President's Letter
From the Alumni Director
On Campus
Applause
A Glimpse Behind the Scenes
Get "Serious" About Summer
Homecoming Roundup
The Ultimate Measure of Success
Because of the Paws
Museum of Hateful Things
Bulldog Bites
Bulldogs on the Rampage
An American in Pontlevoy
Black Sea Resorts, Dracula and 2,500 Years of History
Class Notes
Timothy James Bazzett: Reed City Boy
Alumnus Wins "Ultimate Tailgate Party"
In Memoriam
Alumni Events

Crimson & Gold Homepage

On Campus

Optometry Faculty Members Support Building Campaign

    Ferris' Michigan College of Optometry, buoyed by a unanimous show of support from its faculty members, has launched a campaign for a new state-of-the-art optometry building on campus. The "Realize the Vision" building campaign seeks to raise private support to provide appropriate, modern facilities to educate future optometrists to serve the needs of MCO and the regional community.
    MCO faculty gifts or pledges to the campaign total $140,000 - a number that is expected to rise as donors consider naming opportunities for conference rooms, examination rooms and laboratories.
    "The current building, Pennock Hall, was built as a residence hall and as such is hardly an adequate or appropriate facility for the preparation of optometrists in the 21st century," says Dean Kevin Alexander. "A new building, specifically designed to train the optometrist of the future, will bring great value to the Ferris campus and be an asset to the health care of the people of Michigan."
    Despite the limitations of its current facilities, MCO has a reputation for providing the finest optometric training in the United States, producing more than half of the practicing optometrists in Michigan, notes Alexander. A leader in vision care technology, patient care delivery and curricular innovation, MCO is committed to producing graduates who are highly skilled in the art and science of optometry.
    "As the scope of optometric practice has grown more complex, it has become increasingly difficult for MCO to provide the resources and learning environment its students and faculty need and deserve in its current location," says Alexander.
    A new facility is crucial to improving the educational experiences for students and patient care for the many who visit MCO's specialty clinics. "We see children for vision and learning problems and eye-coordination problems," says Mark Swan, associate professor and chief of pediatric and binocular vision service. "I would like a pediatrics reception area that is more inviting for children. A custom-designed building for optometry would also help us to better serve patients with wheelchairs. A new facility would also help our students see more patients for more learning experiences," explains Dr. Swan.
    As part of its $40 million capital outlay budget request to the State of Michigan for fiscal year 2004 and 2005, Ferris has included $25 million for a new optometry building. Critical private support, coupled with University and state funding, will enable Ferris to move forward with plans to build an estimated 80,000-square-foot modern health-care facility with state-of-the-art eye and vision care.
    Ferris officials plan to locate the new facility near the Colleges of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences on the west side of campus to create an educational synergy in the University's health sciences.
    For more information, visit www.ferris.edu/mco and click on "Realize the Vision."

Wheeler Leads Renovation of Swan Building Studio

(L-R) Diane Nagelkirk, President David Eisler, John Wheeler and College of Technology Dean Charles Matrosic at the ribbon-cutting for the Swan Building's new architecture technology studio.

    John Wheeler, chief executive officer of Rockford Construction Company and the Rockford Development Group of Belmont, successfully led a campaign to renovate an architecture technology studio in the College of Technology's Swan Building.
    Diane Nagelkirk, chair and associate professor of the Architectural Technology and Facility Management department, and Mel Kantor, former chair and veteran professor, sought to create a real-world architecture studio that would simulate an office environment, providing the optimal learning experience for students. Their goal was a fluid, functional architectural space containing 22 workstations with privacy screens, small group areas and a cohesive lecture and presentation area.
    During the 2003-04 academic year, Nagelkirk along with Kantor, a long-time friend and former instructor of Wheeler's, took their $35,000 development proposal to the construction executive to discuss fundraising opportunities. The project proved to be near and dear to the heart of Wheeler, who graduated from the program in 1976 and serves on Ferris' Architectural Technology Advisory Board.
    Wheeler volunteered to spearhead the renovation, working with seven other companies to complete the project. Five of the firms donated all or part of their services. Wheeler generously covered all the costs not donated.
    Columbo's Carpets Inc., Custer Office Environments, Detail Painting, Feyen-Zylstra, Handorn Inc., United Commercial Services and Via Design Inc. assisted in the project. Rockford Construction served as project manager for the renovation, putting an additional $10,000 into the remodeling than envisioned in the original plans.
    The result is a dynamic studio serving second-year Architectural Technology students and third- and fourth-year Facility Management students. The studio includes student-friendly workstations and a presentation area with a state-of-the-art projection system.
    Wheeler also sponsors a scholarship for architecture students who continue into Ferris' Construction Management program. He and his wife, Chris, were the major donors for the Wheeler Pavilion built in 2001 at Top Taggart Field.
    Ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the new learning environment for the instruction and study of architectural technology were held Dec. 8 in Swan-205.

