TV ads for YSU promote centennial

The ads trace YSU’s history from its beginning as a YMCA evening school.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University has produced a series of 12 in-house television commercials to commemorate the celebration of its 100th anniversary.

The spots, with a new one to be aired each month, will kick off in October, said Dr. George E. McCloud, special assistant to the president for university advancement.

The one-minute advertisements will use YSU’s own history to promote the centennial, beginning with homecoming next month, he said.

The spots will be aired locally and across YSU’s service region, McCloud said.

The project was spearheaded by Dr. William D. Jenkins Jr., YSU professor of history, who said the effort began a year ago.

Jenkins said they discovered that Youngstown State University is really “a product of evolution.”

YSU lacks an “official” founding date.

History shows that it began in 1908 when the YMCA began offering some college courses in business law at its evening school in downtown Youngstown. The school grew and became Youngstown College in 1928.

The first building erected for the college opened in 1931 as Main Building but was later renamed Jones Hall in honor of Howard Jones, the college’s first president.

Jones Hall remains a hallmark for the university today.

Youngstown College became Youngstown University in 1955. When the university joined the state system of higher education in 1967, its name was changed to Youngstown State University.

gwin@vindy.com