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  • Football an integtral part of Jefferson graduate Dennis’ life | Sports

    Football an integtral part of Jefferson graduate Dennis’ life | Sports

    In Zach Dennis’s junior year, the 2002 football season, he was selected Star Beacon All-Ashtabula County Defensive Back of the Year.

    But Dennis, who will be inducted into the Ashtabula County Hall of Fame Sunday at SPIRE Academy, is quick to credit another part of the defense for much of his success.

    “Our defense only gave up around nine points a game,” the 2004 Jefferson graduate said. “I actually was given defensive back of the year and that was mostly because our defensive line was so great that quarterbacks didn’t have much time to read anything, so I was able to get a few picks. We finished 8-2 I think, and were just so close to making the playoffs.”

    Dennis actually had seven interceptions that year, according to official Jefferson statistics.

    He added 36 tackles and 17 assists.

    Offensively, Dennis contributed 34 receptions for 569 yards, both categories led the area, and five touchdowns.

    The Falcons followed that season up with another 8-2 season in 2003, again falling just short of the playoffs.

    In Dennis’ four years, three of which he lettered, Jefferson went 25-14 and were Northeastern Conference co-champs in 2002 and 2003.

    “Our team was full of talent our senior year and we were very lucky to have that,” Dennis said. “We had potential all-conference players at pretty much every position. I was fortunate enough to be the Player of the Year during our senior year. We ended the year with another 8-2 record but just fell short of the playoffs.We had a great team.”

    In 20023, Dennis set a school-receiving record with 881 receiving yards on 53 receptions. He had 1,597 total yards and eight touchdowns on receptions, interceptions and kick returns.

    In Dennis’ first year as a starter, he totaled 88 tackles with 28 assists, huge numbers for a defensive back, 16 first hits, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery and 156 defensive points, second on the team.

    On offense, Dennis added 14 catches for 191 yards and four touchdowns.

    Among his honors were 2001 honorable mention all-county, 2002 Defensive Back of the Year and 2003 Ashtabula County Player of the Year. He had begun playing football in his front yard with his older brother, Jimmy.

    “We used to play one versus one and my dad would be the quarterback,” Dennis said. “That is my first memory of football. I am a product of being a younger brother so having my brother, Jimmy, playing football led me to a lot of his practices and playing with his teams.”

    He moved on to play running back in Jefferson’s Midget League. In sixth grade, Hurk Hagerdon was his coach.

    “We were a pretty solid team,” Dennis said. ““In junior high, we had some great teams. My graduating class had a lot of talented athletes, so we were pretty lucky.

    “I don’t remember our records off the top of my head, but we were very solid with a good core of players at all positions. Most of us played up and were on varsity pretty early in our high school careers.

    That set up his high school career. He e was fortunate to being a member of a talented class, athletically.

    “In my early years, I played with great players like Bill Maylish, Dustin Olah, Nick Aliff, Dustin Park, Jason Spang, Justin Larson, and I am sure many others that I did not mention,” Dennis said. “In my class, we were also very talented.

    “We had a lot of guys that did play in college

    or could have … quarterback Angelo Mirando, running back Ryan Aliff, offensive linemen Bryan Stainfield and Jeremy Graham.

    “Defensively, we had Abe Woodard and Brandon Beebe at linebacker, Matt Mihoci at defensive back and Mark Baker and Alex Rabe on the defensive line.”

    Dennis’ head coach was Jason Root, who took over the Falcons his sophomore year.

    “I played for Rick Havens, coach Mead and TJ Furman,” Dennis said. “I have a lot of great memories from coach Root and he is one of the main reasons that I am still a coach to this day. I will always tell my current players some of the ways that coach Root motivated us in high school about how we conditioned or how fired up he would get after big wins.”

    Root remains one of Dennis’ biggest advocates.

    “Zach was a huge part of a very talented class of athletes,” Root said. “We could always count on him to make the big reception, or come up with an interception at a crucial time.

    “He played a giant role in helping us win two NEC championships [2002 and 2003],” Root said. “Zach was not only a great athlete, but also a great student, and continues to be a great person and family man.

    “I am proud of the accomplishments that he has made since graduation. As a young coach, I was fortunate to have players such as Zach on our team.”

    The 2005 team was Jefferson’s last conference championship.

