Each year, The Summit FM and the Friends of the Summit Board are honored to award the Dennis Spisak Attitude for Gratitude Scholarship to a Struthers City Schools senior who demonstrates remarkable courage, self-awareness, and a commitment to their own well-being. This year's recipient left our entire committee moved and inspired.

The Dennis Spisak Attitude for Gratitude Scholarship was created to honor those who have faced mental health challenges and found a path forward — not necessarily a perfect one, but a meaningful one. This year's winner embodies that spirit completely.

In her essay, she wrote with striking honesty about a journey that didn't follow a straight line. She described years of quietly struggling — not from one defining moment, but from the persistent weight of anxiety, self-doubt, and a need to appear "perfect" for those around her. Through middle school, high school, and everything in between, she found herself fighting battles that were invisible to most people around her.

What makes her essay — and her story — so powerful is not the struggle itself, but what she chose to do with it. By her senior year, she made a decision: she was going to stop waiting for someone else to tell her she was going to be okay, and start telling herself. She committed to her own health, her own healing, and her own self-worth — one day at a time.

"I give gratitude to myself for realizing my self-worth, and accepting who I am rather than hating myself for it."

Those are her words, and they are exactly what this scholarship is about.

The Summit FM is proud to award her the $1,500 Dennis Spisak Attitude for Gratitude Scholarship as she prepares for the next chapter of her life. We have no doubt she will carry this same courage and honesty with her wherever she goes.

Congratulations to our 2026 recipient. Struthers is lucky to have you — and so are we.

To learn more about The Summit FM's scholarship programs, visit thesummit.fm/scholarships.

By Summit FM General Manager Tommy Bruno

I remember sitting in Chuck Auerbach's car in the radio station parking lot, listening to a new Black Keys record. As the music filled the space between us, he turned to me with unmistakable pride shining in his eyes and said, "He can write a song - I am proud of him." It was such a genuine human moment - one father sharing his pride in his son's accomplishment with another. But this wasn't just any accomplishment; his son Dan had become half of one of the most successful rock duos in the world, The Black Keys.

That was Chuck - unpretentious, authentic, and always celebrating creativity wherever he found it. Our Summit FM family felt a profound sadness upon learning of Chuck's passing on March 29 in Nashville at the age of 75. After suffering a stroke last September, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and passed away surrounded by his family.

Chuck wasn't a musician himself, but music flowed through his veins. Though he played no instrument, he meticulously crafted lyrics that made their way onto The Black Keys' 2003 album "Thickfreakness" and Dan's solo record "Keep It Hid." In his later years, Chuck even released his own album, "Remember Me," produced by Dan and featuring top Nashville studio musicians. He also performed at South by Southwest, backed by Akron's Americana group, Grady-Miller.

Beyond music, Chuck built a 45-year career as an antique and folk art dealer, noted for his eye for textiles and "related oddities." He represented outsider artist Alfred McMoore, whose large-scale works will be showcased in an upcoming retrospective at the Akron Art Museum. Like many Akronites who have shaped our city's creative culture, Chuck followed his path, pursuing passions that transcended conventional categories.

Chuck's final request reveals everything about the man - he wanted to see as much live music as possible. His final days were, fittingly, "filled with song and laughter" as he "bebopped and laughed til the end."

Like us at The Summit FM, Chuck was decidedly left of center, quirky in the best possible way, and deeply devoted to the transformative power of music. He understood what we strive to celebrate daily on our airwaves - that music isn't just entertainment; it's essential to our humanity, a universal language that connects us across all barriers.

Chuck's obituary concludes with a request that seems tailored for our Summit FM community: "In his honor, please support your local music scene." That was Chuck—forever championing the authentic, the creative, and the local. As we remember him, let's honor that legacy by continuing to celebrate and sustain the vibrant music scene that makes Akron unique.

We will miss you, Chuck Auerbach - father, art dealer, lyricist, and true believer in the significance of music in the universe. Thank you for helping to make Akron a more creative and authentic place.

Here’s what our local music community is saying:

“Chuck Auerbach was a wonderful light in the Akron music scene. His sense of humor was unparalleled in that dry, sarcastic, slow draw kind of way. Honored to have been a friend of Chuck’s! He poured into his songs and dang could he write a song.”
— Jeff Klemm

“Chuck Auerbach was always incredibly nice to me over the years. I had the opportunity to grab coffee with him every now and then just to talk about Akron, music, working in addiction care, and everything in between. He was a kind guy who for whatever reason took time to check in with me now and then, and I always appreciated it.”
— Dave Rich

“Rest easy Chuck. I miss those open mic days, seeing you posted up at the bar, listening to everyone intently. I really appreciated the times you and Mary cooked for me, and your encouragement when I was trying to find my footing in a new state during a pandemic. You are loved by many!”
— Gretchen Pleuss

By Summit FM General Manager Tommy Bruno

Stepping into my mother's house is like entering a sensory sanctuary. The space vibrates with life— healthy plants stretch toward sunlight, bowls of fresh fruit offer bursts of color, and, always, there's music dancing through the air. She's mastered the art of perfect volume: loud enough to recognize the melody yet never drowning out our conversations.

The Summit FM has become her household companion, playing simultaneously in three strategic locations: the attic (where it mysteriously keeps mice at bay), her cozy bedroom, and the living room where we gather. While she stays remarkably current with artists like MJ Lenderman and Lola Young, I've realized these daily soundtracks might give her aging brain invisible benefits.

As neurologist Oliver Sacks beautifully expressed: "Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears — it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear."

Science backs this intuition. A comprehensive University of Michigan study surveyed over 2,600 adults aged 50-80 about their musical habits. The findings? Music isn't just entertainment—it's medicine. An overwhelming 85% of participants engage with music several times weekly, and nearly all reported health benefits. Three-quarters found that music melted away stress and sparked joy, while 65% credited music with enhancing their mood and mental well-being.

Watching my mother move through her days accompanied by these carefully chosen Summit tunes, one thought remains constant: there's never a moment of embarrassment about what's playing at her house—only the quiet pride of knowing she surrounds herself with something that nourishes both body and soul.

So the next time you visit your parents, consider turning off that TV and turning on the tunes; they may thank you, and so will we!