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Lance Grahn, ������ at Trumbull’s dean and chief administrative officer, was recently named as one of this year’s Community Star award recipients.
 
Dean Grahn will receive the award on March 19 at the Community Star Award program, co-sponsored by the Tribune Chronicle and Trumbull 100. He is one of 10 individuals from Trumbull County who will be recognized for going above and beyond in their volunteer efforts to make the community a better place.
 

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Beginning his term at Kent State Trumbull, Dean Grahn was inspired by Kent State’s new strategic roadmap. He soon after set out to connect the campus and its students to the community, hoping to build its capacity to contribute to a vibrant Trumbull County – a safe and secure community that is healthier educationally, economically, culturally, mentally and physically. His new regional strategic vision was called Prosper Trumbull County (ProsperTC): A Healthy Community and Campus Collaboration.
 
Over the next four years, Dean Grahn has established himself and the Kent State Trumbull campus as engaged community partners. He recognized the campus’ potential role in the community by becoming acquainted with and then serving on local boards, including the Eastern Ohio Education Partnership, Ohio Humanities, United Way of Trumbull County and the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber. 
 
“Dr. Grahn has a collaborative mindset,” said Stephanie Shaw, executive director of the Eastern Ohio Educational Partnership. “He is a community leader who is genuinely invested in finding the best ways to serve and educate our children. He has established the university as a distinguished partner, and we are grateful.”
 
He has also taken on many additional roles in organizations such as the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP), Junior Achievement, Someplace Safe and United Way of Trumbull County. 
 
“Dr. Grahn is a wonderful member and partner of ASAP,” said Lauren R. Thorp, director of recovery and youth programs and ASAP project director with the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board. “Not long after starting at Kent State Trumbull, he joined ASAP. Since our first meeting, he has been an active coalition member, offering campus facilities to host ASAP events and volunteering at all of our ASAP events.”
 
And he doesn’t just go to meetings. He has pruned trees and spread mulch for United Way’s Day of Caring, and he has stepped back into the classroom to teach Junior Achievement lessons to middle school students.  
 
His dedication and smile have not gone unnoticed.
 
“Dr. Grahn has truly embraced our community,” said Sue Shaffer, community events coordinator, Trumbull 100 member and Kent State alumnna. “Whether he is at a board meeting or helping at a community cleanup event, he has a smile and a can-do attitude that inspires those around him.”  
 
The awards dinner will be at the St. Demetrios Community Center in Warren, and tickets are $20 each. Tickets for the dinner are available at the newspaper office, located at 240 Franklin St. SE in Warren, by phone or with an order form that will run frequently in The Tribune Chronicle print edition. For more information, contact Ms. Shafer at sshafer@tribtoday.com or at 330-841-1696.