    In addition to football, Dennis played basketball and baseball at Jefferson.

    “I am pretty sure we were conference champs in both of those my senior year as well,” he said.

    After graduation from Jefferson, Dennis played cornerback for one year at the University of Pennsylvania.

    He transferred to Ohio Wesleyan, where he played in his three remaining years of eligibility.

    “Mike Holloway was our head coach at that time, Dennis said. “I was a three-year starter at OWU. Our best record in college was 7-3. I was fortunate enough to be our team MVP my senior year while being an ESPN Academic All-District wide receiver. At graduation I was top three in most receiving categories at OWU.”

    Dennis was a second-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference pick in 2007. as well as the Touchdown Club and Gazette Publication’s Golden Helmet Collegiate Player of the Year, and National Football Foundation’s College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete that year.

    He finished second in school history in receiving yards (1,928), fifth in receptions (116) and third at Wesleyan in yardage for a season, 888 in 2007.

    At Ohio Wesleyan, Dennis took a bachelor’s in sports management.

    He added his master’s in teaching from LaGrange College. Dennis began his coaching career at Wesleyan in 2008, before moving on to LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia, where he coached from 2008-2010.

    For the past 15 years, he has coached at the College of Wooster, first as wide receivers coach, then as offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and, currently, as offensive-coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

    “I have been fortunate in my time at Wooster to have coached the two best quarterbacks, best tight end and best wide receiver in our school’s 150-year history.” Dennis said. “One of our quarterbacks actually was the fifth-best quarterback in the nation and we have had a top-20 passing attack in the nation a few times.”

    Dennis met his wife, Heather, at LaGrange College when he was a graduate football assistant and Heather was a graduate volleyball assistant.

    The Dennis’ have been married for 12 years, and have two sons, Bode and Crew.

    His father, Jim Dennis and mother, Jacquie Teed, are still in the area. Jim lives in Chesterland and Jacquie in Cleveland. His brother, Jimmy, lives in Jefferson.

    ‘I’m still coaching football so I would say that my high school experience was a very important part of my life trajectory,” he said. “Being a college coach now, I still get to experience the impact that football can have on young people.

    “I constantly think back to all the memories that I have had with my fellow teammates over the years and take a lot of pride in where I am from. My coaching style is a product of all the great men that have coached me or that I have played with throughout my life.”



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  • How a Maths graduate rose to leadership in philanthropy

    How a Maths graduate rose to leadership in philanthropy

    Mendi Njonjo is calculative—carefully reflecting on each question before answering. Ms Mendi is an international development and philanthropy strategist and practitioner.

    With over 25 years of experience working with civil society and philanthropic organisations on policy analysis, strategic planning, and international grant-making, she currently serves as the Director of the KCB Foundation. Previously, she held roles both in the United States and regionally.

    Tell us a little about your childhood and how it shaped the person you are today

    I was born in Nairobi, but I like to say that Thika raised me. That’s where I grew up, in a community that believed in service. My dad was very active in the Red Cross, and my mom was always involved in community work, especially with the less privileged. Those experiences shaped me, watching people go beyond themselves to help others. I grew up with the belief that we are here to serve our communities. It wasn’t just something I heard; it was something I saw every day at home. My parents were deeply committed to making a difference, and I internalised that from a young age. That’s the foundation of who I am today.

    Is there a particular childhood memory that stands out for you?

    Absolutely. I vividly remember one incident. When I was about six years old, I went to Uhuru Park for a Girl Scout meeting. Somehow, I missed the school bus home and found myself wandering around the park, completely lost. After a while, I sat down, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. Then, a reverend approached me and asked if I was lost. He was so kind and took it upon himself to take me home.

    My parents had been frantic, searching for me everywhere. That small act of kindness left a huge impression on me. It taught me how much one person’s actions can change someone’s life. That reverend didn’t have to help me, but he did, and I carry that lesson with me. It’s a reminder that even small, thoughtful actions can have a significant impact on others.

    How did your time in high school and university shape your path?

    I went to Ngandu Girls’ High School (now Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls High School) in Karatina. Everyone there was either the top or second in their class, so you were constantly surrounded by high achievers. That environment pushed me to keep striving for excellence. It wasn’t about competition as much as it was about being inspired by those around me.

