January 21, 2026

A weekly look at Walsh University news and happenings.

The Walsh Wire is not intended to replace broadcast emails, but to aggregate information in order to increase the level of awareness and understanding about major happenings of the week.

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On Monday, Jan. 19, Walsh University observed its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, uniting more than 300 students, scholar-athletes, faculty, and staff—including Blouin Scholars, Honors students, and Walsh Athletics—in a shared commitment to service. Reflecting Dr. King’s belief that leadership is rooted in faith expressed through action for the common good, the day began in the Cecchini Center with remarks from President Tim Collins and a keynote address by Jaden Baxter ’23, former Cavalier football captain and current Special Assistant to the Mayor of Cleveland for Community Engagement. Participants then fanned out to more than a dozen service sites across Stark County, supporting children, seniors, families, and community organizations.

Walsh University is proud to announce that we have earned the 2026 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence with the Cav Salute initiative, a national honor recognizing outstanding community engagement and scholar-athlete leadership. Walsh became the first institution from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference to receive this distinction. The Cav Salute honored veterans, active-duty service members, and local first responders through campus wide events, uniform patches, fundraising, and service projects, with more than 750 student-athletes participating and more than $1,600 raised for local veteran organizations. Walsh has been a finalist for this award more than nine times, including eight consecutive years from 2019 through 2026. This national recognition celebrates the character, leadership, and service that define Walsh scholar-athletes both on and off the field. Congratulations!

Read More | Watch Cav Salute Video 

Dignity in Action: The Year of Faith is a week-long series rooted in Walsh University’s Catholic mission, inviting the campus community to learn, reflect, and honor the sacred worth of every person. The week is already underway, but there’s still time for all students, faculty, and staff to join.

Wednesday, Jan. 21

11 AM–1 PM | David Center Atrium 
Blouin Scholars Program: Living on a Budget – SPENT poverty simulation 
Experience the difficult financial choices many make while navigating poverty through an interactive simulation.

8–9 PM | Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel 
Ignite: Eucharistic Adoration + Night Prayer + Social 
A night of witness, prayer, and community. 

Thursday, Jan. 22

2–3:30 PM | Saint Martha’s Room, DeVille School of Business
The Sacred Worth of Every Person: Faith, Dignity, and Immigration 
Dr. Cary Dabney explores immigration through Catholic Social Teaching and the belief that every person is created in the image of God. 

The Office for Culture and Belonging is pleased to share the winners of the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest. Students were asked to reflect on how their faith guides their actions and inspires service to others. The winners are:  

3^rd Place: Nicolette Krupp — $500 scholarship 

Tied 1^st Place: Evelyn Wade and Alisha Khatri — $750 scholarship each 

Congratulations to all who participated and shared their stories of faith in action! 

Calling all students! Want to share what makes Walsh so special with your younger siblings? Invite them to campus for Lil Sibs Weekend, themed “Lil Cavs: Big Weekend!” The event takes place Friday, Feb. 13 through Saturday, Feb. 14, and it is $10 per sibling (students attending with their sibling are free). It is a fun chance for your Lil Sib to experience campus life, meet new people, and see what being a Cav is all about.

Walsh University is delighted to share that beginning in fall 2026, the University will launch a new learning management system (LMS) powered by the Canvas platform to support all courses at Walsh. This new system will replace the Electronic Course Network (ECN) and provide a more intuitive, modern experience for teaching and learning. Canvas will make it easier to access course materials, submit assignments, track grades, and stay on top of due dates from any device. These enhancements are designed to improve the overall user experience and support student success through clearer organization, better communication tools, and more timely feedback.  

To kick things off, we want your input on the name for our new LMS! Will it be CavClass, CavAcademy, or Walsh Learning Lab (WLL)? Vote at the link below and we will announce the name of the new LMS in next week’s Wire!

A Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble concert is planned for Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1:30 PM in the Birk Center for the Arts. The program will feature Mother Earth by Maslanka, Three Ayres from Gloucester by Stuart, Music for a Darkened Theatre (film favorites of Danny Elfman) by Brown, Thawing by Shimoda, Circus After Dark by Melton, and Marche Diabolique by Balmages. The Jazz Ensemble will play classic and favorite jazz selections: Now's the Time and Abracadabra, and our percussion section of the Band will be featured on a piece titled Vous avez du feu, a unique rhythmic piece.

Walsh University’s Campus Ministry Women’s Retreat, Shine and Be Radiant, will take place Friday, Feb. 20 at 5 PM through Saturday, Feb. 21 at 9 PM, in Columbus, Ohio. This meaningful retreat offers women an opportunity for faith-filled reflection, renewal, and connection. The cost is $15 per person. Registration is open now and will close on Saturday, Jan. 31. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. For questions or additional information, please contact emoorhead@walsh.edu. | Register Here

Connie Pacanovsky joined Walsh University on Jan. 5, as our new Campus & Community Programs Coordinator. She brings valuable experience from her previous role as Manager of Conference Center Events at Kent State University–Stark, and we are excited to have her join us. 

Jeff Weller also began full-time on Jan. 5, joining us as a Campus Police Officer. He previously served as a Casual Police Officer at Walsh University and worked as an Express Courier for Summa Health. Jeff, we are grateful to have you continue serving our campus community in this important role. Welcome back—and welcome aboard!

Dr. Marc Fusaro, Dean of the DeVille School of Business, recently contributed to a WalletHub article about choosing the best budget apps. | Read More

Library staff

Olivia Ferrante

Alex Latell

Alicia Yacono