NORTH CANTON, Ohio, Feb. 9, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently awarded Stark State College an $88,688 grant to help veterans, active service members and their family members transition into careers in the transportation industry.

Each year, Stark State College honors faculty and staff who exemplify service and excellence in their work. As the College prepares to announce the 2025-26 honorees, we take this moment to recognize and highlight the individuals who received awards during the 2024-25 academic year.

Para M. Jones, Ph.D., president of Stark State College, has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the Greater Akron Chamber Chairman’s Award for Community Leadership, the chamber announced in a news release on Feb. 2, 2026.