In the face of tragedy, alumna's family wants her legacy to live on

The family of Megan Keleman (BA '22, MBA '24) is honoring her life by establishing a scholarship in her name.

Keleman, a two-time alumna and CSU staff member, was tragically killed on August 14 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Her passing shook the CSU community with tributes pouring in from friends and colleagues, particularly noting her extraordinary kindness.

Now, her family wants her life’s mission to live on through other students. 

Keleman, 25, had just graduated in May with an MBA, having earned her bachelor’s in finance and financial management services in 2022. As a student, she worked for CSU’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions for six years and was a founding member and president of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, president of the Panhellenic Association, director of finance for the Student Government Association, and editor-in-chief and managing editor for The Cauldron, a student newspaper.

In one Cauldron article, espousing her approach to life, she wrote:

“Happiness is the most powerful force on this planet. Happiness is free and costs you nothing. Smiling at someone takes no time out of your day.”

Communications Professor Richard Perloff met Keleman in 2019 and again in 2021 when she, a business student, applied to be the managing editor for The Cauldron during the height of the pandemic. 

“To have taken that on, with not knowing journalism that well, and yet being willing to do that,” Perloff told the Cleveland Jewish News.

“To do that, to me, that is such bravado and (is) such a contribution for a young person to make.”

He remembers being struck by her maturity and ability to navigate complex circumstances.

“I just want her to be remembered as a person of quality, as a person who is smart and cared...," he said.

Keleman had been working for Shelter Care, Inc., a residential treatment and crisis intervention program for children in Tallmadge, Ohio. She was also an active volunteer, coaching young girls as part of the Girls on the Run nonprofit organization and raising funds to support Special Olympics Ohio.

Matt Keleman, her brother, said that the scholarship fund will be used to support students at Cleveland State and The Engineering Academy in Kent Ohio.

“Megan believed in the power of education and offering support to those in need,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

The family's GoFundMe has already surpassed its initial goal of $25,000 and is continuing to accept donations.

Learn how you can support.