Thank you

for saying yes

The vote for State Issue 1 on the May 4 ballot was a vote for new jobs, and on behalf of the Shawnee State University community, our students, and institutions of higher education throughout the state, I want to thank all those who supported the renewal of the Third Frontier program.

During the campaign, universities throughout the state demonstrated how the Third Frontier program has enabled them to join forces with private businesses to develop new technologies and areas of growth. Since its creation in 2002, the Third Frontier program has contributed to the creation of more than 48,000 jobs in our state.

Because of the support of voters across Ohio, the Third Frontier program will continue through 2016, providing support for technology-based economic development, university-based research, and collaborative projects designed to spur innovation and, most importantly — job creation.

In the coming years, locally, Third Frontier has the potential to provide support for Shawnee State’s Center of Excellence that focuses on applied research and regional innovation. This center involves several of our emerging programs and will help us strengthen ties with regional businesses, prepare students for jobs of the future and create new jobs.

We are looking forward to the future opportunities that the Third Frontier program will bring to our students, our programs, our state, and to all citizens of Ohio. Again, thank you for the part that you have played in providing these opportunities by supporting State Issue 1.

Dr. Rita Rice Morris

President, Shawnee State University