OU-Chillicothe Education Advisory Committee Receives Community Partner Award

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(Athens) – Ohio University has recognized the OHIO Chillicothe Education Advisory Committee with an Outstanding Community Partner Award at the fourth annual Community Engagement Symposium October 23rd at the Athens Armory. The Education Advisory Committee represents Chillicothe City, Eastern Pike, Greenfield, Huntington, Unioto, Zane Trace school districts as well as Pickaway County Education Service Center.

The Center for Community Impact hosted the symposium featuring Ohio University’s awards ceremony recognizing the Community Partner Award Winners, the recipients of the Sugar Bush Foundation’s partnership awards, and recognition of Ohio University’s winner of the Ohio Campus Compact’s Ping Community Service Award. The event also included professional development opportunities for Ohio University staff, faculty, and community organizations through interactive workshops and networking opportunities. 

Lindsay McNeal, principal of Greenfield Elementary School and a member of OHIO Chillicothe’s Education Advisory Council, along with several other committee members, accepted the award at the Community Engagement Symposium.

“For our local schools, partnering with Ohio University Chillicothe is mutually beneficial and mission-critical,” McNeal said. “We want to help young people who choose to stay close to home succeed in teaching careers that help build their community.”

Ohio University Chillicothe Dean of Campus and Community Relations Michael Lafreniere thanked the group for their contributions to the Chillicothe campus.

“We are grateful to our school partners for the critical role they play in providing practical experiences for our teacher candidates as they train for meaningful careers in education,” Lafreniere said.

Associate Professor of Education Amy Wolfe nominated the committee for the award and works closely with the educators who form the group.

“These university partnerships enhance prek-12 student learning through improved clinically-based, experiential teacher preparation programs,” Wolfe said. “In addition to supporting the professional preparation of teachers, the advisory committee hosted a successful STEM Professional Development Day in May 2025 on the OHIO Chillicothe campus. Educators from across the region gathered to share best practices in STEM education, allowing teacher-leaders to share their work.”

Members of OHIO Chillicothe’s Education Advisory Committee who attended the Community Engagement Symposium included Karen Corcoran, Amy Wolfe, Lindsay McNeal, Joshua Tripp, Matt Murphy, Nick Barrows, Dustin England, and Matt Hines. Kelly Congrove and Sarah Hawthorne are also members of the committee but were unable to attend.

The other community partners recognized at the event were Athens County Public Libraries, Christ’s Table, Fairfield County Auditor’s Office, St. Clairsville Chamber of Commerce, and Third & Center.