Community Impact Awards recognize exceptional support for student organizations

Courtney Clark never took her college scholarship for granted. Instead, it compelled the 2003 Fisher graduate to pay forward in support of future generations of business students at Ohio State.

Most recently, Clark, a tax partner with Deloitte, has championed her employer’s involvement with Fisher students through the Deloitte Career Launch program. Her commitment to that program, offered in partnership with the college’s Office of Career Management, earned her the Individual Community Impact Award at Fisher’s 2025 Community Impact Awards presentation in April. 

Clark was among six individuals and three businesses nominated for the awards, which are given to those who “demonstrate exceptional support” for student organizations through financial contributions, mentorship opportunities, in-kind donations or resource sharing. Nominees include corporations, small companies and business professionals who have a track record of fostering student growth and professional development.

Investment service Diamond Hill earned the Corporate Community Impact Award for its work with Women in Business (WIB), a student organization at Ohio State.

“You are the ones who make classroom knowledge come alive,” Cynthia Turner, associate dean of access, engagement and outreach, said at the event. “Your belief in our students is powerful, and it shows. Whether it is a summer internship or a capstone project, a leadership conversation or simply a word of encouragement, you are shaping futures.”

Clark serves as Deloitte’s multistate tax services practice leader for the Cleveland and Columbus markets, advising clients on state and local tax matters. She also serves as Deloitte’s Lead University Partner for Ohio State. She has worked with Project THRIVE and the Integrated Business and Engineering Honors program, in addition to the Deloitte Career Launch program, a year-long professional development program that exposes students to concepts such as business chemistry, personal branding, goal setting, teamwork, managing up and networking.

Deloitte funded monthly dinners for 40 to 60 students and brought employees to campus to meet with students. Clark attended nearly all the program sessions, engaging with students and encouraging Deloitte volunteers to do the same. She connected program topics to the students’ career journeys and encouraged students to access career management resources like mock interviews, resume reviews and career fairs.

Clark’s nominator for the Community Impact Award called her “a champion for Ohio State,” and someone whose energy and philanthropy encourages others to give back.

Other individual nominees included Mark Caner (BSBA ’94), president of W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.; Duane Detwiler, vice president of research at Honda Research Institute USA and a graduate of Ohio State’s aerospace engineering program; James “Rich” Lawrence, vice president, Strategy Execution Lead II at Bank of America, Practice Solutions, who earned a degree in agricultural and extension education services from Ohio State in 1998; Jordan Sibley (BSBA ’20), control manager at JPMorgan Chase; and Darren Srebnick, international trade compliance manager for Sensience. 

In addition to Diamond Hill, corporate nominees Accenture and Plante Moran received recognition for their support of student organizations during the academic year. 

Diamond Hill has a long partnership with Ohio State and for the past two years has supported WIB.  Last year, the company launched a Women in Investing program as part of its work with the student organization. Monthly sessions introduced students to the fundamentals of business and building investment portfolios, among other topics.

“Diamond Hill has made their commitment to the people and mission of WIB clear from day one, and they continue to come up with new ideas to be of help and support,” WIB president Milan Oppewall wrote in her nomination of the company. 

Throughout the program, Diamond Hill employees shared their experiences and perspectives about the world of finance, and Diamond Hill’s CEO spoke to students about public speaking and presentation skills.

“We’re proud of our work, and it is very motivational for our employees as well,” said Diamond Hill President Jo Ann Quinif (BSBA ’99), who accepted the award on her company’s behalf.

David Harrison, senior director of Fisher’s Office of Advancing Community Connections and Empowering Student Success (ACCESS), commended all the nominees who mentor Ohio State’s students and, through their service, encourage students to become mentors for others.

“Most of us may not get a chance to do great things in our life, but we can do small things in a great way,” said Harrison. 

Clark said the opportunity to give back to Fisher students what the McCoy Presidential Scholarship gave her more than two decades ago, is one of the joys of her career. 

“It is such an honor to be in this room with all of you,” she said upon accepting her award.

“As Buckeyes, not only do we belong in any room in the world, but we thrive and we bring quality to any board room, any meeting around the world. Thank you for this opportunity to collaborate with you at The Ohio State University.”

(Hover over photo to access photo gallery)