YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Eastern Gateway Community College Board of Trustees accepted a $250,000 donation from Christine and Phillip Dennison of Youngstown to establish the Christine and Phillip Dennison School of Business and Leadership.

"This generous donation from two true community servants is very validating of the work our facility, staff, and students put into ensuring a high-quality business program, both in-person and online, are offered at Eastern Gateway," said College President Michael Geoghegan.

Geoghegan went on to say that Eastern Gateway hopes to inspire its business students with role models such as the Dennisons to achieve great things in their careers and give back to their communities.

Christine Dennison retired from teaching full time eight years in the Marketing Department at YSU's Williamson College of Business Administration.

Additionally, she was a Planned Giving Consultant to both United Way and the Community Foundation of Mahoning Valley and volunteered on the United Way Fund Allocation Committee.

She was also a board member and chaired a capital campaign for the Youngstown Hearing & Speech Center.

Phillip Dennison, CPA, is a principal emeritus with Packer Thomas, a regional accounting firm. He's the chairman of the Board of the Western Reserve Health Foundation.

Additionally, Phillip serves as a board member and treasurer of Youngstown Cityscape and has received their Grass Roots Award. He's also chair of a Committee to Grow Mahoning Valley, East Gate Regional Council of Governments.

The change is scheduled to go into effect during the next spring semester, which begins in January 2023. At that time, the school's name will appear on formal college documents such as reports and student records.