Crimson & Gold
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Applause |
 Ferris President David Eisler receives the 2008 Hall of Fame alumni award from Christopher Kendall, dean, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Photo by Peter Smith courtesy of U-M. |
Last fall Ferris President David Eisler returned to his alma mater, the University of Michigan, to be honored as a School of Music, Theatre and Dance Hall of Fame inductee. The Hall of Fame was established to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society, their profession, and the U-M School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Inductees include Pulitzer Prize winning composers William Bolcom and George Crumb.
Eisler was a U of M band member during his undergraduate career, becoming the band’s solo clarinetist in his junior year, an honor typically reserved for graduate students. He studied under the tutelage of the late William D. Revelli, a renowned conductor who gave Eisler his first taste of Ferris during a concert at Williams Auditorium.
“I played many concerts with the Michigan Band, but I remember the Ferris visit vividly because I made an error during rehearsal and Dr. Revelli made certain I wouldn’t make that mistake again,” he said. Revelli, also a Hall of Fame member, would become a long-time friend and mentor to the future Ferris president.
Although his main duty in returning to Big Rapids would be to lead the University, Eisler’s undergraduate appearance at Ferris would not be his last area performance. He has played clarinet with the school’s Pep Band and has been a guest conductor for the Ferris Community Concert Band.
President Eisler earned both his bachelor and doctoral degrees in clarinet performance at Ann Arbor, where he met his wife, Patsy. He also earned a master’s degree from Yale University. Before coming to Big Rapids, Eisler served as provost and vice president of academic affairs at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.
Foundation Benefit Reaches New Heights
 Sports personality Dick Vitale was the keynote speaker at the 2007 Foundation for Excellence Benefit. |
The Ferris Foundation’s ninth annual Foundation for Excellence Benefit drew its largest crowd ever on Friday, Nov. 9, as 530 supporters of The Ferris Foundation enjoyed an elegant evening at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. This year’s event raised more than $55,000 for the Foundation. 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.
Sueann Walz, chair of The Ferris Foundation and Ferris Board of Trustees member, welcomed guests to the benefit and introduced the speakers, including scholarship recipient Bridget Burns and Doug Zentz, assistant professor in the College of Technology and Exceptional Merit Grant Award recipient, who spoke about the importance of the support they received from The Ferris Foundation.
Sports personality, basketball analyst and former Detroit Pistons coach Dick Vitale was the evening’s keynote speaker. For more than two decades, Vitale has been calling the shots on ABC and ESPN, bringing the glories of the basketball court to viewers and listeners around the world. He has also appeared on the big screen-playing himself in The Naked Gun, Hoop Dreams, Blue Chips and He Got Game. He engaged the audience, with his usual enthusiasm while talking about the need to share your passions with others. The evening also featured a “Then and Now” video highlighting University history and the importance of alumni and others who have supported Ferris throughout the years.
The University and the Foundation express their gratitude to the following businesses and individuals for their support:
Platinum Sponsors: Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, Inc.; Rockford Construction; Wolverine Power Marketing Cooperative.
Gold Sponsors: Richard and Jennifer Cochran; Dell Computers; The Leona Group.
Silver Sponsors: A.G. Edwards; AT & T, Clark Construction; DiClemente Siegel Design; John and Linda Fenn; Huntington Bank; Peak Positions; Shred Docs; Siemans Building Technologies; Sungard Higher Education; Gary Trimarco Pontiac-Buick-GMC and Gary Trimarco Chevrolet.
Table Sponsors: David and Carol Drake; Dave and Patsy Eisler; Gordon Food Service; Granger Construction; The Granger Group; Linkfield and Cross Agency, Inc.; Wolverine Power Marketing Cooperative.
