Ferris State University's Center for Leadership, Activities and Career Services plans
to press on, enthusiastically, with a modified version of its annual Torchbearer Awards,
which highlight student leadership and service. This spring marks the Torchbearer
ceremony's 20th anniversary. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration
will be hosted virtually.
This spring, CLACS will celebrate a week of leadership and service beginning Monday, April 27 and running through Friday, May 1. Everyone interested will have an opportunity to follow along through a variety of mediums, including the CLACS social media accounts and other outlets.
"We are all very excited to announce our week-long VIRTUAL Torchbearer Ceremony Celebration which will be highlighted on our CLACS social media, as well as across campus in Bulldog News, University-Wide Notices, the Torch and our university social media," said Noelle Kraus, a native of Edwardsburg, Michigan and a third-year senior majoring in Biology, Pre-Medicine with a French minor. "We can't wait to showcase and celebrate all of our students and the work they are doing to impact our campus and community."
Among Kraus' roles, in the CLACS office, she facilitates recognition of the leadership and service that Ferris students complete.
"With unforeseen circumstances causing the closure of classes and campus, we knew we didn't want our students and their work to go unnoticed or unrecognized," Kraus said. "How exactly we turn an annual Torchbearer ceremony into a virtual event didn't seem like an easy task. Yet, we knew we couldn't lose this opportunity to recognize our excelling students."
The Torchbearer Awards annually includes specific honors for students who achieve excellence in their leadership efforts. These honors have generally included the Rising Star and Torchbearer awards.