From OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The Owens Community College board of trustees recognized three students at its May meeting for their achievements in academics, community service, and student leadership, presenting each with a certificate of recognition through the board’s Student Life Committee.
Raiden Browning, Emilia D’Amore, and Chalisa Rocker were each honored. The recognition program, administered by the Student Life Committee, celebrates students who demonstrate excellence in academics, community engagement, or involvement in student life at the college.
The trustees’ Student Life Committee accepts nominations for student recognition at regular board meetings. Nominations are open for students who demonstrate exemplary academic achievement, extraordinary community engagement or volunteerism, or exceptional student leadership and student life involvement.
Raiden Browning – Certificate of recognition for exemplary academic achievement
Browning, a Toledo resident pursuing Owens’ Social Work Transfer Pathway, was recognized for his commitment to academic excellence and his embodiment of the social work code of ethics.
Nominated by Jodi Gore, instructor in the social work and human services department, Browning stood out for the depth and consistency of his engagement both inside and outside the classroom.
“His work is thoughtful, well-organized, and reflective of a deep understanding of course material,” Gore wrote in her nomination letter. “He goes beyond simply meeting expectations, often engaging with content in a way that shows genuine curiosity and a desire to grow both intellectually and professionally.”
Gore also praised Browning’s collaborative spirit, noting that he contributes to a positive and inclusive learning environment through respectful, supportive interactions with his peers. She described his approach to coursework as consistently marked by empathy, professionalism, and ethical awareness – qualities central to the social work profession. Browning is expected to graduate in May 2027.
Emilia D’Amore – Certificate of recognition for extraordinary community engagement and volunteerism
D’Amore, a Bowling Green resident who graduated in May with an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene, was honored for an extensive record of volunteerism and her dedication to expanding access to preventative dental care – all while earning a 4.0 GPA in her dental hygiene coursework.
D’Amore was nominated by Brittany Moore, dental hygiene adjunct instructor and co-advisor of Owens’ American Dental Hygienists’ Association student chapter, who described watching a quietly determined student grow into a leader her peers respect.
“When I first met her, she was quite reserved and sat in the back row, but soon I discovered she was a hidden gem,” Moore wrote. “She has flourished into a leader that all students respect and value.”
D’Amore served as vice president and then president of the ADHA student chapter, and was elected student delegate to represent the organization at the state level. She served on all three of the chapter’s committees – mentorship, community outreach, and event planning – and helped lead fundraising efforts that raised more than $10,000. While second-year dental hygiene students are required to complete eight community oral health presentations, D’Amore completed 16.
Her volunteer work has spanned community health fairs, local church events, and elementary school programs. She attended Toledo’s Tent City for two consecutive years, providing oral cancer screenings to individuals experiencing homelessness.
In January 2026, D’Amore traveled to Guatemala with Global Medical Brigades, providing preventative dental hygiene care and oral health supplies to underserved communities. She also collaborated with two classmates to develop an oral health education program at the juvenile rehabilitation center in Wood County, delivering preventative education and fluoride treatments to more than 35 adolescent males.
Chalisa Rocker – Certificate of recognition for exceptional student leadership and student life involvement
Rocker, a Toledo resident majoring in psychology, was recognized for two years of campus leadership and a record of community engagement that extends beyond Owens.
Rocker was nominated by Annette Staunton, manager of tutoring in the learning commons, where Rocker has worked as a student employee since the spring of 2024. Staunton described watching Rocker grow into a campus leader who consistently takes initiative and creates a welcoming environment for fellow students.
“Her dedication to both her work and the broader community has not gone unnoticed,” Staunton wrote, noting that Rocker received the Student Employee of the Year 2025-26 award for Outstanding Community Service.
Rocker currently serves as president of both the Black Student Union and the Honors Club, having previously held the roles of vice president and public relations officer in the Black Student Union. Through the Honors Club, she has spent two years volunteering with the Food for Thought Pantry, distributing lunches at the downtown Toledo bus station hub to community members facing food insecurity. This summer, the Honors Club plans to host a hygiene product donation drive for distribution at the same location.
Rocker’s reach extends into the broader Toledo community as well. Since 2021, Rocker has performed as a spoken word artist at events including Jeep Fest, conferences, churches, and awareness events for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. She also hosts Bold n Faith, a podcast focused on encouragement and empowerment, and recently began working as a treatment advocate with the National Youth Advocate Program, where she mentors youth and supports positive decision-making. Rocker is expected to graduate in May 2027.
