A variety of activities commemorating the 134th anniversary of the founding of Ferris
State University will take place on Thursday, Aug. 30, on the main campus in Big Rapids.
The Big Rapids community is invited to join with Ferris’ students, faculty and staff in these events, which are part of the annual Bulldog Beginnings schedule of gatherings and celebrations to start the 2018-19 academic year. Ferris President David Eisler will speak about the legacy of founders Woodbridge Ferris and Helen Gillespie Ferris, while considering the university’s future in an 11 a.m. speech in the University Center Ballroom.
Bulldog Beginnings committee members Angela Roman and Katie Thomas said that by 4 p.m., the North Campus Quad will bustle with excitement and the chance to enjoy a sweet treat on Founders’ Day.
“Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy great food, games and a number of chances to win prizes,” Roman said. “We want everyone to feel welcome in celebrating Ferris, and the values of our founders.”
The spirit of collaboration is a theme that runs strong through Bulldog Beginnings, in general, and Founders’ Day, in specific.
“We will continue the tradition of the Ice Cream Social, which will continue to 6:30 p.m. that evening,” Thomas said. “We are glad to have a wide variety of staff who contribute to the organization and success of these events.”
The Governmental Relations and General Counsel office sponsors the Ice Cream Social.
“We enjoy providing this fun event to welcome the Big Rapids community and students to campus for the start of the new school year,” said Jody Greco, a Governmental Relations assistant. “Our ‘celebrity servers’ are university and community leaders volunteering their time, by simply offering a warm welcome with a generous scoop of ice cream to everyone from the campus and the town.”
Dean of Student Life Joy Pufhal said Founder’s Day is “one of our coolest and most unique traditions, an annual celebration to bring awareness to students of our history, promote our core values of diversity, opportunity, learning, ethical community, collaboration and excellence, and unite us around our vision, focused on ‘…the education of all the people all the time.’”
President Eisler will lead a parade of Bulldog football supporters from the North Campus Quad to Top Taggart Field, as Ferris begins its 2018 season against East Stroudsburg University (Pennsylvania), with the game kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Ferris students with a valid ID will be admitted to the game free of charge.
Click Bulldog Beginnings for more information about this year's activities.
PHOTO CAPTION: Ferris State University’s Founders’ Day celebration, Thursday, Aug.
30 will include the traditional Ice Cream Social, with celebrity servers dishing up
Jones Homemade Ice Cream, beginning at 4 p.m. in the North Campus Quad.