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This prestigious honor recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievement and leadership in their field while making significant contributions to their community. Housing and Residence Life is deeply honored to announce the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award: Jim Sabin (posthumous).

Jim Sabin’s life and career embodied compassion, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to serving others. His influence reached far and wide, across Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University, within Housing and Residence Life, and throughout the many communities he touched. Those who knew him best describe Jim as someone who made people feel seen and valued, a rare quality that shaped everything he did both personally and professionally.

During his time as a student in the 1990s, Jim served as a Resident Assistant in the Convocation Center, where he was known for his empathy, humor, and ability to bring people together. He believed deeply in the power of student leadership and the importance of listening, a quality that defined his approach to every role he held. Jim was the kind of leader who built confidence in others and encouraged them to use their voices. His fellow RAs and residents fondly remember his approachable nature and his calm presence in moments of uncertainty.

Jim’s career reflected his enduring belief in truth, connection, and community. As the former editor of the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, he championed local journalism, ensuring that every story, whether large or small, was told with accuracy, integrity, and heart. His thoughtful reporting and dedication to fairness earned him the respect of colleagues and readers alike. Later, in his role as a communications professional at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University, Jim helped shape the University’s narrative by celebrating student success, highlighting faculty achievements, and elevating the stories that reflect OHIO’s spirit and values. His colleagues admired not only his professionalism but also his mentorship, as he guided young communicators and student writers with patience and care. He led not through titles or accolades but through quiet consistency, humility, and genuine regard for others.

Beyond campus, Jim’s life was marked by active and meaningful service. He was deeply involved in the Lancaster, Canal Winchester, and Athens communities, dedicating his time to his church, supporting local initiatives, and investing in the people around him. Whether he was volunteering at a community event, encouraging a young journalist, or simply sharing a kind word, Jim made a habit of leaving people and places better than he found them. His legacy is evident in the many lives he touched through mentorship, friendship, and his steadfast example of servant leadership.

At the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award reception, colleagues, friends, and former students gathered to celebrate Jim’s enduring impact and the many ways he shaped the OHIO experience. The event was filled with heartfelt stories of his compassion, humor, and unwavering positivity, reminding everyone that even quiet leadership can create ripples that last a lifetime.

In honoring Jim Sabin, Housing and Residence Life celebrates a life that exemplified what it means to be Forever OHIO: a life rooted in service, authenticity, and love for others. His spirit continues to inspire, reminding us all that leadership is not about recognition but about making things better for those around you. Through this recognition, Jim’s legacy of kindness, communication, and community will continue to guide and uplift generations of Bobcats to come.

This article on Jim Sabin, recipient of the 2025 Housing and Residence Life Distinguished Alumni Award, is based on a nomination submitted by Carly Leatherwood. It highlights Jim’s significant influence on Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University and beyond. His dedication and contributions reflect the core values he developed during his time with Housing and Residence Life, leaving a lasting impact on the community.

To learn more and to give to the Housing and Residence Life Foundation visit www.ohio.edu/housing/support-housing.