The Ohio State University Alumni Club of Marion County will hold their annual Big Ten Kickoff at the George Alber Student Center on the campus of The Ohio State University at Marion, 1465 Mount Vernon Avenue, Marion OH.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will begin at 6 p.m.  Dinner will be a Buckeye feast featuring braised boneless beef ribs with loaded potato casserole, farmhouse green beans, vegetable trays, rolls and butter.  Dinner will include ice cream for dessert.  The Ohio State University Pep Band will perform once again, and the auction will begin immediately after guest speaker Antonio Smith, former Ohio State and NFL cornerback. 

Smith is an author, professional development coach, and community activist who has reached unimaginable heights simply because he’s not afraid to fail. His experiences and platform have propelled him to do two simple things: create and inspire.

As an inner-city kid from Columbus, OH, raised by his caring grandmother, Antonio knew to create a better life for his family, he had to excel in academics or athletics. He chose both. Antonio earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University and played football for the Buckeyes, winning a national championship in 2002. He also played three seasons in the NFL for the Colts, Lions, and Bengals. Over the last 15 years, Antonio has used lessons learned on and off the field to help leaders, executives, and high-performing teams reach their fullest potential. No matter your title or position, Antonio will challenge you to reach higher heights while motivating and inspiring you to be the leader you’re called to be!