Progress Report 2021 digital

Sometimes a place can change your life. Perhaps it’s brought about by exposure to new opportunities, the support of a dedicated and caring community, or discovering the tranquility and beauty of an inspiring natural setting. And sometimes, when you are very fortunate, you find a place that offers all three. For Thomas Hall, MD, that transformative, inspiring place is undeniable —The Ohio State University Stone Laboratory — the island campus on Lake Erie. “But for Stone Lab, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” said Tom. SCHOLARSHIP OPENS POSSIBILITIES He and his wife, Mary Beth, are now helping Ohio State Newark students find their own life-changing experiences at Stone Lab, much as Tom did as a young graduate student in the summer of 1972. Their Stone Lab scholarship helps defray the additional housing costs to attend classes on the island, which is a barrier for attendance for many. “Stone Lab experiences are both immersive and one- on-one,” noted Tom. “Your classroom is the field. You’re out on a boat in Lake Erie, or wading in a pond or trying to net fish. Plus, you’re living on an island together with your professors — eating breakfast, lunch and dinner — and interacting with them in much deeper and more personal ways.” Stone Lab typically hosts 25-plus college credit courses and workshops each summer on its six- acre Gibralter Island campus in Put-in-Bay harbor. The Halls hope that their scholarship will enable more Ohio State Newark students to take advantage of this unique opportunity. Alexis Homik used the scholarship to attend Stone Lab in the summer of 2019, right after completing her first year at Ohio State Newark. Now a third-year student majoring in environment, economy, development and sustainability at the Columbus campus, Homik recommends the experience to both non-science and science majors alike. INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES Transforming lives at StoneLaboratory “Stone Lab experiences are both immersive and one-on-one. Your classroom is the field.” THOMAS HALL, MD “At Stone Lab, I was able to immerse myself in the literal environment through fieldwork,” said Homik. “Classes are small — there were only six students in my class, so you can really develop close relationships with the faculty.” BE AS GENEROUS AS YOU CANWITHWHAT YOU HAVE Tom and Mary Beth met as medical school classmates at Ohio State. She was deeply moved by her husband’s passion for the island campus, and they began supporting Stone Lab in 1977, just a year after completing their medical residencies. The longtime Newark residents have supported Stone Lab annually ever since. “Tom’s experience was so meaningful,” said Mary Beth. “It’s evidence that even a single exposure can impact a student and make a tremendous difference in their life.” Throughout their lives, the Halls’ philosophy has been to be as generous as you can with what you have, and the THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AT NEWARK 2021 PROGRESS REPORT 8 university recognized their dedication to philanthropy with membership in the Ohio State President’s Club. At Ohio State’s autumn 2021 Commencement, Tom was further recognized with one of the university’s highest honors — the Distinguished Service Award. Tom is also a former Ohio State Newark Advisory Board member, and he and Mary Beth are both active members of the Friends of Stone Lab, of which Tom is a past president. Further demonstrating their continuing devotion to both campuses, the Halls created a planned gift in equal support of Ohio State Newark and Stone Lab. “I’m so thankful to the Halls for this experience,” added Homik. “I’ll never forget my summer at Stone Lab, and I hope that other students have the opportunity to study in this immersive environment.” To help other students learn at Stone Lab, donate online at give.osu.edu and search for fund 316331. Alexis Homik Thomas Hall, MD Mary Beth Hall, MD

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