News Services

Ferris Hosts Thousands of Youth for Summer Camps

BIG RAPIDS – More than a thousand youth, the state of Michigan and beyond, will have kind words about Ferris State University when asked, “Did you do anything exciting this summer?”

Traditionally, youth camps hosted at Ferris have focused on sharpening athletic skills in a variety of sports: basketball, football, softball, hockey, volleyball, tennis, golf and more. While sports camps still rank among the most popular summertime activities for kids visiting Ferris’ campus in Big Rapids, the University has expanded camp offerings. Now, in addition to the physical training of the various athletic camps, young people can also train their brains in a variety of academic-centered camps sponsored by the College of Professional and Technological Studies.

Ferris Grad Travels to Middle East; Advises Barclay’s Bank

BIG RAPIDS – Striking a balance between Islamic culture and modern banking practices presented Mircea Dobre and his team of fellow graduate students from the University of Chicago with quite a challenge: to help Barclay’s Bank (based in the United Kingdom) operate efficiently, find ways to profit, while adhering to Muslim beliefs that prohibit charging and collecting interest.

That challenge was issued and eagerly accepted. Dobre, a 2001 Ferris State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Finance, traveled with his diverse seven-member team on a 10-week mission to the Middle East, with stops in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Cairo. The group also journeyed to London, England, during a period from April through June. To accommodate the trip, Dobre was granted a sabbatical by R.W. Baird, a Grand Rapids-based consulting firm, where he is a senior investment consultant.

Ferris Technology Students Medal in National Skills Contest

BIG RAPIDS – A well-prepared group of Ferris State University College of Technology students proved worthy of spots on a national stage as they matched knowledge and skills against the best of their peers in a prestigious industry skills competition in Missouri.

The group of nine Ferris students participated in the 44th National SkillsUSA competition in June in Kansas City. As a team, the students excelled against the nation’s best, but two in particular brought a little hardware back with them to Michigan. Michael Fleming, a native of Hazel Park, won the bronze in Graphic Communications while teammate Andrew Snow, a native of Belmont, claimed the bronze in Technical Drafting in a premier technology event for students, according to team adviser Daniel Wanink.

Ferris Board of Trustees Approve Charter Schools Board Appointments, Software Purchases

BIG RAPIDS – The Ferris State University Board of Trustees approved several charter schools items during a regular meeting of the board today (July 9), including board appointments and software purchases.

The board approved a five-year contract between Corporate Computer, Inc. for the purchase of a Web-based computer program to monitor the compliance of each University-authorized public charter school academy in following statutes, rules and terms of their contracts. Trustees also approved a one-year contract with Scantron to provide online testing services to Ferris-authorized charter schools using its Performance and Achievement Series software.

Ferris Board of Trustees Approve Tuition, Room and Board Increases

BIG RAPIDS – The Ferris State University Board of Trustees approved a 6.3 percent increase in tuition and a 3.9 percent increase in room and board rates for the 2008-09 academic year during its regular meeting July 9.

The board also approved a 13.9 percent increase in University-based scholarship funding from $11.17 million to $13.03 million to help offset increases in tuition, and room and board.

Ferris Board of Trustees Approve Property Purchase, Professional Services Contracts

BIG RAPIDS – The Ferris State University Board of Trustees approved three professional services contracts, as well as the purchase of property, during a special meeting of the board Friday, June 20.

The property purchased is located on the corner of Perry and South State streets at 920 S. State St. – the former Citgo gas station – at a cost of $370,000. As part of the land purchase, the seller, Wachovia SBA Lending, Inc., has agreed to demolish the building, as well as remove all underground storage tanks, piping and associated facilities from the premises in accordance with requirements outlined by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, said Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance Rick Christner.

Ferris Students Help Uninsured Save Their Eyesight

BIG RAPIDS – Students in the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University are helping those in need, while gaining valuable hands-on experience in a real-world setting.

“Many of our patients are diabetic, have glaucoma or some other eye disease which needs treatment,” said Beth Tonkery, 4th-year Optometry student from Allen Park, Mich. “Some of the patients we see have not had the care necessary to minimize complications from their disease…because they are unaware of the condition, they aren't able to find a doctor who takes their insurance, or they simply cannot afford it. We are now there to help those who need it the most – and that feels really good.”

Ferris Students Rock Documentaries

BIG RAPIDS – Forty Ferris State University-Grand Rapids students and an innovative professor eager to add a little spice to the educational experience added an interesting twist to the oftentimes dry concept of creating a typical documentary.

David Baker’s Digital Animation and Game Design 180-Video Editing class managed to rock the normal brand of documentary to create a unique and practical brand of storytelling for local bands: “Rockumentaries.” The class, according to Baker, “studied a VH1 Classic Video’s Rockumentary to learn how to create this film genre.” The students’ five-week assignment had a dual mission: Promote local bands in the Grand Rapids area and learn the ins and outs of creating a documentary – including the processes involved in editing video and presenting a finished product. Baker, who was the executive producer of the project and steered the students’ efforts, wanted the students in his class to learn and enjoy the experience at the same time.

Ferris reports fifth consecutive summer enrollment record

BIG RAPIDS – Summer is generally a time for students to take a break from studying, but at Ferris State University more students are hitting the books this summer. This is the fifth consecutive year enrollment has been up at Ferris, with 5,614 students enrolled in summer coursework systemwide.

