2012 GRCC Student Leadership Banquet

>> HELLO!
HOPEFULLY, EVERYBODY'S ENJOYING THEIR FOOD.
UM, MY NAME IS TONJA
AND I AM THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF STUDENT CONGRESS,
AND THIS IS WHITNEY CUNNINGHAM,
THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF CAMPUS ACTIVITIES.
WE'LL BE THE MISTRESSES OF CEREMONY THIS AFTERNOON.
ON BEHALF OF GRCC, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU...
HERE FOR THE LEADERSHIP BANQUET TODAY.
WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FACULTY
WHO SHOW EX-- EXCUSE ME-- EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP ON CAMPUS
AND OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY,
AS WELL AS HIGHLIGHT
SOME OF THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
>> FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL MUSEUMS
AND ALLOW FREE ACCESS FOR GRCC STUDENTS.
ALSO, STUDENT CONGRESS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAMPUS ACTIVITIES,
HAS OPENED A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT-RUN FOOD PANTRY
THAT SERVES 44 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE EVERYONE FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL YEAR WITH MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS,
AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT
WITHOUT THE TALENTED FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS.
>> IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME MY MENTOR, TINA HOXIE, DEAN OF STUDENT AFFAIRS,
TO GIVE OUR WELCOMING REMARKS.
TINA?
(applause)
>> I WILL BE THE SMALL PERSON SITTING IN THE BIG CHAIR UP HERE.
(audience laughing)
I KINDA FEEL LIKE I'M IN A STORY, YOU KNOW?
UH, IT KINDA FEELS LIKE I'M A LITTLE BIT OF BOOK.
IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO WELCOME EVERYONE
TO THE ANNUAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP RECOGNITION PROGRAM.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THE SEMESTER,
THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL TIME FOR ALL OF US--
FOR OUR FACULTY AND STAFF, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR STUDENTS--
AS WE TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE, TO RECOGNIZE,
AND TO REFLECT ON EVERYTHING
THAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED,
BECAUSE CERTAINLY THERE ARE AMAZING THINGS THAT HAPPENED
AS A RESULT OF EVERYBODY'S EFFORT.
ONE OF THE THINGS, IN THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WANTED
TO MAYBE MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT BRIEFLY THIS AFTERNOON
ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE,
I KNOW THAT IN LEADERSHIP, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO STEP UP.
YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO TAKE ON A VARIETY OF KEY ROLES.
AND CERTAINLY, THAT SHAPES YOU AS A PERSON,
IT SHAPES YOUR STUDENT ORGANIZATION, IT SHAPES OUR ATHLETIC TEAMS,
THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, AND GRCC AS AN INSTITUTION.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE COMMITTED YOUR TIME AND YOU HAVE BECOME INVOLVED,
A GREAT DEAL HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND MANY, MANY THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
NOW, IF YOU KNOW ME, I'D LIKE TO TELL A STORY, IF I CAN.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS THINKING OF IS I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO ACTUALLY BE ON VACATION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AT THE OCEAN,
AND ONE THING ABOUT LIVING IN MICHIGAN THAT'S WONDERFUL
IS THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH WATER AROUND US,
IN TERMS OF THE LAKE AND THE RIVER AND...
SO, YOU KNOW, BEING NEAR THE WATER, I THINK SOMETIMES,
IS A LITTLE BIT A PART OF WHO WE ARE, TOO.
I WAS REMINDED OF THE STORY OF THE LITTLE BOY THAT'S AT THE OCEAN
AND HE'S THROWING THE STARFISH IN,
AND SOMEONE ASKS HIM, "YOU KNOW, THIS IS A FUTILE--
"WHY ARE YOU CONTINUING TO DO THAT?
"AND-- BECAUSE IT WON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE,"
AND HE INDICATES TO THE PERSON,
AS HE THROWS ONE IN, "BUT I SAVED THAT ONE, DIDN'T I?"
I THOUGHT ABOUT, AS I-- WHEN I WAS THERE, I STARTED TO COLLECT SHELLS.
NOW, YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW ME, TOO,
I CAN'T JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE, RIGHT?
SO, I DECIDED-- I DON'T KNOW WHY,
BUT I WAS GONNA COLLECT ONE PARTICULAR TYPE OF SHELL.
YOU KNOW, AS I LOOKED ALONG THE SHORELINE--
AND WE THINK ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP AS THINGS WASH UP AT OUR FEET
AND AS THEY HAVE OVER THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AT GRCC--
IT CAN BE BOTH OVERWHELMING AND IT CAN ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY.
