Samantha Anderson takes the oath of office earlier this semester as a student member of the YSU Board of Trustees. Giving the oath is Franklin S. Bennett, Jr., secretary to the board. Looking on is Trustee Dave Deibel. Anderson, appointed to the position by Gov. John Kasich, graduated from Poland Seminary High School in 2013 and is a recipient of the Leslie Cochran University Scholarship. She is pursuing a degree in Finance and Economics, as well as a minor in Foreign Affairs.

Students in the First-Year Engineering Program, under director Kerry Meyers, participated in a project earlier this semester to create a vehicle out of recycled materials. The program partnered with Green Youngstown and the Mahoning County Green Team, as well as Dan Kuzma, YSU manager of recycling. The top photo shows, from left, students Kala DeHoff, Madison Christie and Elise Demartino, demonstrating their finished product in the lobby of Moser Hall. Below, Gregg Sturrus, dean of the STEM College, watches as Dillon McBee tests his vehicle. 

Best of the best YSU’s undergraduate engineering program is among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News. The program was placed in the top third nationwide in the magazine’s latest list of best college programs. Other YSU programs also making the rankings this year were the graduate program in physical therapy and undergraduate business programs.

Live music, a bonfire, food and drink vendors and a pep rally are planned as part of the third annual Fall Fire Fest 7 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 at Youngstown State University. The event, held in conjunction with YSU’s 75^th Homecoming celebration, is at the Green on Grant, located at the intersection of Grant Street and Ford Avenue on the west side of campus. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public. Tickets are not required. The event is sponsored by YSU Penguin Productions.

Hanna Vehmas of the Department of Sport Sciences/Sport Management at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland presents a series of lectures on international sports during a visit to Youngstown State University Oct. 26 to 28. The presentations, which are free and open to the public, will be in the Jones Room of Kilcawley Center:

Contemporary photographer David Hilliard, known for his panoramic photographs documenting his life and the lives of those around him, lectures 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, in the McDonough Museum of Art on the campus of Youngstown State University. The lecture, presented by YSU’s Department of Art, is free and open to the public.