The 35th annual YSU Penguin Club Scholarship/Ring Banquet was another fantastic event as Bob Hendricks was honored as Penguins of the Year at Mr. Anthony's Banquet Center in Boardman last evening.
YSU also celebrated the 2025 National Championship by the Women's Bowling squad and Horizon League Championships by the Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field teams, the Men's and Women's Cross Country team, Women's Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field teams and the women's tennis team.
Speakers for the evening including YSU President Bill Johnson, Penguin Club President Rich Denaman, Women's Basketball Head Coach Melissa Jackson and student-athletes Abbie Householder and Beau Brungard. Once again Paul McFadden, President of the YSU Foundation, introduced the Penguin of the Year, Bob Hendricks.
President Johnson said the evening is a celebration of YSU student-athletes and everyone who comes together to support the university and athletic department. "Your passion, your loyalty and your generosity matter a lot more than you know to our student-athletes, our coaches and our entire university community."
After doting on the positive impact, the community makes in so many ways, Johnson shared some exciting facts about the future of Youngstown State University and the region.
He gave an update that everything is on track for the remodeled Kilcawley Center to open in the fall of 2027. The renovated building will have new dining options, refreshed gathering areas, and updated facilities that will play a key role in enhancing the campus. He thanked the donors for stepping forward and making key financial contributions to keep the building on schedule.
He talked about the growth of the soon-to-be Steubenville campus (which opens this fall) and how that will play key role in that region. Lastly, he said the University is excited to host a pair of summer music concerts at Stambaugh Stadium on July 10 and July 11. Some 40 to 50,000 people will be in Youngstown for what will be a fantastic event.
Denaman, who was a basketball student-athlete from 1968-72, told a story of attending a banquet following the 1969-70 men's basketball season. The Vestibule Club of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church hosted the event that was a celebration of Coach Dom Roselli's 400th win as the head coach at YU. That team was awarded watches, and Denaman was proud to wear his at the podium. He said to the student-athletes that earned championship rings will enjoy the many memories that come over the next 50-plus years.
He mentioned the primary role that last night's banquet played in covering the cost of the championship rings for all those winners. He spoke about all the events the Penguin Club organizes during the calendar year and the importance they play in the behind-the-scenes success of student-athletes and the department.
Jackson, the Penguins' second-year head coach, brought her enthusiasm to the podium. The Guins currently sit second in the Horizon League and have won 21 games so far this year.
She told the audience about how she spoke with Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Ron Strollo when the position was available roughly two years ago now and how she wanted the opportunity to coach at YSU. Now two years later, Jackson and her family have fallen in love with Youngstown State. She said, "the people truly make this place." She said that everyone in the room is what makes YSU so special.
You can't have a special place without tremendous leadership, and we have that at YSU, she said. She specifically thanked President Johnson, and his wife, LeeAnn, for their transformational leadership and support. She thanked the athletics administration team for providing elite organization, structure, competitive drive and support in a family-like atmosphere that makes YSU the place that it is.
Householder recently concluded an impressive four-year career as a member of the YSU volleyball program. She thanked everyone for their generosity and support and how the student-athletes were grateful for their financial contributions but for getting to meet everyone in person at the dinner.
Her parents met at Youngstown State where her mom played volleyball and her dad played football. Her brother and sister also graduated from YSU. She said that although her entire family went to YSU it wasn't an easy decision for her to follow in everyone's footsteps. She had some schools among her top choices, but the COVID pandemic hit and that made it hard. She could not go on visits and check out other schools, so she and her family put it in God's hands. And as she put it, "boy did he have an amazing plan for me."
She admitted that her YSU career had its ups and downs, but it was full of so many amazing memories. The people that she met here have changed her life for the better and made her the person she is today. It truly is like a family here, she said. "Looking back, I feel silly that I ever even slightly doubted my choice of YSU. It has become her home away from home, even though her home is only 20 minutes away."
Brungard was the 2025 recipient of numerous FCS Player of the Year awards, highlighted by the Walter Payton Award.
"This is my fourth go-around with the Ring Banquet and every year it never ceases to amaze me. From the incredible sports teams our school showcases to just being able to look out across the room to see the amount of support we have for athletics is just truly impressive." Brungard said.
His journey began growing up on my family's farm, but most of my spare time was spent in the front yard playing football with my brothers. "I attribute this part of my life to where I learned how to run the football because if they would have got ahold of me, the fun would have come to an end." Following his high school career, he received only one offer, which came from Coach Doug Phillips at YSU. Disappointing at the time, knowing all the other schools that passed him up, it wasn't hard to make his decision.
Brungard spoke about those who have made an impact on him during his YSU career highlighting former quarterback Mitch Davidson, strength and conditioning coach Mason Garrison and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. It's because of these relationships and so many others that led me to come back for my final year.
I believe the driving force behind the identity of Youngstown is the people who show loyalty and grit, regardless of the circumstances at hand. I wanted to reciprocate that same kind of loyalty that each of you in this room has demonstrated for YSU year after year. I take pride in getting to call Youngstown home and that I have the opportunity to put on the red and white for one more year in the Ice Castle.
McFadden presented the Penguin of Year and said that he and Bob Hendricks would get together numerous times during the year to discuss the evening and that no one was more prepared than they were in the history of the event.
McFadden spoke about how farming and working in the mines shaped Bob's early years. He showed a family photo of the Hendricks's at the American Fire Clay Company. The photo it turned out was taken on Thanksgiving Day in 1977. He joked that's how they celebrated holidays "let's load the kids up in the car and run them down to the strip mine with grandpa".
He attended Youngstown University and after he graduated in 1964, he went to NYU where he earned his master's degree in education. Then he embarked on various careers in manufacturing upon returning to Ohio.
In 1983 he saw a for sale sign in front of a huge factory. He contacted the bank because he had a vision. He wanted to buy the factory, but he didn't have any money, but he had his vision. That banker took a gamble, and it turned out very well as Niles Manufacturing and Finishing was created.
Hendricks took to the podium and said he was deeply honored and sincerely grateful to be the Penguin of the Year.
He grew up down the road in Greenford, Ohio, where hard work wasn't an option, it was simply a way of life. Much of what he learned about responsibility and perseverance came from long days of working on my grandparents' farm. There were no short cuts, just honest labor and pride in a job well done.
His father and brother worked in the mines, but his mother believed in a different path for him and that he was going to college to get an education. He followed her advice and that decision brought him to YSU where he paid $13 a credit hour which was a little over $200 a semester. That may have been the best investment he ever made he admitted. Youngstown didn't just provide me with education; it gave me purpose and confidence, he said.
"Throughout the years one thing has remained constant, my commitment to Penguins Athletics. Since the early '90s I've supported the program in the stands or in the community wherever I felt I could make a difference. I believe in this University. I believe in the people who make it what it is. Grit. Integrity. Tireless work ethic. It reminds me of the community that raised me. YSU provided everything, the foundation for everything that's fallen in my life. Giving back has been an honor and a privilege."
Following his speech, McFadden welcomed Hendricks' grandchildren to the stage. It was announced that a $25,000 contribution had been made to create the Robert K. Hendricks Scholarship endowment. An additional $25,000 was added by an anonymous donor, pushing the total to $50,000 which capped off the evening on a special note.
