Fall 2007 Newsletter

Woodbridge N. Ferris opened Big Rapids Industrial School with 15 students in September 1884. Two rented rooms on the northeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Elm Street housed what would be Ferris State University's modest beginning.

The students back then were very similar to today's students, young adults eager to learn with a lifetime of hope ahead. Tuition in 1886 was just $8 for one term (12 weeks) of common English. For less than one term, a per week charge was $.75.

Fast forward 123 years later to 2007, and enrollment is at the highest it's ever been, with 13,087 students filling classroom seats system-wide. Current tuition for one year, plus room and board, is $16,346. How times have changed!

Today, more than 83% of students qualify for some form of financial aid including scholarships, long-term loans or part-time employment. The financial need of Ferris students surpasses the national average of 63 percent.

But for three Ferris students, life will be a little easier financially thanks to The Ferris Foundation and those who contribute to the need-based Foundation for Excellence Scholarship Fund.

Bridget Burns, Emily Jarvis and Rosalind McDonald are upperclassmen who received the Foundation for Excellence Scholarship this fall. Each scholarship equals 25 percent of the value of full-time tuition.

After graduating from Big Rapids High School, Burns ventured out on her own and earned a bachelor's degree in teaching. However, with teaching jobs lacking in the state of Michigan, she decided it would be wise to return to school again, this time a little closer to home. She went with her heart and followed in her mom's footsteps, and enrolled in Ferris' Nursing program.

"I knew Ferris had a great reputation for making its graduates employable after graduation," shared Burns.

As she wasn't expecting a second career choice so soon after receiving her first degree, finances were tight, despite working to save money for tuition and related costs.

"I was still coming up short for tuition and books, even after saving," relayed Burns. "This scholarship couldn't have come at a more opportune time for me. It is very much appreciated, by me and the others who received the scholarship."

In April 2008, Burns will earn her associate degree in Nursing. She hopes to become a registered nurse by June 2008 and plans to further her education and receive a master's degree in Nursing Education.

Jarvis, also a native of Big Rapids, is working on becoming certified to teach special education. Through her coursework, she's had the opportunity to work at Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids with therapists and children who have received brain or spinal cord injuries. This experience solidified her desire to work with children who have special needs.

"Receiving this scholarship allows me to concentrate on my studies and gives me more time to do more volunteer work," shares Jarvis. "This is a win-win situation. I get to work with a great group of kids and give them as much help as I can, and I get experience in a field that I hope to someday work full-time in.

"I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through this semester without the scholarship. Getting the scholarship was a surprise, it was very unexpected. It's helped me and my family out a lot."

McDonald, of Lansing, is a transfer student from Michigan State University. She is a senior enrolled in the Hotel/Restaurant Management program in the College of Business, with the goal of becoming a successful event planner.

"I was really excited when I got the package in the mail about a possible scholarship opportunity," said McDonald. "I didn't even think to apply for any scholarships, even though I needed the help. When they gave me the scholarship, I was even more excited. It helped a lot."

Upon graduation, she will also be receiving special event planning and restaurant and food industry management certificates, which is part of the reason why she wanted to attend Ferris.

"When I found out you could get done with the certificates in a relatively short amount of time, that's when I knew Ferris was the place to be. Plus, the small classes at Ferris give me the ability to have more of a personal connection with my professors, something I didn't have at MSU."

"Given our family resources, I wouldn't have been able to attend Ferris without the help of scholarships and financial aid," is a message often told to President David Eisler as he visits with students who received financial help during their years at Ferris. These three scholarship winners all echo that sentiment.

For us to help current and future students fulfill their educational goals, Ferris State University must turn to private philanthropic support that funds need-based scholarships. The reality is endowed scholarships are absolutely critical if Ferris is to continue to fulfill its mission.

For more information or to make a gift to the Foundation for Excellence Scholarship Fund, please contact The Ferris Foundation at (231) 591-2365 or fsufdn@ferris.edu. You may obtain details about establishing scholarships or endowments by calling the Advancement office at (231) 591-3815.