The Golden Flashes Club Newsletter
August 2019
August 2019 Newsletter
41st Varsity "K" Hall of Fame Induction
Herb Page highlights Kent State’s 2019 Varsity "K" Athletics Hall of Fame class consisting of eight members to be introduced as part of the 41st induction ceremony on Oct. 26. Herb Page will become the first person to be inducted into the Varsity "K" Hall of Fame as both an athlete (1985) and a coach (2019). Joining the Hall of Fame are Debbie Bell (field hockey, 2008-11), Scott Miller (men's soccer, 1974-77), Kristin Peters (gymnastics, 2005-08), Nate Reinking (men's basketball, 1993-96) Jackie Rodgers (women's track & field, 2002-06), Greg Rohan (baseball, 2005-09) and Ryan Yip (men's golf, 2003-06). In addition to the inductees, four other awards will be presented. The 1984 men's golf team will receive the Team of Distinction honor. George Jenkins will be recognized as Distinguished Athletic Alumnus. Jack Schiller will be the 2019 Varsity "K" Person of the Year, and Bill and Eddye White will be this year's Honorary Varsity "K" Members.
This year's ceremony will take place in the Student Center Ballroom and is scheduled for Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. The 2019 class will also be recognized that day during Kent State's football game against Miami. Tickets are $25 for adults. Children 10 and under are $10 and 3 and under are free. Secure your reservation online. Please email Brian Grubich or call 330-672-8399 with any questions.
2019 The Golden Flashes Club Golf Outing
sponsored by GPI, an ASW Global Company
The Golden Flashes Club Golf Outing, sponsored by GPI, an ASW Global Company, was held on Wednesday, July 24 at Windmill Lakes Golf Club. This year's outing was another sell out that also included a record number of sponsors. Proceeds from the event supports student-athlete scholarships for over 400 current Golden Flashes.
All of our sports programs and our athletics' staff were well represented on the course throughout the day. Student-athletes, coaches and staff participated in golf or greeted golfers at holes on the course. Flash was also present to take photos and cheer on the golfers at the Hole In One, sponsored by Lambert Buick GMC.
The athletics department would like to thank all of those who came out for the day or sponsored the event! Your support is critical in the pursuit to provide a first-class experience for Kent State's student-athletes.
Be sure to mark your calendars now for next year's The Golden Flashes Club Golf Outing scheduled for July 22, 2020.
Important Dates
Sept 2 New Men's and Women's Basketball Season Tickets on Sale
Sept 21 8th Annual Varsity "K" FLASHBACK All Sports Reunion
Oct 14 Men's and Women's Basketball Single Game Day Tickets on Sale
Oct 26 41st Annual Varsity "K" Hall of Fame Induction
Oct 28 Wrestling Single Match Tickets on Sale
Oct 31 Men's and Women's Basketball Season Tickets Mailed
8th Annual Varsity "K" FLASHBACK All Sports Reunion
Don't miss the chance to reconnect with former teammates and cheer on the Golden Flashes at the 8th Annual Varsity "K" FLASHBACK All Sports Reunion on Saturday, September 21st. Family and friends are encouraged and welcomed to attend! The Golden Flashes will kick-off vs. Bowling Green at 3:30 p.m., the tailgate begins at the IBAKA Platform at 2 p.m. (game ticket required for tailgate entry). Complimentary food and beverages will be provided.
Reserve your spot online or call 330-672-2078 today!
* To purchase game tickets, please call the Kent State Athletics Ticket Office at 330-672-4455 and mention "Varsity K" to purchase $15 discounted football tickets. Tickets will be $30 day of the game. Game ticket required for both events.
#FLASHFAST Football Season Game Day
Kent State's "FlashFAST" Football season is quickly approaching! Be sure to know where our The Golden Flashes Club hospitality areas are located and where your support qualifies you to enjoy the game. If you are interested in upgrading or would like more information, please feel free to contact our office at 330-672-2078.
We look forward to seeing you at Dix Stadium this season!
