Earlier this month, Ohio State recruiters were in Phoenix, Ariz. hoping to take advantage of the publicity generated from the football team’s appearance in the National Championship game.

“OSU has a great brand name because of its sports teams,” said Eric Troy, a spokesman for the Office of Minority Affairs. “When the students see (them) on TV they’re like, ‘Oh, I want to go there.’ “

Approximately 115 people attended the event. Students met with key university representatives to discuss academic opportunities offered at OSU.

Norm Caban, director of recruitment and development, said to meet the school’s diversity goals, the program has been seeking juniors and seniors who show high academic promise.

Caban said the OSU admissions process is very selective and competition among incoming students is extremely high.

“Most of the students who apply are in the top 15 percent of their graduating class or have ACT test scores around the 26-27 range,” he said.

Both Caban and Troy said programs such as Young Scholars have been successful in bringing in some of the best under-represented students from the Ohio area; however, Troy said he believes there are still numerous prospects throughout the country who would benefit from the vast amount of academic resources at OSU.

“About 80 percent of OSU’s minority students are from (here). We’re stepping outside of Ohio,” Caban said.

Diversity recruitment initiatives have taken place in many areas including cities in Texas, Los Angeles and Atlanta, Caban said.

“We’ve been recruiting years before the bowl games,” he said. “The teams give us national visibility and open doors for us, (however), it sometimes causes people to focus on us for the wrong reasons. OSU needs to be seen as a village working in unity to recruit, retain and graduate all of our students.”

Although students at the event were interested in majors and programs offered at OSU, parents expressed different concerns.

“Many of the parents were concerned about the affordability of OSU, how realistic is it for their child to attend and what resources are in place to (do so),” he said. “We want families and students to know OSU is affordable, they just have to take advantage of the opportunities early.”

Many of OSU’s diversity recruiting begin in the sixth grade and financial aid is offered through scholarships and programs such as the Freshman Foundation Grant and Morrill Scholars.

Travel vouchers for airfare to visit the OSU campus were raffled at the brunch as well.

“Expenses can sometimes be a challenge, but it really makes a difference to actually see the campus and experience the environment,” Caban said. “We want to provide them with that opportunity.”

Troy said OSU is in high competition with Ivy League and historically black colleges, but believes OSU has an advantage because of its efforts to maintain contact with the students even after they reach campus.

“We offer our students more than just scholarships; we’re offering relationships, resources and support,” he said. “We’re letting them know that we’re here for them.”

Lisa Scott can be reached at [email protected].