President's Letter
From the Alumni Director
On Campus
Applause
From Pac-Man to Haute Cuisine
Fairman, Nisbett and Wall
Homecoming Roundup
The Wacky World of Patents
And the Top Reason for Doing an Internship is...
Bulldog Bites
The Sailor Home From the Sea
Rocket Man
Beyond the Basics
Class Notes
In Memoriam
Alumni Events

President's Letter

   As spring semester progresses, it is marked by a heightened pace of activity. The last few weeks become a very special time as we honor student excellence and academic achievement. It leads up to commencement, one of the happiest times of the academic year, when we draw attention to our graduates and the difference college makes for our students. During the rapid pace of the semester, we become focused on day-to-day issues, but commencement provides the opportunity for us to see and reflect on the life-changing aspects of a college education and the futures it creates for our graduates.
   Commencement never fails to remind me of what higher education can do for people. There is something very moving when I watch our students stride across the stage, proud and self-aware. It is a very, very special moment for our students and their families as they celebrate this life-changing achievement.
   Each new class experiences the University in ways previous students have not. Many current graduates, for example, already have a hard time remembering what Ferris was like before the Ferris Library for Information, Technology and Education opened in 2001. Freshmen entering this fall semester and taking classes in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration or Construction Technology Management will only know the University as home to the Granger Center, which will be fully operational when they arrive for classes.
   All of our new freshmen in the fall will be welcomed by the new Vice President for Academic Affairs, Michael Harris, who comes to Ferris from Eastern Michigan University. Harris brings with him a wealth of experience in helping to shape students’ academic experience. The Class of 2008 and classes to come will benefit from Harris’ presence on campus.
   It is a pleasure to note the continued success of our student-athletes both on the field and in the classroom. Our last issue of Crimson & Gold noted the record-setting academic success of these students. By the end of the Fall 2003 semester, the cumulative grade point average of Ferris student-athletes rose to an all-time high of 3.07. Congratulations to all associated with Bulldog athletics and excellence both inside and outside the classroom.
   On page 22 of this issue, you will find an interview with alumnus Robert Ewigleben whose father, Dr. Robert L. Ewigleben, was Ferris’ 12th president. Also, on page 24, the article “Rocket Man” profiles alumnus Scott Royer and his work at NASA. Both Bob and Scott recently visited Ferris, which gave us a chance to catch up with their careers as well as afforded them the opportunity to see the changes on campus. I hope that you, too, will have the opportunity to visit us, especially if it has been awhile since you graduated. You, our Alumni, are a very important part of the Ferris community, and connecting with you helps us keep our community strong.
   Last spring I was appointed president of Ferris State University. For me, this has been an immensely rewarding and meaningful year. Through careful planning the University has weathered diminished public financial support of higher education without compromising our mission of providing world-class hands-on, career-oriented education. As members of the Ferris community, I hope you will take an active interest in higher education and help us as we seek to promote Ferris throughout Michigan. The Bulldog Advocacy Network (see page 31) is just one of the ways to stay involved. It is an honor and privilege to serve as president of Ferris State University. I am truly excited by both the opportunities and challenges we face.
   I hope you have the opportunity to see the many changes on campus, perhaps during your summer travels or for Homecoming 2004 on Saturday, Oct. 23.
   We look forward to seeing you.

David L. Eisler, President