Denison Magazine
Each year, the Louis Kussmaul Friendship Award recognizes a Denison student who contributes to the “friendly relations” between the college and the Granville community. Denison senior Jack Nimesheim was selected as the 2024 honoree, and his achievements were honored at the annual Friendship Award Ceremony on April 17.
Nimesheim, a journalism major, has come to know the Granville community through his writing for the Reporting Project, a nonprofit news source for in-depth articles covering local news written by Denison journalism students and faculty.
Alan Miller, former editor of the Columbus Dispatch and a professor of practice at Denison, nominated Nimesheim, saying in part, “Jack has ventured frequently into Granville and Licking County to report on stories of interest. He got to know us over these past four years, and has said ‘he has fallen in love’ with the Granville community.”
Nimesheim has written stories on school levies, the ripple effects of the Intel development, how the Granville schools managed the Covid pandemic, and many articles about Granville school sports. His year-long senior research project reported and wrote profiles of people who have had a positive influence on Granville. He held internships with both the Newark Advocate and the Columbus Dispatch and has participated in many local events, as well as speaking engagements at local Rotary and Kiwanis club luncheons in Granville and Newark.
In speaking about his work in the community, Nimesheim said, “So often, the Granville residents I came across — whether I was working on a story, visiting a local business, or even just walking around town — went out of their way to take an interest in my life as a Denison student.”
The ceremony featured keynote speaker Denison President Adam S. Weinberg and took place at the Granville Inn. In addition to Nimesheim, these Denison students were honored for their contributions to the community: Mallory Hallwirth ’24 for her work with a children’s reading program and America Reads Tutoring, and Anna Munro ’24, an EMT volunteer for the Granville Fire Department.
More about the Kussmaul Award
The Louis Kussmaul Friendship Award honors the memory of Louis Kussmaul, a Granville printer who worked for his brother William H. Kussmaul, publisher of the Granville Times from 1890 to 1899. The Award was funded by an endowed gift to Denison University from Harry Amos, a Denison alumnus of the Class of 1899. Amos, a fellow newspaperman, was editor of the Jeffersonian of Cambridge, Ohio. The Granville Area Chamber of Commerce and Denison continue to honor the gift by presenting this award annually.
April 22, 2024