IN THIS INSTANCE, I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO PICK OUT ONE PARTICULAR SHELL,
AND I DECIDED I WAS GONNA SPEND MY WEEK
COLLECTING THAT ONE PARTICULAR ONE...
BUT AS YOU LOOK, AND YOU LOOK AT ALL YOUR OPPORTUNITIES AND, HOPEFULLY--
AND I THINK YOU'VE DONE THIS AT GRCC IN YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLES--
YOU SEE LOTS OF OTHER THINGS AS YOU'RE LOOKING.
WHEN I GOT A CLOSER LOOK AND I FOCUSED JUST ON THAT ONE SHELL,
WHEN I GOT DOWN CLOSER, I SAW THAT SHELL IN DIFFERENT SIZES,
DIFFERENT COLORS, IT WAS THE SAME VARIETY.
I GOT PRETTY GOOD AT IT.
I COULD EVEN SEE IT UPSIDE DOWN.
WHEN I WALKED ALONG THE SHORE,
I SAW THE SHELL UPSIDE DOWN AND I COULD RECOGNIZE IT.
AND I THINK FOR YOUR EXPERIENCES THAT YOU'VE HAD HERE AT THE COLLEGE,
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE SO MUCH MORE
BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD THIS LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE,
AND BECAUSE YOU HAVE-- WHAT I SAID-- STEPPED UP AND BECOME INVOLVED.
SO, FOCUSING HAS BEEN A GOOD THING.
IT'S BEEN A GOOD THING FOR YOU,
IT'S BEEN A GOOD THING FOR YOUR DEVELOPMENT AS A LEADER,
AND IT'S BEEN A GOOD THING FOR THE COLLEGE AS WELL.
AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN, CERTAINLY,
A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED YOU ALONG IN THAT JOURNEY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALSO-- AS YOU WORK WITH THINGS,
YOU TALK WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
NOW, AS I WAS WALKING-- AND I WENT OUT AS MUCH AS I COULD,
BECAUSE DOING THINGS TAKES TIME.
AND IF YOU'RE GONNA GET BETTER AT IT,
YOU SOMETIMES HAVE TO SPEND MORNING, AFTERNOON, AND EVENING.
YOU GOTTA BE AT THERE THE BEST TIME TO GET THE BEST SHELLS,
AND YOU'VE DONE THAT AS WELL.
NOW, I'M NOT A SHY PERSON, AND, BELIEVE ME,
I DID NOT HAVE A T-SHIRT ON THAT SAID, "I'M COLLECTING THIS SHELL--
"WOULD SOMEBODY HELP ME?"
THAT WASN'T A T-SHIRT THAT I WAS WEARING,
BUT PEOPLE STARTED TO ASK ME WHAT I WAS COLLECTING,
AND I SHOWED 'EM IN MY CUP WHAT I WAS COLLECTING.
WELL, THEN, A COUPLE PEOPLE DECIDED TO HELP ME.
YOU KNOW, ONE PARTICULAR PERSON
DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE SHELL I WAS COLLECTING,
AND HE KEPT GOING AND COLLECTING THIS SHELL THAT I WAS NOT COLLECTING
AND KEPT BRINGING 'EM OVER TO ME.
BUT AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T COLLECTING IT,
UM, I LEARNED FROM HIM AND TALKED WITH HIM
ABOUT WHAT HIS EXPERIENCES WERE,
AND I THINK THAT HAPPENS TO YOU.
UM, YOU REACH OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES
AND YOU DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS,
YOU DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
I MEAN, HE GAVE ME THE IDEA THAT WHEN I GO HOME,
I SHOULD GET SOME KIND OF A LAMP AND GLUE THESE SHELLS ON THIS LAMP.
I THOUGHT, "WELL, I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.
"I WAS JUST GONNA PUT 'EM IN A JAR."
OR MAYBE THEY'D NEVER MAKE THEIR WAY OUT OF THE ZIPLOCK BAG THAT--
(audience laughing)
THE GALLON ZIPLOCK BAG THAT I NOW HAVE WITH THAT.
THE PIECE OF NOT BEING ALONE-- AND IT'S ABOUT ENGAGING,
IT'S ABOUT WITH YOUR ADVISORS, YOUR FACULTY, YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS--
YOU'VE ALL WORKED TOGETHER,
AND YOU'VE PROBABLY CREATED THAT LAMP ALREADY.
