Walsh University has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Lykeion Fund of Stark Community Foundation to launch an innovative leadership development program, Ancient Greek Philosophy for Tomorrow’s Leaders. This initiative reflects Walsh University’s mission to prepare students as leaders in service to others, guided by timeless values and ethical principles.
The program will bring together student leaders from across campus, including Student Government, Resident Assistants, the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, and Cavs Cor Cordium mentors for a leadership series rooted in the classical Greek ideals of arête (excellence), wisdom, justice, courage, and self-discipline. These foundations of servant-leadership will be connected to the modern challenges of ethical leadership.
Central to the series is the return of Samantha Kelley, internationally recognized speaker, author, and founder of FIERCE Athlete Inc., who delivered Walsh’s 2025 Commencement address and received an Honorary Doctorate of Applied Leadership earlier this year. Kelley will lead an all-day workshop and campus-wide address, sharing her experience as a contemporary role model who integrates virtue, faith, and leadership.
In addition, Walsh University President Dr. Tim Collins and Dr. Joe Vincenzo, Professor of Philosophy, will offer sessions drawing on their expertise in servant-leadership and Greek philosophy. Together, they will provide students with insights that link enduring wisdom to modern leadership practices.
The Lykeion Fund, established by Professor Stephen Joseph Ondrejas, Jr., supports projects that apply classical Greek ideas in contemporary civic, educational, and leadership contexts.
