The 2023 spring semester and commencement have come and gone, but the Ashland University Campus Store is as busy as ever, according to Amanda Brown, director of the campus store.
Normally a quieter time of year for the store, its Eagle Custom Design screen-printing machine is running red-hot—or more like purple-and-gold hot—ever since an AU T-shirt was spotted being worn by a character on the hit Apple TV+ show “Ted Lasso.”
When viewers noticed journalist Trent Crimm, played by veteran actor James Lance, sporting a familiar-looking AU T-shirt under his blazer during the seventh episode of season three, released April 26, Brown’s phone started blowing up. A fan of the show, Brown quickly verified with her own eyes that what they were seeing was indeed an authentic AU T-shirt and sprang into action.
Staff at the store replicated the design, Brown added the shirt to its online store, ashlandbookstore.com, with the slogan “as seen on Ted Lasso” and the orders started rolling in from eager students, faculty and alumni. Once all of the supplies were on hand May 1, the printing and shipping commenced. Now, it’s just a matter of keeping up with all of the requests.
In less than two weeks’ time, the AU Campus Store has processed more than 500 orders and shipped the T-shirts all across the United States and even one to New Zealand. They haven’t quite reached all 50 states yet, but it may just be a matter of time. They have been sent to Alaska and Hawaii, as well as Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Utah and throughout the eastern and southern parts of the country.
“I’m excited we’ve been able to jump on it. Within an hour of knowing about it, we were up and running. And, the following Monday online purchases started and they haven’t stopped since then,” said Brown, who holds two degrees from AU – a bachelor’s in accounting and an MBA in project management.
The shirt was originally designed in May 2017 by Jill Hiltner, a 27-year employee of AU and current assistant manager of the campus store. Two hundred eighty-eight were printed for Summer Orientation that year for new students and their families and they sold out.
Little did Hiltner know that her design would catch the eye of a London-based costume designer six years later. Brown reached out to Jacky Levy, the show’s costume designer, who revealed she found the shirt at a vintage shop on Brick Lane in London and simply “loved the color and everything about it for Trent Crimm’s wardrobe. It just seemed to suit his style so well.”
Hiltner remains unfazed by her 15 minutes of fame. In fact, she has not yet seen the show, (other than the clips with her designed shirt in it), but does plan to start watching it soon. She is simply grateful to have helped generate some buzz for a place that she loves.
“I think it’s great for the university. That’s the main thing,” she said.
Brown agrees and added that she can even envision Trent Crimm having graduated from AU’s journalism and digital media program.
“It’s cool to see (the shirt) represented by someone in a skilled trade. Trent is very eloquent and wrote for The Independent, a prestigious newspaper. I could see it in the character’s backstory that he could’ve studied journalism here,” said Brown.
Brown also thinks it is appropriate for the AU shirt to have landed on a feel-good show, such as “Ted Lasso.”
“They discuss real issues, but in a light-hearted way. When I think of Ted Lasso, I think of those popular posters with inspirational quotes from elementary school. They address struggles in a way that is very relatable. And, it’s really funny,” she said.
“Ted Lasso,” starring Jason Sudeikis as an American football coach leading a British soccer team, has won 11 Emmy® awards, including for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2021 and 2022.
Tri-County Educational Service Center, that serves Ashland, Holmes, and Wayne Counties, led a field trip with Ashland’s group, at two of the Ashland County Parks, Byers Woods, a 215-acre park, at 675 County Road 1754, and Tom Kruse Wildlife Conservation Park, at the intersection of State Route 60, and County Road 1754.
ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University and the Coburn Art Gallery are hosting “Digital Dots,” a creative and intensive one-week summer art camp for young artists (ages 8-12). It will be held June 19-23 from 9 a.m. to noon each day.
Students will explore art and technology through the lens of various media, including stop motion animation, printmaking, photography, digital art, video and ceramics. They will also develop cultural appreciation and aesthetic awareness by learning different art forms, as well as developing their own talent for self-expression.
The fee for “Digital Dots” is $90 per child. All art materials are provided plus a handcrafted t-shirt. Enrollment is limited, thus registration and payment are required in advance.
For more information or to register, email cpetry@ashland.edu.
ASHLAND, Ohio – The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Ashland is delighted to announce that it will operate its Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) this summer with the support of the United States Department of Agriculture. This will be the Kroc Center’s 14th consecutive year serving as an SFSP site and assisting families whose children receive free or reduced-price lunch in school during the summer. The program is open to all families in Ashland County.
“We are so happy to have the kids be able to eat together again this year and mid-summer they will be able to also enjoy the opening of the New Spray Park,” said Jen Washock, Director of Social Services.
The Kroc’s Summer Food Service Program begins June 12 and operates until August 11. It is open on weekdays from 12:15pm to 12:45 p.m. to children ages 1 to 18. No registration is required. Each week brings different themes for kids to engage in throughout the summer in conjunction with the meals.
Meals will be served at the picnic pavilion located behind the building. Guests may enter through the gate in the West parking lot.
In addition to the SFSP program, and as during the rest of the year, the Kroc Center will continue to provide congregate community meals from 11 to 11:30 a.m., as well as operating our food pantry each weekday.
For up-to-date information, check out @AshlandKroc on Instagram and follow Ashland Kroc Center on Facebook
Ashland Pregnancy Care Center and the Gideons International Ashland Camp are partnering together for a fourth year to present the BLESSING BAG OUTREACH for expectant moms and mommies with babies (up to age 2) in the Ashland community.
To kick off Mother’s Day weekend, on Friday, May 12th from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church Parking Lot (220 Sandusky St., Ashland) families can drive by and be presented a “blessing bag” filled with diapers (newborn – size 5), wipes, prayer blanket, personal hygiene items, and more. Limited supplies are available. Free baby food and formula will be distributed as well as other gifts from local businesses/organizations.
The women’s auxiliary with Gideons International will be presenting Bibles to families and offering prayers for each mom who drives by for help. Rise FM Radio will also be in attendance providing encouraging music.
This event started in May 2020 in response to COVID-19 and wanted to turn a negative into a positive. Ashland Pregnancy Care Center and its team saw firsthand how families needed extra help with the necessities to care for a newborn.
The purpose of this event is to encourage moms and moms-to-be to remind them of their value and worth.
Joe Lyons •
May 12, 2023
A portion of County Road 1575 in Montgomery Township will be closed Monday, May 15th through Friday, June 16th for a bridge replacement.
UPDATE:
