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Akron lawyer addresses YSU graduates, annual fund reaches record high
ASHLEY C. HEENEY
Legal News Reporter
Published: August 19, 2011
A successful Akron lawyer will return to the place of his honest beginnings to speak at his alma mater’s summer commencement ceremony.
Attorney Paul G. Perantinides, a 1966 graduate of Youngstown State University and partner at Perantinides and Nolan in downtown Akron will address 451 graduates at YSU’s summer commencement as the featured speaker at 10 a.m. Aug. 20 in Beeghly Center.
The student speaker is Kolton Ross Codner of Poland, Ohio, who receives a Master of Business Administration degree at the graduation ceremony.
Perantinides, after earning his bachelor’s degree in social studies, went on to earn his law degree from The University of Akron School of Law in 1969.
He served in the Army during the Vietnam War, reaching the rank of captain and earning the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star for Distinguished Service.
A trial lawyer who represents the rights of injured individuals and their families who have been harmed by medical malpractice, wrongful death and personal injuries and defective products, Perantinides is licensed to practice law in the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The award-winning lawyer takes an active role in the state and regional legal and civic community. He has presented and lectured at dozens of conferences and seminars in his career.
The address at YSU will be his first time delivering a commencement address.
“My message is that the “Values of the Valley” that are ingrained in me from growing up in Mahoning Valley as a first generation Greek boy have allowed me to live the American dream,” Perantinides said. “And in living that dream comes a huge responsibility to give back in time, talent and treasure. So we must all live our lives with a purpose beyond ourselves.
“When we serve others we serve ourselves and that service is better than selfishness. So the double bottom line is that you can do good while doing well.”
Perantinides said he is involved in the university as an alum, in hosting and attending fraternity reunions annually, and as a donor.
This year, YSU’s annual fund reached record highs, bringing in $1.6 million in fiscal year 2011 from more than 4,000 donors, according to preliminary counts from the university’s office of development.
Money raised is used for student scholarships and a variety of programs, from the English Festival, the Center for Judaic and Holocaust Studies and ROTC to the Steel Bridge/Concrete Canoe teams, Center for Nonprofit Leadership and the SMARTS (Students Motivated by the Arts) program. It also provides money to various athletics teams, including track and field, golf and tennis.
This year’s annual fund figure represents a 12 percent increase over the last fiscal year, and in the eight years alone, the fund has nearly quadrupled, according to the university.
Annual fund giving by faculty and staff has tripled, this year representing 10 percent of total giving at $131,069 – over $66,428 in 2009.
As with public universities across the state, YSU, after a $7.2 million reduction in state funding, has raised its tuition by $126 per semester for incoming students who start school this month.
YSU maintains its position as “one of the most affordable public universities in Ohio.”
The increase sets tuition at $3,726 a semester for full-time undergraduate students living in Ohio, or $7,452 a year – the lowest tuition among the state’s 11 largest public universities and $1,600 below the statewide average, according to the universuty. Tuition for full-time, in-state graduate students will increase $167 to $4,955 a semester, while full-time, out-of-state tuition for graduate students will increase $172 to $5,060 a semester.
YSU is projected to receive $39.8 million in state appropriations in fiscal year 2012, down from $47 million in fiscal year 2011, according to the university. State funds make up about one-quarter of the university’s general fund budget.
The university is projecting a deficit of approximately $9.5 million for fiscal year 2012 and expects the tuition increase to generate about $3.2 million.