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No. 1 Akron to play Stanford next
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Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
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Post-game defensive quotes
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Kent State defeats Rochester College, 63-44
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Four area football teams play tonight
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The Onion, By Any Other Name…
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Health Care Financing Reform: (70) Savings in Medicare Advantage
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Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
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Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
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Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – You are All Wrong About Jobs, or the Lack of Jobs, Being the Reason People Do Not Live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Aaron Clark will speak at Saturday graduation of University of Akron
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:18 a.m. EST, Dec 10, 2008
Talk about change we can believe in.
Meet Aaron Clark, who attended the University of Akron for 21/2 years before dropping out to serve a 41/2-year stint as an Akron police officer on the downtown beat.
''In other words, I was tear-gassed both as a student and as a cop during those May Day celebrations,'' the 29-year-old joked this week during a study break for final exams.
Clark not only dropped back into school, he's graduating magna cum laude Saturday with a biology degree. He's also been tapped as the speaker for the afternoon graduation ceremony. But that's not all.
The Bolivar resident with the spiked and gelled hair is on his way to medical school: Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy in Rootstown.
''First and foremost, I am a father and husband,'' Clark said.
''My daughter Ali will be 3 in a few weeks. She is an absolute joy, and one of the major reasons I decided to go back to school . . . My wife, Kerri, and I have been married for seven years. She is a two-time University of Akron graduate, having received both her biology and nursing degrees here.''
Clark described his wife, a pediatric intensive care unit nurse at Akron Children's Hospital, as ''the smartest person I know.'' He said his dream of becoming a physician would not be possible without her ''patience and support.''
The couple are expecting a second child in April.
''Clark attended Akron North High School before graduating from Tuscarawas Valley High School (Class of '98) in Zoarville.
The family relocated after his mother Rebecca Clark — married with two children — left her job as a buyer for O'Neil's.
She enrolled in college, receiving a degree in biology as well, and was then accepted at NEOUCOM.
Today, she's Dr. Rebecca Clark, an emergency medicine physician in Dover.
Aaron Clark's career paths were influenced by both parents. He gives new meaning to honoring thy mother and thy father.
For a time, he followed in his father's footsteps. Dad Ronald Clark retired in 2001 after 25 years on the Akron police force.
Aaron's sister Emily is a cop, too — in Seattle.
''I first started attending the university in the fall of 1998,'' Aaron Clark said. ''At that point in my life, I was not totally certain about what I wanted to do . . . In the spring of 2001, I decided to take the civil service test for the Akron Police Department. I scored very well, ranking 14th out of approximately 500 applicants. After subsequent weeding out of candidates through various physical, psychological and lie detector tests, I ended up ranking third in my class of 48 recruits. I was also the youngest person on the department at that time.''
Clark was an officer on the Crisis Intervention Team, receiving additional training in ''how to properly interact with individuals who were suicidal, had some type of mental illness or were in some other type of highly agitated state.''
He also was on the Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team, ''responsible for identifying methamphetamine labs, safely disassembling the labs, and making sure the lab components are properly disposed.''
Clark received several commendations from his captain, major and the chief of police. ''One of the most memorable incidents for which I received a commendation was helping save a woman from jumping off the Y-Bridge with her 7-year-old daughter,'' he said.
Although he no longer wears the blue uniform, Clark said he wouldn't trade that experience for anything. Making the career change was not easy, he said.
For one thing, it meant leaving his partner, Akron police officer Brent Heller. ''We had a good working and personal relationship,'' Clark said. ''The relationship between good partners is a strong one because your very life often rests in each other's hands.''
Though he was a successful officer, Clark didn't feel he was living up to his academic potential. ''After many long and emotional conversations with my wife, I decided to entirely resign my police officer position and return to school full time.''
That meant making the difficult choice to sell their new house and downsize.
''Since returning to school, I have been busy both inside and outside of the classroom,'' Clark noted.
He's made the dean's list every semester, carries a 3.74 GPA and is a member of the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences chapter of Phi Sigma Alpha scholastic honorary society.
High marks don't come easy to him, but hard work does.
''In the spring of 2007, I worked in the emergency department at Akron Children's Hospital doing clinical research,'' Clark said. ''This past summer, I was selected to be the Summer Fellow in the Applied Surgical Research Unit at Summa Health System . . . I had to compete against master's students as well as medical students for the position. In addition to good grades, my diverse background gave me an edge over the competition.''
By the way, Clark's parents — if they're reading this column — are just learning that their son will be the graduation speaker.
He gave me the green light to break the good news.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Talk about change we can believe in.
Meet Aaron Clark, who attended the University of Akron for 21/2 years before dropping out to serve a 41/2-year stint as an Akron police officer on the downtown beat.
''In other words, I was tear-gassed both as a student and as a cop during those May Day celebrations,'' the 29-year-old joked this week during a study break for final exams.
Clark not only dropped back into school, he's graduating magna cum laude Saturday with a biology degree. He's also been tapped as the speaker for the afternoon graduation ceremony. But that's not all.
The Bolivar resident with the spiked and gelled hair is on his way to medical school: Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy in Rootstown.
''First and foremost, I am a father and husband,'' Clark said.
''My daughter Ali will be 3 in a few weeks. She is an absolute joy, and one of the major reasons I decided to go back to school . . . My wife, Kerri, and I have been married for seven years. She is a two-time University of Akron graduate, having received both her biology and nursing degrees here.''
Clark described his wife, a pediatric intensive care unit nurse at Akron Children's Hospital, as ''the smartest person I know.'' He said his dream of becoming a physician would not be possible without her ''patience and support.''
The couple are expecting a second child in April.
''Clark attended Akron North High School before graduating from Tuscarawas Valley High School (Class of '98) in Zoarville.
