Celebration of Student Success 2026
Each Spring the College of Education and Human Ecology sponsors the Celebration of Student Success Night. Donors to college’s Scholarship Fund are invited to meet benefited students. Phi Upsilon Omicron was well represented by Undergraduate Scholarship recipients, Anna Czarnecki a graduating senior majoring in Fashion & Retail Studies, Ava McFall a sophomore, majoring in Hospitality Management and Jane Shanely Graduate Recipient, Maria Abdul-Masih a PhD graduate in Human Development & Family Sciences.
Phi U alumni Alice Miskel & Norma Pitts are scholarship donors for their endowed scholarships while Michele Eastlake and Jan Bonner were guests representing Phi Upsilon Omicron.
Throughout the evening, we learned of our student members hopes and dreams for their future. Maria is working with children and studies how poverty & homelessness shapes early childhood development and academic achievement. Her long-term goal is to work for a research-based non-profit that supports children experiencing poverty and homelessness. Anna is working to create her career in the Fashion Industry. Her leadership skills as Phi U chapter President helped shape the student chapter this year. Her retail experience was shaped as an assistant buyer at Kohl’s in Wisconsin and sales associate for Madewell. She looks forward to propelling her student experiences into a career in the Fashion Industry. We wished these graduates well! Ava is working her way through Ohio State, determined to be financially independent. Her strong vision for her future, seeks opportunities within the Hospitality industry. I enjoyed hearing of her internship with a downtown Columbus Boutique Hotel experiencing both back of house and front of house operations.
This was the first dinner hosted by Interim Dean, Dr. Erik Porfeli also a Phi U. Dr Porfeli made everyone feel welcomed as he thanked all for their generous donations to The College of Education and Human Ecology’s Scholarship Funds. He then introduced us to Associate Chair, Department of Educational Studies, Dusty Miller, who moderated the evening’s presentation. We were treated to a discussion with a panel of students about student life and the realities of studies at OSU. Ava was on the student panel presenting the evening’s program. We learned of her love for the great outdoors & hopes to shape her career into Adventure Tourism. Each student talked about the opportunities afforded them as a recipient of scholarships within the College. As a sophomore, we look forward to hearing more from Ava in the coming years.
Phi Upsilon Omicron gave these three outstanding students an opportunity to use their leadership skills to benefit their community while working with the student chapter and outstanding mentors at The Ohio State University. Each time I meet with students I am impressed by the many experiences the teaching staff seek out for our students today. The opportunity of Phi U scholarships awarded to them through our local chapter helps propel them through the financial maze students experience in today’s economy. Scholarship dollars create a buffer to allow them to experience the many internship & non classroom opportunities available. Their appreciation was communicated throughout the evening. I hope you will be proud of the contributions you have made as a Phi U Alumni chapter member toward our goal to support students with grants and scholarships while pursuing their academic studies.