AND THERE'S MUCH MORE TO CREATE.
WHAT I WANNA FINISH WITH, ON THE VERY LAST DAY--
'CAUSE I DON'T GIVE UP EASILY--
I'M OUT THERE STILL LOOKING FOR THAT PERFECT SHELL.
AND IT'S GOOD TO LOOK FOR THE PERFECT THING,
BUT BECAUSE, ALONG THE WAY, YOU PICK UP SO MANY OTHER THINGS--
I'M WALKING ALONG AND A PERSON COMES UP TO ME
AND SAYS, "ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SHELLS?"
I SAYS, "YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR."
HE GOES, "WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE THIS ONE?"
IT WAS THE LARGEST PERFECT SHELL
OF THE EXACT ONES I WAS COLLECTING,
AND HE GAVE IT TO ME.
JUST OUT OF THE BLUE.
THE SIGNIFICANCE, I THINK, IS THAT LEADERSHIP IS A RESPONSIBILITY
AND IT'S NOT EASY.
IT CAN BE HARD.
I CAN TELL YOU, MY NECK WAS KILLING ME FROM LOOKING DOWN FOR ONE WEEK
LOOKING FOR THESE SHELLS,
AND YOUR NECK, ALONG THE WAY, I THINK SOMETIMES--
SOME MUSCLES THAT YOU USE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT,
WHETHER AS AN ATHLETE OR WHAT YOU DO--
BUT THE PIECE IS, IS THAT YOU NEVER KNOW, OUT OF THE BLUE,
WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE SOMETHING.
AND THAT WAS, BY FAR, THE LARGEST SHELL AND THE PERFECT SHELL THAT I RECEIVED.
AS YOU LEAVE GRCC, MANY OF YOU WILL BE GRADUATING--
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU--
AND YOU PURSUE YOUR GOALS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR GREAT THINGS.
AS YOU TAKE ON, WITH YOU,
THESE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES THAT YOU'VE HAD,
AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD THAT LAMP OR DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO...
FOR OTHERS THAT ARE COMING BACK,
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TIME
THAT YOU'LL SPEND MORE TIME COLLECTING WITH US
AND WE'LL CREATE MORE THINGS.
THOSE THAT ARE GRADUATING, I HOPE YOU WILL COME BACK.
I HOPE YOU'LL BECOME PART OF OUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION,
YOU'LL DECIDE TO MENTOR, YOU'LL DECIDE TO VOLUNTEER WITH US,
BUT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO STAY CONNECTED TO GRCC.
MY WISH FOR ALL OF YOU IN LEADERSHIP IS, "OUT OF THE BLUE, THOSE GIFTS WILL COME.
"BE OPEN TO THAT, AND ENJOY THAT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE,
"AND I KNOW YOU'RE WELL ON YOUR WAY."
THANK YOU.
(applause)
(indistinct speaking).
I TOOK EVERYBODY'S PAPERS WHEN I STEPPED OUT.
(audience laughing)
>> UM, PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.
I'VE GOTTA GET BACK TO WHERE I SHOULD BE.
ALL RIGHT, UM...
ONE THING THAT I FORGOT TO--
UM, A COUPLE PEOPLE I FORGOT TO INTRODUCE
IS TRUSTEE HANDLIN
AND CHAIR VERBURG.
THEY'RE SITTING RIGHT HERE.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR COMING.
(applause)
I AM PLEASED TO BEGIN OUR AWARD PROGRAM AT THIS TIME.
I WOULD ASK THAT ALL OF OUR PRESENTERS AND AWARD RECIPIENTS
PLEASE ENTER THE STAGE TO MY LEFT AND EXIT TO MY RIGHT.
UM, THE FIRST AWARD IS "OUTSTANDING BIOLOGY AWARD."
I WOULD LIKE-- I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE DR. MATT DOUGLAS
AND DR. PAM LAURETO, FACULTY MEMBER IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT,
WHO WILL BE PRESENTING OUR FIRST AWARD OF THIS AFTERNOON
FOR "OUTSTANDING BIOLOGY STUDENTS OF THE YEAR."
SO, DR. MATT DOUGLAS AND DR. PAM LAURETO, PLEASE COME TO THE STAGE.
(applause)
>> IT IS BRIGHT.
WELL, I'M PAM LAURETO
AND THIS IS MY COLLEAGUE, MATT DOUGLAS,
AS YOU WERE JUST INTRODUCED TO.
WE'RE PROFESSORS IN THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT,
AND WE'RE ALSO THE CO-ADVISORS FOR THE BIODIVERSITY CLUB.
