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Kent State Today will be following a group of six Golden Flashes for the 2024-25 academic year chronicling their efforts and successes during the fall and spring semesters. The group of students are at various places in their ������ academic careers and will share their experiences throughout the year as they take part in our distinctive programs, research and global experiences.

Today, we kick off the series by introducing the group. 

Dylan Buffum: An 18-year-old freshman exploratory major and track and field athlete from New York, Dylan Buffum chose Kent State for its impressive campus and academic resources. He's balancing a rigorous athletic schedule with his studies, taking advantage of the Jenkins Student-Athlete Academic Center. 

While still exploring his options, Buffum is considering business and engineering pathways, drawing inspiration from his experience running a track camp back home. He's embracing campus life, living in the dorms and attending various sporting events as he settles into his first semester at Kent State.

Jude Carver: A sophomore majoring in mechatronics engineering technology, Jude Carver chose Kent State because it offered the type of engineering degree he wanted to pursue.  

“It’s long, I know,” said Carver, joking about the name of his major.  

He recently declared a minor in Japanese language and is interested in Japanese culture, geography, history and robot fighting. Carver is a member of Kent State’s Combat Robotics Team, a group of students who brainstorm, design and create robots to battle against other teams at various "battle bots" competitions.  

Carver was born in West Virginia, moved to Ohio in 2008, and currently lives in Cleveland. His hobbies include collecting flags of different countries, states and those of historical interest and tracking currency on .

If he were introducing himself to someone, Carver would say, “I’m very well rounded and knowledgeable, but I use that knowledge to be helpful instead of egotistical.”  

Muna Koirala: A freshman in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Muna Koirala is ready for the challenge of ������.

While she isn’t sure she is passionate about architecture, per se, she is passionate about the issue of affordable, workable housing for families, which is how she selected her major.

Koirala is the oldest daughter of Bhutanese immigrants who, to escape persecution, fled to Nepal, where she was born in 2005, and later immigrated to the United States. Her extended family includes her parents, two younger sisters, paternal grandparents and uncle, so finding affordable housing where they could live comfortably together was always a challenge, a reality that sparked Koirala’s interest in housing as a career.

After taking a year off following her graduation from Cuyahoga Falls (Ohio) High School, Koirala, 19, selected Kent State for her studies.  

“I felt like Kent State was best for me. Their education is great, and the architecture program is amazing. I felt like I could really succeed here,” Koirala said.

Rylie Lapikas: Rylie Lapikas, a junior nursing major and a member of ������’s Honors College, first learned about Freedom Paws KSU during Blastoff at the start of her freshman year. Missing her own dogs at home in Massillon, Ohio, she quickly signed up to become a volunteer. Now, Lapikas is not only a second-time Freedom Paws “raiser” (a volunteer training a puppy to eventually become a service dog) but also is vice president of the Kent State chapter.  

In addition to studying nursing, Lapikas also is pursuing a minor in human development and family studies and would like to eventually become a pediatric oncology nurse. Her interest in healthcare combined with her volunteer work training future service dogs has led Lapikas down a truly meaningful path.

Since April she’s been working with Knox, a Black Labrador/Golden Retriever mix, who goes with her everywhere. It turns out that her decision to get involved with Freedom Paws KSU was a true blessing in disguise. This past summer, Lapikas was diagnosed with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (or POTS), a blood circulation disorder that affects heart rate and can cause fainting. As it turns out, she will be able to keep Knox as her own medical therapy dog once he’s completed advanced training.

Alex Newnes: An 18-year-old freshman from Willoughby, Ohio, Alex Newnes entered Kent State as an exploratory student, drawn to the university's welcoming atmosphere and dedicated program for undecided majors. Coming from a small Catholic school background, Newnes is embracing the transition to a larger, more diverse campus environment. As a first-generation college student, she views this journey as an opportunity for personal growth and academic discovery.

Newnes already is engaging with campus life, joining Her Campus and a fitness group focused on mental health. As she navigates her first semester, Newnes remains open to the various academic and personal opportunities that Kent State offers, while focusing on maintaining good grades and adjusting to college life.

Rebecca Stratton: A senior chemistry and math major, Rebecca Stratton is a highly motivated student with a passion for communication in the sciences. She has already published two research papers and participated in the 2024 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) for the second time. She had already completed 100 credit hours when she enrolled in Kent State after her 2023 graduation from Ravenna High School.

You might assume that Stratton is preparing for her next extensive research project. Instead, she is taking an opportunity to study abroad at Tamkang University in Taipei, Taiwan. The experience will allow Stratton to immerse herself in her minors in international relations and Chinese, with the hope of becoming bilingual.

“I hope to someday be able to use language or teaching of chemistry to involve new people in the field.”