    The friendships and connections I made during that time have stayed with me throughout my life. After Ngandu Girls, I attended the University of Nairobi where I studied double Mathematics and Geography. My choice to study double maths wasn’t part of some grand plan—it was more of a “why not?” decision. I’ve always enjoyed math, so I thought, why not give it a shot? In hindsight, it was a great decision. Being in an environment where excellence was expected shaped both my academic and professional life.

    Later, you pursued a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution. What drew you to that field?

    After my undergraduate studies, I transitioned to working at the International Federation of the Red Cross, and this was a turning point for me. It was the mid-90s, during a period of significant turmoil in East and Central Africa. This was shortly after the Rwanda genocide, and there were refugee crises, civil wars, and other humanitarian emergencies in the region.

    My work focused on supporting the Red Cross societies in these countries, and I saw firsthand the devastation that conflict brings. It wasn’t just numbers or statistics—it was real people, real lives affected by violence. That experience made me want to do more than just respond to crises. I wanted to understand how we could prevent conflicts before they erupted. That’s what led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

    What challenges have you faced as a woman of colour in leadership, and how have you navigated them?

    Being an African woman in global leadership, especially in the nonprofit sector, comes with its challenges. There are preconceived notions of what a leader should look like, and I’ve had to navigate that. When I served as the Director for East Africa at Hivos, the first Black woman to hold that position, I remember people often asking, “So, when is your boss coming?” assuming I couldn’t possibly be the regional director. I had to explain that I was, in fact, the boss.

    But I’ve always been clear about one thing: if you’re the first, you need to make space for the second and third. I felt a strong responsibility to ensure my leadership opened doors for others. I didn’t want to be the only one, and I knew the best time to step down and make room for others was when things were going well. That’s why I eventually decided to step aside after two terms, although I did an additional year due to COVID.

    How do you balance a demanding career with your personal life?

    I’ve come to realise that life is all about seasons. There are times when work demands more of you, and there are times when you need to rest and recharge. Balance doesn’t mean giving 50-50 to everything all the time. For me, it’s about recognising when to push hard and when to pull back. My mantra is “progress, not perfection.” I don’t strive for perfection because I know it’s unattainable. Instead, I focus on being better today than I was yesterday. I’ve been fortunate to work for organisations that understand the need for rest. Taking time off when necessary has allowed me to return to work with fresh energy and perspective. That’s how I maintain my personal and professional life.

    Looking back, what accomplishment are you most proud of?

    If I had to pick one thing, I would say I’m proud of staying true to myself throughout my career. It’s easy to feel the pressure to conform, especially as you rise through the ranks. But I’ve worked hard to lead in a way that feels authentic to me. I’ve never tried to adopt the patriarchal, top-down leadership style that some people expect from women in high-level positions. Instead, I’ve embraced a collaborative approach to leadership—one that is based on empathy and inclusion. I’m proud of that, especially in a world that often expects women to lead in a very particular way.

    What advice would you give to young women, especially those just starting their careers?

    My advice to young women is to give yourself space to grow into the person you’re meant to be. There’s a lot of pressure on women to constantly improve and change, to always be better. But there’s beauty in allowing yourself to evolve naturally, without feeling the need to adjust who you are. That doesn’t mean you stop striving for success, but it’s important to be patient with yourself along the way. And remember, progress, not perfection. It’s okay to not have it all figured out immediately.

    What’s your take on the importance of mentorship?

    Mentorship is crucial. We are who we are because of the people who have mentored us, whether formally or informally. Men often get mentorship through informal networks—on the golf course or over drinks—but women don’t always have those spaces. That’s why it’s so important for women to seek out mentors and to mentor others as they progress in their careers. Mentorship creates opportunities for growth, and it’s been instrumental in my journey.

    What’s on the horizon for Mendi Njonjo?

    Right now, I’m focused on my work at KCB Foundation. We’re working on exciting initiatives around financial inclusion, youth empowerment, and reducing female unemployment in East and Central Africa. Our goal is to create mass entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. It’s a bold vision, but I believe in the work we’re doing, and I’m excited to see where it leads. We want to shift the conversation around unemployment and help more people access the tools they need to succeed.

    What’s your current read?

    (Laughing) I’m currently rereading a book titled All Men in Lagos Are Mad. It’s hilarious! Other than that, I’m also reading some work-related materials.

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