AND SO, ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
WE'RE PLEASED TO AWARD TWO OF OUR STUDENTS,
KELSEY HUISMAN AND ELAINE SHEIKH,
UH, THE "OUTSTANDING BIOLOGY STUDENT OF THE YEAR" AWARD
FOR THE 2011-12 ACADEMIC YEAR.
THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA WERE CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION PROCESS--
BREADTH OF BIOLOGICAL STUDY, THE CUMULATIVE G.P.A.,
THEIR EXTRACURRICULAR CONTRIBUTIONS TO GRCC,
COMMUNITY OUTREACH SKILLS, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
SO, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KELSEY HERE,
AND THEN MATT IS GOING TO TELL YOU
WHY ELAINE IS DESERVING OF THIS AWARD.
SO, KELSEY'S ONE OF OUR BIOLOGY MAJORS,
AND SHE HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF COURSES IN THE DEPARTMENT.
SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN A G.P.A. OF 3.75,
WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME,
WORKING 30-PLUS HOURS PER WEEK TO SUPPORT HERSELF
AND PUT HERSELF THROUGH SCHOOL,
AND WE THINK THAT THAT'S A REALLY BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.
KELSEY IS ALSO A STUDENT WORKER IN OUR DEPARTMENT
WHERE SHE HELPS TO PREP FOR THE LABORATORIES,
AND SHE'S ALSO WORKED WITH ME IN TAKING CARE OF THE GREENHOUSE.
UM, SHE'S A TUTOR IN THE BIOLOGY LEARNING CENTER,
WHERE NUMEROUS OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE BENEFITTED FROM HER KNOWLEDGE.
KELSEY IS CO-PRESIDENT OF THE BIODIVERSITY CLUB.
AS A STUDENT LEADER, SHE HELPS RUN THE MEETINGS,
AS WELL AS ORGANIZE FIELD TRIPS AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES.
AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BIODIVERSITY CLUB,
SHE'S LOGGED NUMEROUS VOLUNTEER HOURS
WORKING WITH THE WEST MICHIGAN
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COUNCIL'S RAIN GARDEN,
AND ALSO THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF WEST MICHIGAN.
KELSEY WAS RECENTLY AWARDED
A VERY PRESTIGIOUS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH GRANT
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT FROM PIERCE CEDAR CREEK INSTITUTE.
SHE, ALONG WITH HER RESEARCH PARTNER, ALEX GRAEFF,
ALSO HERE TODAY, WILL BE USING MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES
TO ANSWER ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INVASIVE HYBRID CATTAIL.
AND SO, I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT THIS AWARD,
THIS GRANT THAT KELSEY'S RECEIVED FOR HER PROJECT--
UM, THIS IS THE FIRST GRANT FROM PIERCE CEDAR CREEK INSTITUTE
THAT'S ACTUALLY USING MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES,
AND THAT REALLY IS QUITE A BIG DEAL
BOTH FOR GRCC AND FOR THE STUDENTS,
AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT I'LL BE MENTORING HER IN THAT PROJECT.
SO, KELSEY WILL BE CONTINUING HER EDUCATION THIS COMING FALL
AT NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY,
WHERE SHE'LL BE CONTINUING AS A BIOLOGY MAJOR,
AND HOPES, ALSO, TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH WETLAND PLANTS
AND, PARTICULARLY, INTERESTED IN HELPING TO CONTROL INVASIVE SPECIES.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS, KELSEY.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU.
(applause)
>> WELL... MY NAME IS MATT DOUGLAS.
THEY CALL ME "DR. MATT." (audience laughing)
AND I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF REALLY PHENOMENAL STUDENTS HERE AT GRCC,
MANY OF WHOM HAVE GONE ONTO BE DOCTORS AND LAWYERS, ETCETERA,
PhD PROGRAMS, AND, UM...
ANYWAY, I HAD ELAINE SHEIKH HERE A YEAR AGO-- CORRECT?
AND SHE ALWAYS HAD 100S ON MY TESTS
AND IF I EVER GAVE EXTRA CREDIT, IT WAS 110.
AND I'VE NEVER HAD ANYBODY HAVE SUCH HIGH SCORES CONSISTENTLY IN MY CLASSES,
BECAUSE THEY WERE ALWAYS THOUGHT TO BE "GUT CLASSES"-- REALLY DIFFICULT.
SO, I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS AS TO WHERE MY STUDENTS COME FROM,
AND I SAID, "WHERE DID YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOL?"