IBAKA Platform
Annual Donation: $100+ or complimentary to former student-athletes
Location: Covered Northeast Party Platform
Hospitality Includes: Complimentary popcorn; Discounted prices on satellite concessions and beer; Game day program
Number of Guests: Limited to the number of season tickets purchased
Parking: Complimentary East or West side parking
Jim & Carolyn Phelan Varsity "K" Room
Annual Donation: $250+
Location: The Jim & Carolyn Phelan Varsity "K" Room and covered patio
Hospitality Includes: Complimentary heavy hors d'oeuvres, popcorn and discounted beer; Game day program
Number of Guests: Limited to the number of season tickets purchased
Parking: Complimentary designated West side parking area
The President's Blue and Gold Suite Patio Passes
Annual Donation: Please contact Maggie McKendry for details at 330-672-0462
Location: Patio Only Seating outside of The President's Blue and Gold Suite
Hospitality Includes: Complimentary food and beverages; Game day program
Number of Guests: Limited to the number of season tickets purchased
Parking: Complimentary designated West side parking area
The President's Blue and Gold Suite
Annual Donation: Please contact Maggie McKendry for details at 330-672-0462
Location: Suite level West side
Hospitality Includes: Complimentary food and beverages; Game day program
Number of Guests: Limited to the number of season tickets purchased
Parking: Complimentary designated West side parking area
Still need to get your game day tickets? Visit the ticket website or call our Athletic Ticket Office at (330) 672-4455.
Donor Appreciation Days
WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE OUR DONORS!
Mark your calendars now to come out and cheer on your Golden Flashes!
Be sure to stop by The Golden Flashes Club table, located at the venue's entrance, to help us celebrate our Donor Appreciation Days! Kent State Athletics is thankful of our donors and will provide a token of our appreciation at the following games:
- Saturday, September 7 - Football vs. Kennesaw State at Dix Stadium
- (Item pick-up will take place inside the IBAKA Platform, Jim and Carolyn Phelan Varsity "K" Room and in the Blue & Gold President's Suite)
- Saturday, September 28 - Field Hockey vs. Ohio University at Murphy-Mellis Field
- Sunday, October 13 - Soccer vs. Akron at Zoeller Field, Dix Stadium
- Friday, November 15 - Volleyball vs. Akron at the M.A.C. Center
Future dates, times and locations for winter sports to be announced SOON.
Football Alums Unite to Leave a Legacy to Honor Past Teammates
Joe Shaw (1974-1976) and Larry Blackman (1972 – 1975) have been friends since the summer of 1974. As Larry likes to put it “Joe and teammates met me as a kid, saw me grow to a man, and now grow to an old man.” For 45 years Joe, Larry and numerous other teammates have stayed in contact reminiscing of their football glory days and strategically planning how they can impact future student-athletes with the Kent State Football team.
Roughly 5 years ago, James Whiting, Daryl Griffin, Jeff Smith, Darwin Ashley, Mike Stallworth, Rick Owens, Larry Blackman and Joe Shaw met in Las Vegas at Larry’s home and began to put a plan in place that would not only honor teammates who passed away, but would have a monetary impact on the football program. This is when the group first discovered Kent State’s Brick Campaign. The Brick Campaign allows individuals the opportunity to “Establish a Legacy” at the Adam S. Hamilton West Entrance at Dix Stadium. Each brick is $100 and allows for 3 lines of 14 characters and is fully customizable.
As everyone returned home from the trip to Vegas, the plan to secure bricks fell by the wayside. It was not until January of 2019, due to the unfortunate passing of James Whiting, that their plan came to fruition. “James' passing was the catalyst that propelled the brick project forward,” according to Shaw. Many teammates attended Whiting’s memorial and Blackman was asked to speak on behalf of Whiting’s Kent State Football teammates. At the conclusion of the memorial, Shaw and Blackman began making calls to former teammates to reconnect the original group and began seeking new members. Griffin set up the first conference call for the group, while Shaw and Owens are the local guys near Kent State campus who are on ground and got the ball moving.
In total, 11 individuals are honoring 20 of their teammates with Legacy Bricks at Dix Stadium. The bricks will be installed prior to the September 21st Homecoming game vs. Bowling Green. The teammates are looking forward to seeing the bricks in person and reconnecting with other former teammates at the Varsity “K” Flashback All Sports Reunion.
Shaw and Blackman hope their commitment to honor past teammates will inspire more football alums to join their cause and inspire other programs to do the same for their alumni who have passed on.
