MIKE WISSINK RECEIVES 2006-07 PETE PETERSON PRIDE AWARD

Campus Pastor Honored For Outstanding Service To Bulldog Athletics

The award, which is named in honor of former Ferris State Athletics Director and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Commissioner Pete Peterson (1964-79), is presented to an individual who has demonstrated loyalty and unselfish support of Bulldog Athletics. The award, which was reinstated following the 2002-03 athletics season after a seven-year absence, recognizes outstanding service and support from those outside the athletics department staff. Coaches and athletics department staff nominate individuals to be considered which are selected from alumni, community members, university faculty or staff member, and a fan. A committee from the administration staff of intercollegiate athletics, as appointed by the athletics director's office then makes the final selection.

Wissink, who presently serves as the campus pastor for the Fellowship of Christian Students at Ferris State University, has spent countless numbers of volunteer hours working with Bulldog teams, coaches and student-athletes in an advisory role. As a campus pastor, he also works with FSU's Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) chapter.

His roles have included serving as the Bulldog football squad's team building coordinator the past four years along with being a team chaplain for the FSU men's basketball program the last five years. His ministry work has also branched out into other squads including the women's basketball and soccer teams in recent years. During his time supporting Bulldog Athletics, Wissink has also helped provide spiritual guidance to various coaches along with leading team devotions and prayer for a number of Ferris athletics programs.

In 2005, Wissink helped organize and travel with a group of 23 Ferris students and FCA members, which included several FSU student-athletes, on a spring break trip to Engelhard, N.C., where they helped construct and build a 60-x-80 foot church addition in an area devastated by Hurricane Isabelle.

Wissink's also been involved with a number of other community activities and local organizations which have provided support to Bulldog Athletics thru his church involvement over the years.

"Pastor Mike's been involved in our program since I've been at Ferris and has always been so supportive," said FSU men's basketball head coach Bill Sall. "He's a tremendous inspiration for our student-athletes in the way he leads his life and has been someone they can turn to in times of need.

"Without question, he's been a tremendous ambassador for Bulldog Athletics and has done an outstanding job of helping our athletes in their daily walk," Sall added.

Wissink started his involvement with Bulldog Athletics during Sall's previous stint as an assistant men's basketball coach from 1995-98. He is the 19th individual affiliated with FSU Athletics to receive the "Pete Peterson Pride Award", which initially began following the 1981-82 athletics season.

"He's been such an inspiration to our entire coaching staff in the department," said FSU women's basketball head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk. "Pastor Mike challenges us to be better people in all walks of our lives. In addition, he tremendously cares about the welfare of our student-athletes and is one of our strongest supporters.

"He always seems to show up at the right time with a smiling face to pick us up," she added.

FSU Athletics Director Tom Kirinovic also echoed those sentiments.

"In the educational setting in which we work, it takes many people working together to teach the life-lessons that are so important in the development of our student athletes," he said. "Mike has been a tremendous teacher and supporter in this process for not only our student athletes, but also our coaching staff. We are forever indebted to him for those efforts."

Pete Peterson Bulldog Pride Award Recipients
2006-07 – Mike Wissink (Team Chaplain, Team Building Coordinator)
2005-06 – Paul Quick (Ticket Manager, Business Operations)
2004-05 – Sueann Walz (Local Businesswoman, Financial Supporter, Fan, Blueline Club Member)
2003-04 – Paul Davis (Ticket Manager)
2002-03 – Dick Hawkins (Dean, Blueline Club Member)
1995-96 – Rich Currie (Local Businessman, Bulldog Club Member, Bulldog Football’s “Number One Fan”)
1994-95 – Lyn Hanson (Bus Driver, Fan)
1993-94 – Judd Folske (Baseball Head Coach, Assistant to Athletics Director)
1992-93 – Dean Davenport (Athletics Director, Administrator, Coach)
1991-92 – Rachel Snyder (Associate Professor, National Anthem Singer, Athletic Advisory Committee Member & Chair)
1990-91 – Bill Scheible (Alumni Director, Bulldog Club Member, Athletics Business Manager, Assistant to Athletics Director, Ewigleben Ice Arena Manager)
1989-90 – Tom Cook (CCHA Institutional Representative, Dean of Gerholdz Institute for Lifelong Learning, Administrative Consultant)
1988-89 – Carma Burcham (Assistant Registrar For Athletic Eligibility, Bulldog Club, Blue Line Club, Fastbreak Club)
1987-88 – John Allshouse (Athletics Associates Board Member and President, Fund raising event organizer)
1986-87 – Bob Leach (Alumni Affairs Director, Assistant Vice President For Alumni and Development, Head Football Coach, Development Officer)
1985-86 – Tom Walsh (Dean, Official Timekeeper, Athletic Associates Member)
1984-85 – Bill Buckingham (Public Address Announcer, Associate Vice President For Student Services)
1982-83 – Tim Pendell (Sports Information Director)
1981-82 – Dr. Frederick Birkham (Health Center Director)