The family relocated after his mother Rebecca Clark — married with two children — left her job as a buyer for O'Neil's.
She enrolled in college, receiving a degree in biology as well, and was then accepted at NEOUCOM.
Today, she's Dr. Rebecca Clark, an emergency medicine physician in Dover.
Aaron Clark's career paths were influenced by both parents. He gives new meaning to honoring thy mother and thy father.
For a time, he followed in his father's footsteps. Dad Ronald Clark retired in 2001 after 25 years on the Akron police force.
Aaron's sister Emily is a cop, too — in Seattle.
''I first started attending the university in the fall of 1998,'' Aaron Clark said. ''At that point in my life, I was not totally certain about what I wanted to do . . . In the spring of 2001, I decided to take the civil service test for the Akron Police Department. I scored very well, ranking 14th out of approximately 500 applicants. After subsequent weeding out of candidates through various physical, psychological and lie detector tests, I ended up ranking third in my class of 48 recruits. I was also the youngest person on the department at that time.''
Clark was an officer on the Crisis Intervention Team, receiving additional training in ''how to properly interact with individuals who were suicidal, had some type of mental illness or were in some other type of highly agitated state.''
He also was on the Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team, ''responsible for identifying methamphetamine labs, safely disassembling the labs, and making sure the lab components are properly disposed.''
Clark received several commendations from his captain, major and the chief of police. ''One of the most memorable incidents for which I received a commendation was helping save a woman from jumping off the Y-Bridge with her 7-year-old daughter,'' he said.
Although he no longer wears the blue uniform, Clark said he wouldn't trade that experience for anything. Making the career change was not easy, he said.
For one thing, it meant leaving his partner, Akron police officer Brent Heller. ''We had a good working and personal relationship,'' Clark said. ''The relationship between good partners is a strong one because your very life often rests in each other's hands.''
Though he was a successful officer, Clark didn't feel he was living up to his academic potential. ''After many long and emotional conversations with my wife, I decided to entirely resign my police officer position and return to school full time.''
That meant making the difficult choice to sell their new house and downsize.
''Since returning to school, I have been busy both inside and outside of the classroom,'' Clark noted.
He's made the dean's list every semester, carries a 3.74 GPA and is a member of the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences chapter of Phi Sigma Alpha scholastic honorary society.
High marks don't come easy to him, but hard work does.
''In the spring of 2007, I worked in the emergency department at Akron Children's Hospital doing clinical research,'' Clark said. ''This past summer, I was selected to be the Summer Fellow in the Applied Surgical Research Unit at Summa Health System . . . I had to compete against master's students as well as medical students for the position. In addition to good grades, my diverse background gave me an edge over the competition.''
By the way, Clark's parents — if they're reading this column — are just learning that their son will be the graduation speaker.
He gave me the green light to break the good news.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 10:54 PM, 12/09/2008
Congratulations Clark Family!
Posted 12:25 AM, 12/10/2008
WOOOHOOOO!! CONGRATS AARON and CLARK FAMILY!! :O)
akron, oh
Posted 01:42 AM, 12/10/2008
Another fine young father and husband who proudly served the city as an Akron Police Officer. Now instead of arresting shooters, you can stitch up shootees! Good luck to you and your family.
akron, oh
Posted 05:51 AM, 12/10/2008
Hey Marco you reading this...what the heck I sure hope he dont starting beating up his patients after all his training with the APD...Also I am sure he doesnt have any type of compassion for his fellow man either...maybe we should have a medical auditor look at him!!!
Posted 07:13 AM, 12/10/2008
Aaron was a great cop on the night shift. I'm sure he we be an awesome doctor too!
I hope that lab coat covers those tattoo's budy!
Posted 07:19 AM, 12/10/2008
Another bright person left APD. No reason to stay where there is no future. Thanks Marco and mayor for destroying APD
akron , oh
Posted 07:28 AM, 12/10/2008
Good Job Aaron. For all you confused by the article, it is about a man who didn't settle and continues to strive for excellence. It also appears that he and wife understand the word SACRIFICE. Finally something refreshing in the paper about hard work and having goals. Something this society has long forgotten.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:14 AM, 12/10/2008
Congratulations to Mr. Clark, for settin' his goals to the highest level. We thank him for his service to our community.
barberton, oh
Posted 09:41 AM, 12/10/2008
Geez, this is a story that you don't ever read. This guy is Superman all over again. Is there anything he can't do ? I'm proud of the guy and I don't even know him. No shortage of wisdom in that family, what a gene pool !!
Canton, OH
Posted 11:18 AM, 12/10/2008
Good luck in the future. If you still live in Boliver good luck with that wonderful drive every day. The article makes everything seem so easy but what I am reading is your a very hard worker along with your lovely wife. She has to be spending a lot of time picking up the slack (Just Kidding)
Good luck to both of you.
Posted 11:54 AM, 12/10/2008
This is the American family that never is read about. Just showes that there is nothing that can't be done if your head and heart are on the right path. A job very well done by former Officer Clark and his proud parents. By the way, the reporter should have asked him if he needed to live in the City of Akron to become a doctor.
All our best from Portage Lakes
Posted 12:30 PM, 12/10/2008
Congratulations, Aaron and go Tusky Valley!
akron, oh
Posted 02:28 PM, 12/10/2008
I'd play doctor with him any day.
Akron, Oh
Posted 04:16 PM, 12/10/2008
Archie, you bad boy. Now, I'm going to have to come over to your house tonight and give you a good licking!!!
N. Canton, Oh
Posted 08:14 AM, 12/11/2008
Congratulations to the Clark Family....How totally awesome! Maybe Joe the Plumber can change his career after Obama gets in office. One never knows! Congratulations again to this very special young man!
