November 15, 2022
During this year’s Founder’s Day celebration, Shawnee State University presented Founder’s Medals to Jim Kricker and Dr. Jim Kadel for their service to the university.
As part of a long line of business leaders and supporters of Portsmouth, Jim Kricker is one of SSU’s most loyal and generous donors. Through his countless contributions to The Shawnee Fund, the Bear Club, scholarships, academic programs, and many more, Kricker has made ideas come to life at the university. Most recently, his investment in the Kricker Innovation Hub has helped lead the university and the region to become a leading destination in America for rural technology entrepreneurship and innovation.
“Jim has made contributions that are almost hard to count, but most of all he is a friend and we’re grateful for everything he has done and everything he does now,” said SSU Vice President for Advancement & Enrollment Management, Eric Braun when presenting the award to Kricker.
Part of SSU since the beginning, Dr. Jim Kadel first served the institution as part of the Shawnee State Community College. He served as a co-chair on the community college’s feasibility study to determine the need for a four-year institution in the region and also served on the committee to develop the original curriculum for baccalaureate degree programs. In his career, he served in several administrative leadership positions on campus and continues to support the institution today as the resident dentist overseeing the university’s Dental Hygiene Clinic.
“Dr. Kadel has not only contributed to this institution in the past, but he contributes today and we expect he will continue in the future,” said SSU President Jeff Bauer as he presented the award to Dr. Kadel.
In addition to the presentation of the Founder’s Medals, the event also featured the State of the University address by President Bauer and a special acknowledgement of those employees celebrating their service years.
“We are advancing Shawnee State University in the region,” said President Bauer in his address. “That’s what our founders wanted us to do. Thirty-six years later, we applaud the vision of our early leaders and continue the work they began.”