AND SHE SAID, "I DIDN'T-- I WAS HOME-SCHOOLED."
AND I SAID, "REALLY?"
'CAUSE I HAD HOME-SCHOOLED MY DAUGHTER FOR A YEAR
AND IT WAS DIFFICULT WITH MY DAUGHTER. (audience laughing)
SO, I SAID, "YOU ARE REALLY WELL-PREPARED,
"AND YOU'RE NOT ASOCIAL
"LIKE THE STEREOTYPICAL HOME-SCHOOLED PERSON
"IS THOUGHT TO BE,"
AND SO, I SAID, "WELL, HOW OLD ARE YOU?"
AND SHE SAID, "I'M 16."
AND SO, I WENT, "UH, 16!?"
AND SHE SAID, "16."
AND SO, SHE'S SETTING A CURVE ON ALL MY TESTS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS,
AND I JUST THOUGHT, "THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE."
AND THEN, I STARTED TO DELVE INTO HER BACKGROUND.
IT TURNED OUT THAT SHE RAISES GOATS-- KIDS.
AND SHE RAISES A LOT OF THEM, AND SHE WINS A NUMBER OF AWARDS
FOR HER EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
AND SO, SHE WAS ALWAYS BUSY GOING TO TAKE CARE OF HER KIDS, AND I GO--
I ALWAYS JOKED ABOUT IT, "SHE'S 'KID'DING AROUND."
BUT SHE REALLY DID TAKE CARE OF HER KIDS.
AND I THINK THAT, AT ONE POINT, SHE HAD A COUPLE DOZEN OF THEM
IN THE BASEMENT OF HER HOUSE, WHICH I FOUND HARD TO BELIEVE,
BUT THAT'S WHAT SHE TOLD ME.
SO, BEYOND THAT, SHE WAS ACTIVE IN THE BIODIVERSITY CLUB.
SHE IS ALSO CO-PRESIDENT, ALONG WITH KELSEY.
AND I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE FOUND TIME
AT THAT AGE TO DO ANYTHING,
'CAUSE MOST TEENAGERS-- YOU KNOW, ONE THING IS PLENTY.
AND I'VE HAD SEVEN KIDS, SO I SHOULD KNOW. (audience chuckling)
SHE JUST WAS ALWAYS EXCELLING IN EVERYTHING SHE DID.
SHE WON THIS YEAR, ALONG WITH KELSEY,
THE PRESTIGIOUS PIERCE CEDAR CREEK AWARD AT THE INSTITUTE.
THAT'S A $7,000 EQUIVALENT SCHOLARSHIP.
AND SHE'S GOING TO BE STUDYING TEMPERATURE REGULATION
IN DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES.
SHE'S GOING TO DETERMINE HOW THEY SPLIT UP THE TEMPERATURE ENVIRONMENT--
WE CALL IT "THERMAL NICHE PARTITIONING," 'CAUSE IT'S MORE SCIENTIFIC.
BUT BASICALLY, SHE'S GOING TO BE COMPARING
HOW THEY DO THESE DIFFERENT THERMAL REGULATORY STRATEGIES.
AND, UM...
SHE ALSO IS A TAE KWON DO INSTRUCTOR.
SHE'S A SECOND-DEGREE BLACK BELT IN TAE KWON DO.
SO, I'M JUST GOING TO ADD ON SOME MORE HERE.
SHE'S A PRIVATE TUTOR.
SHE PLAYS PIANO, FLUTE, MANDOLIN, AND--
>> VIOLIN. >> VIOLIN.
EXCUSE ME-- EASY TO FORGET.
AND BEYOND ALL THIS, SHE HAD A RATHER LOW GRADE POINT-- A 3.967.
SO... (applause)
SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF A BRAIN SHE HAS, FRANKLY.
IT'S GOTTA BE MORE THAN LEFT BRAIN OR RIGHT BRAIN,
BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE--
MUSICALLY TALENTED, MATHEMATICALLY TALENTED,
SHE CAN WRITE REALLY WELL, SHE DOES GREAT ESSAYS,
SHE REMEMBERS FACTUAL MATERIAL.
WHENEVER I ASK HER TO DO SOMETHING, IT'S DONE.
AND I ALWAYS ASK MY STUDENTS WHO SEND ME TEXTS, YOU KNOW,
TO REMIND ME THINGS-- SHE'S ALWAYS RELIGIOUS ABOUT THAT.
