team
  • Inducted into the Order of the Torch for the Ohio region
  • Members Jeremy Taylor and Kimberly Boyer will compete in Colorado for the Scholar Bowl later this year

Individually, the individual awards presented to chapter leaders include:

Jeremy Taylor, Chapter President

  • Inducted into the Order of the Torch
  • Scholar Bowl Championship winner with team member Kim Boyer
  • Elected the Eastern District Representative of Ohio Region Officer Team for 2022-2023
  • Nominated for Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team

Lisa Shipman, Chapter Vice President

  • Catalyst Flag Bearer (Carries the flag at national conference)
  • Most Distinguished Regional Officer award
  • Elected Ohio Region President 2022-2023
  • Nominated for Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team

Kimberly Boyer, Chapter Vice President of Fellowship

  • Inducted into the Order of the Torch
  • Inducted into the Order of Athena
  • Scholar Bowl Championship winner with President Jeremy Taylor
  • Nominated for Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team

Rachel Ballowe, Chapter Vice President of Service

  • Inducted into the Order of the Torch
  • Inducted into the Order of Athena
  • Nominated for Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team

Stacy Lemke, Chapter Member

  • Nominated for Most Distinguished Chapter Member
  • Inducted into the Order of the Golden Key
  • Elected Vice President of the Ohio Region for 2022-2023

Jayden Podszus, Chapter Vice President of Membership

  • Nominated for Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team
  • Inducted into the Order of the Torch for the Ohio region

Kimberley Grandberry, Chapter Public Relations Officer

  • Nominated for Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team
  • Inducted into the Order of the Torch for the Ohio region

Leonard Gehl, Chapter Recording Officer

  • Nominated for Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team
  • Inducted into the Order of the Torch for the Ohio region

Termia Brown, Chapter Vice President of Scholarship

  • Nominated for Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team
  • Inducted into the Order of the Torch for the Ohio region

Jeannette Fe Rizzo, Chapter Vice President of Leadership

  • Nominated for Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team
  • Inducted into the Order of the Torch for the Ohio region

“None of this would be possible without the leadership of PTK’s advisor, Karen Spindler, who has made PTK one of the most well-respected organizations at Eastern Gateway,” said Christina Wanat, senior vice president and chief student affairs officer at Eastern Gateway. “Our students in Steubenville, Youngstown and online benefit from the hands-on approach to this student-focused service organization.”

Spindler has provided leadership to Eastern Gateway’s PTK chapter for the last five years. During that time, she increased the chapter’s membership levels from 113 to more than 5,100 active members, including students taking classes in-seat, CCP, and online. During August 2021, the Eastern Gateway’s PTK reached out to staff, students and faculty to collect financial and personal care item donations to deliver to Eve Inc., an Ohio-based battered women’s shelter. The chapter’s Honors In Action project reached homeless shelters in many different states where students lived by donating Blessing bags to those shelters. By engaging the entire campus community in the service project, Professor Spindler brought awareness to our students’ participation in the Conference while clearly demonstrating PTK’s mission.

Award recipients will be formally recognized during PTK Catalyst 2022, our annual convention in Denver, Colorado, April 7-9, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center.

Eastern Gateway Community College Announces Donation, New Name for Business School

The Christine and Phillip Dennison School of Business and Leadership will launch in Spring Semester 2023

Youngstown and Steubenville, Ohio – 

The Eastern Gateway Community College Board of Trustees today accepted a $250,000 donation from Christine and Phillip Dennison, of Youngstown, Ohio, to establish the Christine and Phillip Dennison School of Business and Leadership. The school will officially launch for Spring Semester 2023 (beginning January, 2023).

“This generous donation from two true community servants in very validating of the work our faculty, staff and students put into ensuring a high-quality business program, both in person and online, is offered at Eastern Gateway,” said Eastern Gateway President Michael Geoghegan. “We also hope to inspire our business students, with tremendous role models like the Dennisons, to achieve great things in their careers and in giving back to their communities.”

“The Board of Trustees was honored to accept this gift from one of our own – Board Member Christine Dennison – who is truly ‘walking the walk’ to help build a stronger Eastern Gateway,” said Eastern Gateway Board of Trustees Chair Jim Gaisor. “The Christine and Phillip Dennison School of Business and Leadership will be something we can all be proud of.”

Christine Dennison retired from teaching full time 8 years in the Marketing Department at Youngstown State University (YSU)’s Williamson College of Business Administration. She was also a Planned Giving Consultant to both United Way and the Community Foundation of Mahoning Valley and volunteered on the United Way Fund Allocation Committee. She was a board member and chaired a capital campaign for the Youngstown Hearing & Speech Center. Prior to that, she worked 15 years at IBM in Youngstown and Detroit in Administration and Marketing Divisions. She also was a secondary high school teacher for 6 years. She was a member of Leadership Youngstown and an Athena Nominee. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude at YSU where she also earned an MBA. She earned her M.S. in Education at Edinboro University, PA. She was appointed as an Eastern Gateway Trustee in 2015 and continues to serve and chairs the Student Success committee of the Board.

Phillip Dennison, CPA, is a principal emeritus with Packer Thomas, a regional accounting firm. He is chairman of the Board of the Western Reserve Health Foundation. Additionally, he serves as a board member and treasurer of Youngstown Cityscapes, received their Grass Roots Award. He is chair of a Committee of Grow Mahoning Valley, East Gate Regional Council of Governments. He was a past chair of the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce. He chaired a successful, $3 million United Way of Mahoning County Annual Campaign. He also was a member of Leadership Youngstown. He earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from YSU.

“Community colleges are the backbone of our communities, and business and leadership are the heart,” said Christine Dennison. “Giving back to the college that continues to work tirelessly to enhance our communities is an incredible opportunity for us. It is an honor to be a part of Eastern Gateway’s story and the next generation of business leaders and professionals.”

“The business and leadership programs at Eastern Gateway Community College succeed because of the college’s students, faculty, and leadership. We are extremely thankful to be a part of helping students achieve their goals and career aspirations,” said Phillip Dennison.

The change will go into effect during the next Spring Semester, beginning in January 2023. At that time, the name of the school will appear on formal college documents, such as reports and student records.

“Business students and faculty will benefit greatly from the generous support of the Dennison’s donation,” said Dr. John Crooks, senior vice president and chief academic officer at Eastern Gateway. “The Dennison School of Business and Leadership will advance the college’s vision of ‘Creating Opportunities and Changing Lives.’ It is fitting to name this school after solid supporters of our students and local business professionals and owners.”

Media Note: Media interviews with President Geoghegan, Dr. Crooks and or Chair Gaisor will be available by request. Mr. and Mrs. Dennison will be available for media interviews at the May Board of Trustees meeting. Please email Amanda Wurst at awurst@egcc.edu or by text at 614-832-7512 to schedule an interview.