Shaw and Blackman both had insightful advice for current Kent State student-athletes. Both stated “No matter who you are or what you do, take what you learn here at Kent State and use it to help your community. Find yourself while on campus and become the leader that your community needs. Upon graduation, come back to campus. We want to build a brotherhood, not just a program you played at. We want to show you what this Flash Family is like.”
If you are interested in learning more about Kent State’s Legacy Brick Campaign call 330-672-8399.
Get to Know Your Golden Flash Family!
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT?
- Tim Horton's - Karly Hellstrom, Soccer #23
- Texas Roadhouse, the rolls and cinnamon butter are unbelievable - Steven Schrum, Football, Director of Player Personnel
- Here in Kent, Toko - Myla King, Volleyball #4
- My mom's kitchen - Katherine Kovacs, Soccer #19
- Belleria, in Kent - Jon Wilson, Business Office
- Hibachi - Antwan Dixon, Football #89
- Treno - Maggie McKendry, Assistant Athletic Director, Athletic Advancement
- Pacific East Japanese Restaurant in Cleveland Heights - Danny Mitcheff, Assistant Wrestling Coach
- Roosters - Cameron Shedenhelm, Soccer #22
- Bahama Breeze - Jamal Parker, Football #7
- Chipotle - Sierra Henderson-Muschett, Soccer #21
- Burrito Station, back home - Danie Tyson, Volleyball #17
- A1 Japanese Steakhouse - Nick Faulkner, Football #1
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY?
- Golfing - Karly Hellstrom, Soccer #23
- Getting to play golf with my dad and grandpa! - Steven Schrum, Football, Director of Player Personnel
- Roller skating - Myla King, Volleyball #4
- Anything active and outside - Katherine Kovacs, Soccer #19
- Anything related to sports and board games - Jon Wilson, Business Office
- Bowling - Antwan Dixon, Football #89
- Carting my 10yr old around to practice & I also really love volunteering in the community. I am on a number of different boards in Kent and am so proud to serve my community. - Maggie McKendry, Assistant Athletic Director, Athletic Advancement
- Reading, smaller home/DIY projects - Danny Mitcheff, Assistant Wrestling Coach
- Shopping - Cameron Shedenhelm, Soccer #22
- Madden League - Jamal Parker, Football #7
- Listening to music - Sierra Henderson-Muschett, Soccer #21
- Doing DIYs or art projects - Danie Tyson, Volleyball #17
- Traveling and seeing new places - Nick Faulkner, Football #1
Basketball/Volleyball Development Center
Top notch facilities play a huge part to attract and retain the best student-athletes in the world. Thanks to your contributions in 2018, Kent State Athletics is continuing to create and upgrade facilities to bring in the best and the brightest. One major project is the Basketball/Volleyball Development Center, which involved renovating space in the M.A.C.C. Annex to create a new 10,000 square foot multi-sport development center with multiple practice court configurations to support the men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball programs. This in turn will allow flexibility in practice scheduling and unparallelled access for student-athletes to hone their craft. The facility is scheduled to open September 5th.
Throughout the summer of 2019, the 1910 Society has been introduced to inaugural members. An exciting new program designed to recognize KSU Athletics’ top donors, members of the 1910 Society may qualify in one of two ways:
- TGFC donors who have made a major gift cash commitment of $50,000 or more in support capital projects, athletic endowment, programmatic enhancement, or other Athletics special projects.
- TGFC donors who have lifetime cash giving in support of Athletics of $100,000 or more.
Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen said, “Members of the 1910 Society are some of our best and most loyal supporters of Golden Flashes Athletics. They go above and beyond to provide the very best for our student-athletes, coaches, and programs.”
With 51 inaugural members, the 1910 Society represents some of Athletics most generous and loyal alumni, donors, and fans. Executive Director of TGFC J Locklier said, “Our 1910 Society members play a key role in how we recruit, retain, and graduate student-athletes. Their support is vital to our success in the classroom and in competition.” With the creation of the 1910 Society, The Golden Flashes Club team will look to offer special recognitions to members throughout the year as well as special invitations to events with student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. To learn more about the 1910 Society please call (330) 672-2078.
