President Lori Stewart Gonzalez's Favorite Things
As we close out another year together and look forward to holidays, what better way to celebrate than by supporting fellow Bobcats? We have looked across the OHIO Bobcat Neighborhood and Bobcat Authors to find unique, fun and affordable gifts for those you love – and even for you! By shopping from President Gonzalez’s list of favorite things, you'll check off all your gift-buying needs while sharing the sentiment and pride of your alma mater with others.
For Coffee Lovers
Do you know someone who always needs their caffeine fix? River Roasters, owned by Larry Hess, MED '15, has you covered with six different coffee roasts.
Looking for the next coffee brand to obsess over? Pick up a bag of hot or cold brew coffee beans at River Roasters to share with your best buddies! You can find light to dark blends and specialty blends from $14.99-$16.99 per 1 lb. bag from this Pomeroy, Ohio company. Order directly from the company website.
For Brewery Lovers
Check out MKAuthenticCreations, owned by Macy Kuhar, BSN '20, and her “Once a Bobcat, Always a Bobcat” pint glass. Great for the Bobcat who enjoys a cold drink while dreaming of Athens.
This five-star Etsy seller is offering a classy, clear, pint glass adorned with OHIO colors, the Ohio outline and one of our favorite sayings, “Once a Bobcat, Always a Bobcat.”
This pint glass is the just what the OHIO grad in your life wants this holiday season! Pick up a pair of these durable glasses for a friend and yourself. It’s not restricted to beer use; you can recall your favorite OHIO memories while enjoying your favorite refreshing beverage for only $19.78.
For Kids
Ashley Aya Ferguson, BSJ '06, has a book series perfect for the kid in your life. Find stories like “Girl, You Are Magic!” and “Boy, You Are Brilliant!” that are sure to be crowd pleasers.
Check out “Girl, You Are Magic!” a 24-page, empowering poetry book that offers illustrations and words of wisdom to instill confidence and promote self-esteem. “Boy, You Are Brilliant!” offers a smart, poem-centric way to encourage empathy and kindness while broaching stereotypes that deter boys from asking for help all within 30 pages. Find these books for only $20 each.
For New Bobcat Parents
Tim Martin, BFA '10, has made irresistible baby onesies that allow OHIO babies to represent their favorite future stomping grounds.
No excuses to being new to the planet when you can wear the best apparel from birth. OhioisHome.com offers a Kelly green Baby Bobcat onesie and a Marching 110 onesie that will allow your favorite little person to represent your favorite band for only $14 each! Perfect for the newest Bobcat in your life.
For Chefs
Renee Casteel Cook, BBA '04, is a five-star Amazon author who knows traveling is no reason to settle for subpar meals. Find out what’s for dinner with "The Best of Trailer Food Diaries," the origin story of Ohio’s favorite frosty treat in "Ohio Ice Cream, A Scoop of History," and her newest read "Ohio Buckeye Candy: A Sweet History."
Take the advice from this OHIO foodie. Find the best food truck hot spots across the nation, then learn how to make their offerings yourself! Enjoy 224 pages of recipes, culinary stories and food history lessons as you dream of warm weather travels to come in 2024. If skipping to dessert is more your speed, enjoy the history of Ohio’s ice cream spanning from the 1800s to today. Flight isn’t the only origin story in our state, read about the legacy of ice cream making from roadside stands to famous chains. Or, follow along from Amish country to Columbus as the story of Ohio's namesake confection — the humble buckeye sweet treat — comes to life.
Find "The Best of Trailer Food Diaries" on Amazon for $24.99; "Ohio Ice Cream, A Scoop of History" for $19.79; and "Ohio Buckeye Candy: A Sweet History" for $18.39.
For History Fanatics
Katherine Ziff, Ph.D. '04, writes about the Ridges, where we often divert our gaze – "Asylum on the Hill, History of a Healing Landscape."
What really happened in the Ridges buildings? Don’t rely on whispers and legend. You will stay on the edge of your seat reading about the history of Athens’ lunatic asylum, exercising what was once thought of as revolutionary psychological care. View rare photos, maps and letters dating back from the post-Civil War, nineteenth century era about patients, their families and the facility’s campus.
Can be purchased from the Ohio University Press for $20 (paperback) or $35 (hardcover).
For Sentimental Ones
Mallory Righter, BFA '11, designs creative bracelets through her Etsy shop, Maux, using Morse code to reveal messages for loved ones.
Choose a custom made, Morse code design or the designer’s recommended options for the jewelry lovers in your life. Looking for sterling silver or color? There is a bracelet that is just right for your friends and family! Order soon from this five-star shop for a sentimental person in your life! Prices start at $25.
For Sticker Collectors
We all have that person in our group who is a sticker aficionado. Find the perfect sticker to add to their collection from Natterdoodle, owned by Natalie Keller Pariano, BSJ '05, MED '07.
Stick with what you know! If you have a sense of humor and an affinity for stickers, then the colorful options at Natterdoodle will fit the bill. Add one to luggage, a tumbler or a notebook for a fun and uplifting gift option. It’s a little something to make them smile every time they see it. Find a wide range of options – and other gifts – on her website from $3.99 to $10.
For the Strong Women in Your Life
This unique "OHIO's First Women" T-shirt was designed in honor of President Gonzalez's Investiture as OHIO's 23rd President. It pays tribute to some of Ohio University's firsts: the first woman student and grad (Margaret Boyd); the first dean of women (Irma Voigt); the first Black woman faculty member (Francine Childs); the first Black woman grad (Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn); and our first woman president, Lori Stewart Gonzalez. Theirs are stories of blazing trails, pushing boundaries, breaking barriers and lifting others up. The trailblazers in your life will wear it with pride!
Can be purchased from The Bobcat Store for $23.
For Those Missing Athens
The official flower of Athens, Ohio is the passion flower, created by Passion Works Studios, lead by Patty Mitchell, BFA '87. These flowers are the perfect gift for the Bobcat in your life who misses Athens and wants to have a small piece of magic with them.
Up-cycled aluminum printing plates from Athens’ local newspaper are fashioned into small, medium or large flowers that can be used as an accent piece anywhere in the home. Pick your sizes! Prices range from $70 – $110.
For Travelers
The Ohio Paw Flag is one easy way to show off your Bobcat pride while traveling the world. Take a photo while on your adventure with fellow Bobcats and share it with the Ohio University Alumni Association team to be featured in a Bobcat Sighting social media post.
Impossible to Buy for Friends and Family
Is your friend or family member difficult to please? There’s nothing that warms the heart of a fellow Bobcat more than making a financial contribution to an OHIO fund in their name. Contribute to the OHIO food pantry, emergency funds, academic needs, student mental health funds and more this holiday season and give a gift that makes a difference while honoring a current Bobcat student or grad.