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Ferris Foundation Announces 2009 Exceptional Merit Grant Awardees

BIG RAPIDS – The Ferris Foundation Board of Directors extended $50,000 in Exceptional Merit Grant Awards to 10 faculty members. Recommended by the Gifts and Grants Committee, the following proposals will receive a portion of the funding:

  • Charles Bacon, professor, Physical Sciences – Develop just-in-time learning modules in the virtual world Second Life;
  • Sheila MacEachron, assistant professor, Nuclear Medicine Technology – Provide students with an opportunity to learn advanced nuclear cardiology techniques and practices;
  • James Hoerter, professor, Biology – Establish a controlled environment to maintain and breed zebrafish to support faculty/student research;
  • Robert Most, assistant professor, Electrical Engineering Technology and Computer Network Systems – Initiation of a Robotics Expertise Center to facilitate student learning, applied research and program recruiting;
  • Joseph Lipar, associate professor, Biology – Provide funds to reimburse travel costs for schools visiting the Card Wildlife Education Center;
  • Deborah Ducat, secretary level 3, School of Education – Purchase Dramatic Play and listening center materials to be used at Tot's Place for Early Childhood Education students;
  • Chuck Drake, professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology – Enhance data acquisition and listening capabilities for student projects (baja car);
  • Gloria Lukusa-Barnett, associate professor, Developmental Programs and Curriculum, and Karen GreenBay, SCHOLAR program coordinator – Create a service learning project that allows Ferris students to support soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan;
  • Michael Berghoef, professor, Social Work – Provide students with technology for a variety of interactive activities to enhance cognitive and physical functioning for Mecosta County senior citizens to promote healthy aging;
  • Russ Leonard, associate professor, Automotive Service Technology – Create a bio-diesel laboratory for students to learn about bio-diesel.

The Gifts and Grants Committee develops policies and procedures, and recommends additional resources for Exceptional Merit Grants and Foundation for Excellence Scholarships.

The committee also monitors scholarship awards for compliance with donor specifications, recommends and monitors grant disbursement, and recommends student scholarship recipients for the Foundation Scholarship.

For more information or to make a gift to Ferris State University, please contact The Ferris Foundation at (231) 591-2365 or www.ferris.edu/foundation. Details about establishing scholarships or endowments may be obtained from the Advancement Office at (231) 591-3825.