PHOTO CAPTION: (Above) Ferris President David Eisler speaks at a past edition of The
Ferris Foundation for Excellence Benefit. (Below) Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast
Aly Raisman will be keynote speaker at the 19th Ferris Foundation for Excellence Benefit, to be held Friday, November 10, at the
DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
A gold medal-winning performer, and two-time captain of the 2016 U.S. Olympic gymnastics
team, Aly Raisman, has been named as the keynote 
speaker for The Ferris Foundation for Excellence Benefit, to be held Friday evening,
Nov. 10, at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Raisman joined Gabby Douglas as the only American gymnasts with back-to-back team gold medals, as the “Final Five” competitors from the U.S. team managed to outpoint the field at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Raisman has a total of six Olympic medals, which includes the individual gold in the floor exercise in London, England, in 2012, and a silver medal in that event, in Rio. She is contemplating her prospects with regard to competing in the 2020 games, in Toyko, Japan, and her autobiography, “Fierce: How Competing For Myself Changed Everything,” will be released in mid-November.
Carla Miller, executive director of The Ferris Foundation, said they are excited to have the Needham, Massachusetts native as the keynote speaker, on Nov. 10.
“Aly’s involvement is generating excitement among our supporters,” Miller said. “Her experiences as a competitor, with the ‘Fierce Five’ in 2012, and returning to lead the ‘Final Five’ last year will make for an interesting presentation.”
WOOD/WOTV Television's Maranda will collaborate as an interviewer, during Raisman's talk that evening in Grand Rapids.
Miller said the 19th Ferris Foundation for Excellence Benefit provides an annual opportunity to celebrate the learning and collaborative efforts in the university’s classrooms and laboratories, and among its students.
“We are excited to bring alumni, faculty and staff together for what is always a magical evening,” Miller said. “This gathering is indicative of their passion for the mission of Ferris State University and their offering of continued, significant support of our students, staff and faculty.”
Miller added that more than 30 members of The Ferris Foundation Board of Directors will be active on behalf of the university and its programs, beyond their attending the Nov. 10 event.
“These hard-working volunteers will hold their annual meeting, concentrating their attention on focused efforts to gather private resources, all of which is intended to benefit the students of Ferris,” Miller said. “It is an honor to support and serve with them.”
Information on tickets for individuals, emeriti, faculty and staff, as well as sponsorship opportunities for the 19th Ferris Foundation for Excellence Benefit can be received by contacting administrative assistant Kim Erickson ;at (231) 591-2365.