Bronze Sponsors: A.F.S.C.M.E. Local Union 1609; Alltel; Aon Consulting; Armstrong International; Big Rapids Products; Blackboard; Capitol National Bank; Central Vending; Charter Communications; Chemical Bank; DSA Architects; Edward Jones Investments, Steve Miller; Essilor Lenses; Fifth Third Bank; Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber; Fund Evaluation Group; Greenville Printing; The HGA Group and FSU Dining Services; Hedrick Associates; IKON Office Solutions; Independent Bank; Intelligent Connections; Isabella Bank and Trust; Kelloggs Food Away From Home; Lerner, Csernai and Faith Financial Group; Mercantile Bank of Michigan; Mika, Meyers, Beckett and Jones, PLC; Neumann/Smith and Associates; Pace and Partners; Plante and Moran, PLLC; Quiznos; Saga Communications; Seating Concepts; Service Express; St. Ives and The Villages at Tullymore; Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett, LLP; Voice Data Systems; Lawrence V. Wells, Ph.D.
The Foundation for Excellence Benefit is held every November to grow the endowment that funds student merit and need-based scholarships, as well as merit grants for faculty and staff. For more information, visit www.ferris.edu/foundation.
Murnik Receives Distinguished Teacher Honors
 Biology professor Mary Murnik was named Ferris’ 2007 Distinguished Teacher. |
Hoping someday to head a classroom just like her favorite grade school teacher, Biology professor and 2007 Distinguished Teacher Mary Murnik was probably destined to find her way to Ferris State University.
“Woodbridge Ferris used to walk my great-aunt home if she stayed late working on schoolwork,” Murnik said. Two other of Murnik’s great-aunts and a great-uncle children of Finnish immigrants also attended what was then known as Ferris Institute. “Ferris made a very big difference in their lives.”
The Distinguished Teacher Award is symbolic of the appreciation of University faculty for dedication to and excellence in teaching. In addition to teaching excellence, other criteria for the award are participation in professional development activities, interest in students outside the classroom and laboratory, and distinction as a member of the University community.
Murnik’s commitment in all these areas moved Biology department head Karen Strasser to nominate her for the award.
“I was impressed with the teaching Mary does both in and out of the classroom,” Strasser said. “She mentors students involved in campus groups, as well as independent research projects. Mary remains current in her discipline, regularly attends conferences and makes sure her courses are the best they can be.”
Murnik holds a Ph.D. in Zoology (genetics) and teaches principles of genetics; genetics: human aspects; and evolution. In 1998 she was named Woman of the Year by Ferris Professional Women and also received the Michigan Association of Governing Boards’ Award for Teaching Excellence that year. In 2004 she was honored with the Martin Luther King Social Justice Award. Her research interests include mutagenesis and toxicity of compounds in our environment. She chairs the Pre-Dental Advisory Committee and is a Dental Admission Test Constructor, Biology Content Area, for the American Dental Association. In December she delivered the commencement address at Ferris’ graduation ceremonies.
She is also a Bulldog hockey fan.
PGA President Visits
 David Eiser bestows the title of Honorary Alumnus upon PGA President Brian Whitcomb. |
This past December, Brian Whitcomb, president of The PGA of America, visited campus to address students in Ferris’ Professional Golf Management program during their annual senior banquet.
Whitcomb’s visit underscored the PGM program’s close and long-standing ties with the PGA. Established in 1975, the program is a joint venture with the PGA, designed to prepare students for careers in the golf industry. PGM students earn a bachelor’s degree in business while gaining credits toward membership in the PGA. Ferris’ PGM program was the first of its kind and remains one of the most prestigious.
With more than 850 courses in Michigan, golf is an important part in the state’s tourism industry. Ferris graduates are general or course managers at some of the finest golf facilities in the state, including Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, which is home of the PGA Tour’s Buick Open, and Arcadia Bluffs, which Golf Digest has rated as one of the 10 best public courses in the United States.
In recognition of the mutually beneficial relationship between the PGA and PGM, Ferris bestowed the title of Honorary Alumnus upon Whitcomb during his visit.