What's Happening at Ashland University

Ashland University defensive lineman Jeris Pendleton (Chicago, Ill./Joliet Junior College) was selected in the seventh round of the NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars on April 28. He was the 228th player selected in this year's draft.

"This is big," said Ashland University head coach Lee Owens.  "Next week we go back out on the road and you can bet we'll tell everyone we had someone taken in the NFL draft. That's what players want to know."

On May 5, 2012, Euclid resident Destinee Moore will be one of about 500 students who will walk across the stage to receive a diploma at Ashland University’s Spring Commencement. And while this will be a special moment for all of the graduates, it will be a little more special for Moore, who just five years ago was homeless and living in the City Mission shelter in Cleveland, Ohio.

Moore, who has accepted a job offer in his field with Aramark Corp., will receive his degree in hospitality management.

 The field of teacher education is undergoing some dramatic changes and Ashland University, an institution that has been recognized as a leader in the field for more than 30 years, has taken steps to refocus its graduate education program.

“We see the changes taking place in education now and we recognize we need to make changes and develop new graduate programs that will allow us to offer more relevant programming for teachers,” said Dr. James Van Keuren, dean of Ashland University’s Schar College of Education.

Bruce Allen, the general manager of the Washington Redskins, and Sam Rutigliano, former coach of the Cleveland Browns, will both receive awards and will be the featured speakers at a dinner on May 15 at Ashland University’s John C. Myers Convocation Center.

Allen will receive the Ashland University Gridiron Club 2012 Sportsman of the Year Award, while Rutigliano will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.