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Winner Announced in Contest to Name Sculpture

To Strive, To Seek, To FindThe Festival of the Arts’ executive board is pleased to announce the winning entry in the competition to name the sculpture honoring Ferris State University’s 125th anniversary.

Christine A. Vonder Haar, associate professor in Ferris’ Department of Languages and Literature, submitted the winning entry, "To Strive, To Seek, To Find.” In all, the board received 80 entries.

Vonder Haar said that an Alfred Lord Tennyson poem inspired her: “Tennyson is one of my favorite poets, and every time I drive by the sculpture, I think of the line from his poem ‘Ulysses.’” Vonder Haar is also the coordinator of the university's English Education Program.

The sculpture was designed by Ferris professor Robert Barnum and his art students; it was then fabricated by professor Dave Murray and his welding engineering students. Donated to Ferris State University as part of the 2010 Festival of the Arts, the work depicts three human figures holding spheres and is located on the south side of Perry Avenue near 215th Avenue.

Bruce Dilg, chairperson of the Festival of the Arts, said, “I'm sure this name will help this sculpture to become a vital part of the Big Rapids and Ferris communities.”