Each fall, Ohio State’s Homecoming traditions invite us to reflect on the communities that shape us. This year, Ohio State Lima once again joined in the celebrations—crowning our own Homecoming royalty, marching in the parade, and standing proudly on the field at the ‘Shoe alongside representatives from every campus. Watching our students represent Lima on that big stage is a powerful reminder that our campus is an essential part of the Buckeye family, simultaneously contributing to the life of the university and to the strength of northwest Ohio.
Since our founding in 1960, Ohio State Lima has consistently and enthusiastically demonstrated the land-grant mission of The Ohio State University. That mission—rooted in access, opportunity and service to the good of our community—remains at the heart of everything we do. Through the Regional Campus Commitment program, Ohio State underscores that every Ohioan deserves access to an exceptional education, no matter where they live. For more than six decades, our campus has opened its doors to students from across northwest Ohio and beyond, offering them not only an education, but the chance to grow, to lead and to give back to their communities in significant ways.
The results of that mission are all around us: in hospitals and clinics where graduates bring compassion and technical skill, in businesses and industries they help expand, in classrooms where they inspire future generations, and in civic and cultural institutions they strengthen through their leadership and service. An education’s impact rarely remains confined to one individual—it ripples outward, shaping families, economies, and communities.
Homecoming is a celebration, but it is also a reminder of the power of place. As alumni return and new students look toward their futures, I’m grateful for the enduring role Ohio State Lima plays in advancing access, opportunity and excellence for northwest Ohio.