Clark State College will celebrate its 61st annual Charter Night at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 21 with a gathering of faculty, staff and guests at the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center in Springfield.
Charter Night serves to remind the college and the community about the establishment of Clark State’s charter in 1966 to operate as a post-secondary institution in the region.
“This year’s theme, We Are Family, represents how we care for each and every person at Clark State, whether a student or employee,” said Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, president of Clark State. “The theme is also celebratory, as we continue to recognize the impactful work of our Board, faculty, staff, and students.”
Charter Night will honor recipients of the Staff Professional Excellence Awards, Faculty Professional Excellence Awards, Adjunct Faculty Professional Excellence Awards, and will recognize three Emeriti awardees and other special awards. In addition, Clark State will recognize 29 employees who have worked for the college ranging from five to 20 years.
While Clark State has been a cornerstone of higher education in the community and surrounding areas since 1962, one thing always remains constant: change.
The Springfield and Clark County Technical Education Program opened in 1962 and began to offer technical training for residents of Springfield, Ohio, and surrounding communities. The charter for the organization of the Clark County Technical Institute was effective February 18, 1966.
Clark County Technical Institute became Ohio’s first technical college to be sanctioned by the Ohio Board of Regents, the name changed from Clark County Technical Institute to Clark Technical College by action of the Ohio Board of Regents on February 17, 1972.
The charter changed from Clark Technical College to Clark State Community College on June 17, 1988, and the college began offering Associate of Arts and Associate of Science transfer degrees that same year.
With the addition of three bachelor’s degrees now available at Clark State, the Board of Trustees voted in 2018 to change the name of the institution to encompass the advancements in educational opportunities made by the college. On January 1, 2021, Clark State Community College became Clark State College.
Throughout Clark State’s 61 years, the college has received numerous accolades for its achievements in diversity, equity and inclusion, workforce development, community partnerships and outreach, and educational milestones. The economic impact of Clark State on Champaign, Clark, Greene and Logan Counties is in excess of $161 million dollars annually.
2023 Charter Night Service Awards Recipients
5 Years
Bobbi Mills
Yolanda Hall
Trish Voisard
Karen Hunt
Beth Tremains
Carol Miller
Katrina Cochran
Dr. Monnica Gavin
Michael Lander
Debra Padgett-Angle
Nicole Johnson
Ghislaine Minter
John Riechers
Deltoria Crockran
Kathy Harris
10 Years
Dr. Travis Binkley
Therese Filicko
Susan Kelly
Charmaine Misick
Colleen Murphy
Kelly Neriani
15 Years
Pam Ball
Andrew Deans
Eric Ebbs
Crystal Jones
20 Years
Robyn Hennigan
Mark Schmidt
Amy Sues