Printing observes 50th anniversary

Despite inclement weather, students both past and present in Printing and Imaging Technology Management gathered to celebrate the program's 50th anniversary during homecoming last fall.

    During Homecoming weekend 2004, Alumni and emeriti faculty gathered at Ferris to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Printing and Imaging Technology Management program. Activities included an outing at Katke Golf Course and a welcome tent and dinner hosted by the Graphic Arts Association. More than 50 people attended the event, with alumni representation spanning every decade from the 1960s forward.
    Returning emeriti included Bob Stechschulte from Bluffton, S.C., and Bob Utke from Winter Haven, Fla. "This was a weekend of many firsts," said Utke. "This is our first 50 years, and for the first time a Printing major (senior Crystal Flutur of Ludington) was elected Homecoming Queen."
    The program began at Ferris in 1954. At that time, a certificate in general printing was offered in response to a request by the Michigan Press Association to train skilled pressmen and linotype operators who were in short supply.
    "Over the last 50 years, the department has responded to the needs of the industry by adding a bachelor's degree in Printing Management and most recently, in 2000, a degree in New Media Printing and Publishing," said Pat Klarecki, department chair.
    Ferris is the only four-year Michigan campus to offer bachelor's degrees in those areas of concentration.

Alumni Building Celebrates 75th Year

Emeritus Professor Dacho Dachoff offered remarks at the 75th anniversary of Ferris' landmark Alumni Building.

    Last fall the University celebrated the 75th anniversary of the oldest building on campus with a ceremony sponsored by the History Commemoration Task Force in the historic Alumni Building.
    President David Eisler and Dacho Dachoff, emeritus professor and former special assistant to the president for the arts, offered remarks. Dachoff directed the Ferris Bands in the mid 50s and early 60s when they rehearsed and presented concerts in the Alumni Building.
    Construction on the building, originally envisioned as "The Woodbridge N. Ferris Memorial Building," started in early 1929, about a year after Mr. Ferris' death. Gerrit Masselink, who then led the Institute, worked tirelessly to raise $20,000 for the building, even walking through rainstorms to solicit project pledges from local businesses. Tragically, Masselink died of pneumonia shortly before the groundbreaking.
    Thirteen members of the first Ferris Institute graduating class attended the building dedication on Oct. 19, 1929. The facility was state-of-the-art with new classrooms and a gymnasium for the Institute's budding athletic teams. The building also housed dressing rooms and showers for both men and women ­ a progressive concept for the time.
    The Alumni Building was the pride of the Institute for years to come, even the difficult years. On Oct. 29, 1929, just 10 days after the dedication, the stock market crashed, plunging not only Ferris Institute, but the country, into financial uncertainty.
    Dachoff noted the many cultural and technological changes that have taken place since the building's dedication.
    "There were no computers, no jet travel, no commercial television, no cell phones-except in Buck Rogers comic strips," he said.
    Thousands of students went to classes and played or watched athletic contests in Alumni. Watching games was so popular that during at least one basketball season, students received tickets on an odd-and-even basis to attend games on alternating nights. The building also hosted convocation ceremonies.