At this time last year, there were 5,358 students enrolled systemwide. University officials attribute continuing growth to several factors, including a free summer room and board initiative; and a much better variety of course opportunities available in four-week, six-week, eight-week and 12-week summer class sessions.

Thapa receives 2008 Distinguished Teacher Award

BIG RAPIDS – Teaching for Dr. Khagendra Thapa means making a difference in the lives of others. Thapa’s colleagues agree, and have named the professor of Surveying Engineering Ferris State University’s 2008 Distinguished Teacher.

An honor bestowed upon one faculty member each spring, the Distinguished Teacher Award recognizes Ferris faculty for their teaching excellence.

Ferris softball team helps build homes, hope in Houston

BIG RAPIDS – Rachel Wade, like many of her fellow Ferris State University student-athletes, swelled with a sense of pride as she joined hundreds of her peers in a concerted effort to create homes and hope for families in need.

Last week, the National Collegiate Athletic Association joined with Habitat for Humanity International as part of the weeklong Division II Spring Championships Festival in Houston. With roughly 800 student-athletes taking part in various national championship sporting events in Houston, including Ferris’ softball team, the opportunity to give something back to a local community was too good to pass up. The NCAA and Habitat for Humanity teamed up to help build 10 houses in south Houston during teams’ breaks in competition.

Ferris Formula SAE team hits the speedway

BIG RAPIDS – Students from Ferris State University are hitting the track in Brooklyn at the Michigan International Speedway today (May 16) and tomorrow to experience their own version of Speed Racer during the Formula SAE Event.

Started in 1981, Formula SAE is an educational competition that challenges university undergraduate and graduate engineering students to design, build and compete in scaled-down, Formula-style autocross race cars. The cars are complete with a four-stroke piston engine that has a displacement not exceeding 610 cc per cycle.

Paul Doyle receives Distinguished Alumni Award

BIG RAPIDS – Paul Doyle, of Paul T. Doyle and Associates, LLC, received the Ferris State University Distinguished Alumni Award during the University’s Spring Reunion banquet.

Doyle, a 1979 graduate of Ferris’ College of Education and Human Services, has been working in the health care industry in West Michigan since 1985. As former director of Community Health Strategy for the Spectrum Health Healthier Communities department, he supported the creation of innovative strategies and programs to improve the health of West Michigan.

Ferris professor seeks new generation of sunscreen

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris State University Biology professor James Hoerter is spending the month of May, which is Skin Care Awareness Month, in Dublin, Ireland, concentrating on research that could result in a new generation of sunscreen.

Hoerter is conducting his research at the Dublin Institute of Technology’s FOCAS Institute/Radiation and Environmental Science Research Center through June while on a Fullbright fellowship that began in January.

John Hare receives honorary doctoral degree

BIG RAPIDS – John Hare received an honorary doctoral degree from Ferris State University during a May 10 spring commencement ceremony for the College of Business.

Hare served as president of ABC Radio’s 72 stations nationwide from February 1999 until his retirement in the spring of 2007. Previously, he was group president of ABC-Owned Radio Stations since 1997. In this capacity, he was responsible for stations in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Detroit and Washington, D.C.

Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick receives honorary doctoral degree

BIG RAPIDS – Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick received an honorary doctoral degree from Ferris State University during a May 9 spring commencement ceremony for the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Pharmacy, and Professional and Technological Studies.

Now in her sixth term serving Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Kilpatrick oversees the budgets of more than 20 governmental agencies, including the Treasury Department, National Credit Union Administration, Postal Service and the Small Business Administration. As a member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, she helps determine funding for the Department of Homeland Security. She is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee and its newly created Financial Services Subcommittee.

FPW names Horn its Woman of the Year

BIG RAPIDS – Cindy Horn of Hawkins, interim director of University Recreation, has been named the 2008 Ferris Professional Woman of the Year.

The Ferris Professional Women annually recognizes an outstanding woman on campus who has stimulated the awareness of women by participating in activities to enhance the status of all women, encouraging women to exercise their rights and roles in the Ferris community and continuing to be a model of professionalism to students and other colleagues.

Ferris opens doors to better career path for graduate

BIG RAPIDS – For Welding Engineering Technology senior Tim Mikel choosing Ferris State University as his stepping stone to a better career path was a no-brainer – hands-on learning and caring faculty sold him from day one.

What also sold Mikel on Ferris was the prospect of job security in a career field that would not only be a new challenge to the Chicago native, but mesh well with his more than 8 years of experience working in the real world as a test engineer.

Take a glimpse into Ferris history through postcard display

BIG RAPIDS – Norman Peterson, Ferris Arts and Sciences professor emeritus, is bringing Ferris’ history to life during National Postcard Week May 4 through 10 with his donation of 32 postcards to the Ferris Archives.

Twelve of the historic Ferris post cards will be on display in the FLITE Library main lobby through the end of May. The postcards were unveiled today (May 6) during an 11 a.m. ceremony.

Former Ferris football prospect beats the odds to overcome spinal cord injury, walk across stage to receive diploma

BIG RAPIDS – During the last two years, Jim Bourdlais of Newberry has made a habit of triumphing over adversity and beating otherwise long odds.

On Jan. 15, 2006, Bourdlais’ life endured a cruel twist of fate as he was involved in a serious car accident during a harsh stretch of winter near the town of Barryton in Mecosta County. Emergency personnel used the Jaws of Life to extract Jim and his brother, Bill, from their vehicle.