This year’s Bobcat Medal will be among the parting gifts Vice President for Student Affairs Kent Smith receives before leaving Athens.
Student Senate awards the medal annually to someone who has made a significant impact on Ohio University during the previous school year, said Mary Kate Gallagher, chair of the selection committee. Senate will award the medal to Smith during Wednesday’s meeting.
“Dr. Smith has done the best and he’s leaving us,” Gallagher said. “We thought we could honor him in that way.”
OU also honored Smith with a goodbye reception in Baker University Center on Tuesday. About 100 students, faculty members and administrators gathered on the first floor of Baker Center to bid farewell to Smith.
Smith is leaving OU to become the next president of Langston University in Langston, Okla., just outside Oklahoma City. He begins his new position July 1.
“As a student of color and a black male, it’s very important to see someone like Dr. Smith achieve his dreams of becoming a college president because that means someday I could possibly follow in his footsteps,” said Vincent Harris, a graduate student studying college student personnel.
Senate received six nominations for the Bobcat medal — two administrators and four students — but it was Smith’s commitment to fest safety, gender-neutral housing and OU’s housing master plan that separated him from other candidates, Gallagher said.
“He’s always there for students,” senate President Kyle Triplett said. “He’s a mentor and a leader and he’s really dedicated a life here at OU to make students’ lives better. He’s definitely deserving of the award.”
Of all the awards Smith has received during his career, he said the Bobcat Medal is the greatest.
“Having it come from the students, I know what it means coming from them,” Triplett said.
The Bobcat Medal will not be the only memento Smith leaves with. During Smith’s reception in Baker Center, OU President Roderick McDavis gave him an OU clock and a watch as a sign of the university’s “gratitude and affection” for his work.
“(Smith) has been a multitasking individual on our campus, and he’s served amply in every capacity,” McDavis said. “It’s been a great relationship.”
Smith has worked as vice president for Student Affairs since 2006. Since then, he has overseen the transformation of the student clinic from Hudson Health Center to the revamped Campus Care; integrated Campus Recreation into Student Affairs; and established the General Fee Advisory Committee, which gives students input on how the university allocates money from the General Fee.
“He always has an open door and is willing to listen to students,” Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi said. “His legacy is commitment to students.”
Smith was also praised for his strong advocacy for students.
“Dr. Smith helped (the Black Student Union) raise $5,000 to attend our national conference,” said Seaira Christian-Daniels, vice president of the Black Student Union. “Originally, we had $50, and he helped us raise $5,000 so we could go to our conference for free.”
Smith said leaving Athens will be bittersweet.
“It’s been a great experience and a great opportunity,” he said. “I’m happy about the opportunity I have before me, but I’m sad that my time here is coming to an end.”
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