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President's Letter |
Andrew Kantar, professor of English, recently published Black November, the story of the tragic shipwreck of the limestone carrier Carl D. Bradley. The Bradley was ripped in half during a Lake Michigan storm on Nov. 18, 1958. Black November, published by Michigan State University Press, is Kantar’s second book about Great Lakes shipping disasters. 29 Missing, which chronicles the famous Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck, was designated a Notable Book by the State of Michigan. In reviewing Black November, Thomas Farnquist, executive director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, writes, “Kantar takes you on an emotional journey into the minds of the dying, the survivors, and the unbearable sorrow borne by a small Michigan community who suffered the loss of so many of their own brothers, husbands, fathers, and sons.” The Bradley became the largest ship in Great Lakes’ history to vanish beneath the waves. Thirty-three crew members perished, most of them from the small town of Rogers City. In the end, 23 women became widows and 53 children were left fatherless. Nevertheless, Black November is also a story of hope, recounting the fate of two of the ship’s crew, who survived for 15 hours on a life raft in gale-force winds and 25-foot waves. Kantar wrote both books to appeal to adult and young adult readers alike. He is currently at work on a third volume. James Earl Jones Headlines Ferris Foundation Benefit
More than 460 people attended the eighth annual Foundation for Excellence Benefit. The event, held on Nov. 3 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Mich., raised more than $60,000. Proceeds promote excellence among Ferris State University students, faculty and staff through the Foundation for Excellence Scholarship program, Exceptional Merit Grants Award program and other University endowments. Big Rapids business owner and Ferris Foundation Chair Gary Trimarco welcomed guests to the benefit. Professor and Exceptional Merit Grant Award recipient Dan Skurski from the College of Technology, spoke on behalf of all the merit grant award recipients. Scholarship recipient Lynda Canham also spoke about the importance of financial support for Ferris students. Celebrated actor James Earl Jones headlined the evening. Jones, who grew up on a small family farm near Dublin, Mich., in Manistee County, has had a long and varied career. In film, he is perhaps most famous for providing the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars series, as well as portraying the J.D. Salinger-inspired character Terence Mann in Field of Dreams. On the stage Jones won a Tony award for his starring role in The Great White Hope. On television, his is the voice that intones, “This is CNN.” Jones was interviewed by WZZM-TV 13 news anchor Juliet Dragos, reviewing Jones’ life in Michigan, his love of the arts and his career on stage, screen and television. The University and the Foundation express their gratitude to the following businesses and individuals for their support: Platinum Sponsors: Barnes & Noble; Wolverine Power Marketing Corp. Silver Sponsors: A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc.; BlackBoard; Chevron Energy Solutions; Dell; Dave and Patsy Eisler; Gary Trimarco Chevrolet; Granger Group; Independent Bank; Rockford Construction. Bronze Sponsors: Aon Consulting; Capitol National Bank; Central Vending; Chemical Bank; Clark Construction; Commercial Equipment Company; Dewpoint; Dykema Gossett; Edward Jones Investments; Essilor Lenses; Fifth Third Bank; Fund Evaluation Group; Genzink Steel; Griffith Builders; Gordon Food Service; Hobsons, Inc., Hubbel, Roth and Clark; Huntington National Bank; Isabella Bank and Trust of Mecosta County; Mercantile Bank of Michigan; Mika, Meyers, Beckett & Jones; Neumann/Smith & Associates; Nortel Networks; Pace and Partners; Plante & Moran; Quizno’s; Ken and Barbara Reuther; Rite Aid; Seating Concepts, Inc.; SunGard SCT; Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett; Voice Data Systems, LLC. Table Sponsors: Richard Cochran; Kevin and Patti Cross; Dave and Carol Drake; Dr. and Mrs. Robert Ewigleben; Patricia Gabriel; Granger Construction; Kevin and Shelley O’Brien. The Ferris Foundation, through events such as the Foundation for Excellence Benefit, seeks to provide opportunities for students, faculty and staff that otherwise may not be available. Broadband Brings Bulldogs to Fans
B2 Networks is a premier provider of reliable and secure international television and video broadcasting systems. Working with organizations such as the National Lacrosse League, the AHL, ECHL, UHL, USHL and NCAA institutions, B2 is a leader in innovative direct-to-home, mobile and television broadcasting. For further information, contact athletics events, facilities and marketing manager Mike Haggerty at (231) 591-2852. Marketing Expertise Garners Honors, Invitation
Last November, Marketing professor Susan K. Jones traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the guest of the Asociación de Marketing Directo e Interactivo de Argentina. Jones worked with 70 Argentine marketing professors on the writing, publishing and teaching of direct marketing case studies. She also shared some of the top trends in U.S. direct and interactive marketing with a group of Argentine marketing professionals. Jones has authored, co-authored or edited more than 20 books on time-management, collectibles and marketing. Recent titles include Creative Strategy in Direct & Interactive Marketing (third edition) and Marketing Convergence. In August 2006 she was named a charter Master Direct Marketer by the Chicago Association of Direct Marketing (CADM). Just before traveling to Buenos Aires, Jones was honored as a “Woman of Achievement” at the 2006 YWCA West Central Michigan “Tribute” awards. The award citation noted that, “With a career of more than 34 years, she has paved the way for women in Marketing and Advertising. She is active in various community leadership positions including The Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids.” In November, Jones was elected president of the Arts Council for a two-year term. Jones teaches direct marketing, business-to-business advertising, advertising copy, advertising management, e-commerce marketing, and other marketing, advertising and public relations courses. She developed and leads Ferris State’s e-commerce marketing concentration. She also teaches the first undergraduate direct marketing and business-to-business classes ever offered via the Internet, as well as two e-commerce marketing classes via Internet. |
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