Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings! The cool, crisp days signifying the start of another academic year at Ferris have gone, and the winter winds, they are a blowin'!
And what a spectacular fall it was. Homecoming ‘99 provided the momentum to "swing us out of the ‘90s" and into the millennium. Many campus activities provided a great homecoming for thousands of alumni, friends, families and students. I hope you were able to get to campus for this remarkable celebration!

As you read this issue of Crimson & Gold, you'll notice that the central theme is faculty sharing their knowledge. What a great theme to introduce one of our new alumni education programs, "French 100 - French for Travelers and business," designed and taught by our own Professor Dan Noren.

Professor Noren will offer an educational tour to France, May 28-June 10, 2000. An optional WebCT-based French class will be offered prior to the trip as well as held daily during out excursions. Highlights of the journey will include Versailles, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral. We'll visit the legendary beaches of Normandy and visit the American Cemetery at Ohaha, and Bayeux. We'll travel to Mont Saint Michel and the beautiful Chateaux countryside; the impressive Chenonceau Castle in the Loire Valley; the Vaucluse region, including the Fontaine de Vaucluse; Lourdes-Carcassone; Arles, where VanGogh lived; and the Palace of the Popes in Avignon. We'll drive via motorcoach up the beautiful shores of the Mediterranean from Nice to Lyon and spend our last day in Paris for a final day of sightseeing. This program is available to all alumni and friends on either a credit (three academic credits) or non-credit basis. More information is available by calling the Alumni Office, toll-free, at (888) 378-3647. Register early!

If you are a closer-to-home traveler, we also are offering a trip to Toronto, March 31 - April 2. We'll see some of the sights in Toronto, allowing you some free time to explore and shop on your own. The highlight of this trip will be the Broadway production of "The Lion King." This is a fantastic production and one you won't want to miss! Call today for your reservations.

Check the alumni events calendar to see when we'll be visiting your area. Alumni events are planned in several locations around the country in the spring of 2000. I hope to see you at the one nearest your home. If you can work it into your plans to visit campus, you'll be amazed at the progress of the new Ferris Library for Information, Technology and Education. Many of you will be surprised that the town of Big Rapids has changed so drastically. We're not quite Grand Rapids-size yet, but we're well on our way! Visit soon - I look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,

Dawn Dempsey ('78)