SO, IT'S JUST A PHENOMENAL--
YOU KNOW, I'VE JUST HAD A PHENOMENAL TIME WITH ELAINE.
SO, I'M VERY HAPPY TO PRESENT THIS CO-AWARD TO HER.
(applause)
THANK YOU!
YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. >> THANK YOU.
>> YOU ALWAYS DO. >> CAN I HAVE THE MIC FOR A SECOND?
>> PARDON? >> CAN I USE THE MIC FOR A SECOND?
>> YES.
>> OKAY, I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'D REALLY LIKE TO THANK THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
AND DR. LAURETO AND DR. MATT FOR PRESENTING KELSEY AND I WITH THESE AWARDS.
I'M REALLY HONORED.
I CAME INTO GRCC THINKING IT WAS JUST GOING TO BE A STEPPING STONE
AND I COULDN'T WAIT TO MOVE ON,
AND THESE HAVE BEEN THE BEST TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE.
I HAVE REALLY GROWN A LOT AS A PERSON,
AND ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELD OF BIOLOGY,
I HAVE JUST BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE SO MUCH AND COME SO FAR.
AND DR. PAM AND DR. MATT,
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR BEING MY MENTOR.
YOU GUYS ARE MY HEROES,
AND YOU GUYS HAVE COME TO MEAN SO MUCH TO ME.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US.
(applause)
>> UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT,
AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK DR. MATT AND DR. PAM.
THEY'VE REALLY HELPED ME ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS THAT I'VE SET FOR MYSELF,
AND THEY'VE ALSO HELPED ME IN SO MANY WAYS
OTHER THAN JUST SCHOLASTICALLY-- SCHOLASTIC-- I DON'T KNOW--
(laughing)
BUT, UM, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.
YOU BOTH MEAN A LOT TO ME, AND YOU'VE HELPED ME SO MUCH.
I'M NOT GONNA CRY-- I'M GONNA LAUGH, IF ANYTHING.
(applause)
>> NEXT, WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK PROFESSOR KEVIN DOBREFF,
CHAIR OF THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT,
TO COME TO THE STAGE TO PRESENT
OUR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS IN MUSIC.
(applause)
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND I REALIZED TOO LATE THAT I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT MY READING GLASSES,
BUT I'LL DO MY BEST.
IT'S A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE REPRESENTING THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT,
AND I'M JOINED BY FOUR REALLY FANTASTIC STUDENTS
WHO I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING FOR, REALLY, TOO SHORT A TIME.
AND THIS AFTERNOON, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE TWO AWARDS
THAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT.
THE FIRST AWARD
IS THE "EMERGING MUSIC STUDENT ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP AWARD."
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THAT AWARD.
THIS AWARD IS DESIGNED TO RECOGNIZE EMERGING STUDENT LEADERS
IN THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT.
NOMINEES MUST HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT
FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO, NO MORE THAN THREE, SEMESTERS
WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE MUSIC AS LEADERS.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES CURRENT INITIATIVE AND CONTRIBUTIONS,
AS WELL AS FUTURE POTENTIAL.
THE NOMINEES MUST BE A CURRENT GRCC MUSIC MAJOR.
THEY MUST BE ACTIVE AND INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ENSEMBLE,
SUCH AS THE COLLEGE CHOIR OR THE ORCHESTRA,
GUITAR ENSEMBLE, AND SO ON.
THEY MUST CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ENSEMBLE IN WAYS
THAT EXCEED MUSICAL PERFORMANCE,
AND THEY MUST SEEK TO ASSIST AND ENCOURAGE OTHER STUDENTS IN THEIR MUSICAL GROWTH.
AND THEY ALSO MUST HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES
IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
THEY MUST HAVE A MINIMUM CUMULATIVE G.P.A. OF 3.0.
THIS AFTERNOON, WE HAVE TWO YOUNG LADIES WHO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED
AND WILL RECEIVE THE "EMERGING MUSIC STUDENT ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP AWARD."
SARAH APOL WAS NOMINATED BY MIKE GILLAN, OUR DIRECTOR OF BANDS.
AND THIS IS WHAT MR. GILLAN HAS TO SAY-- "SARAH IS A PIANO MAJOR
"BUT PLAYS HORN IN WIND ENSEMBLE.
"SHE HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO IMPROVE HER HORN PLAYING,
"AND IS TRULY THE LEADER IN THE HORN SECTION."
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE "HORN,"
THAT'S THE FRENCH HORN.
IT'S THE INSTRUMENT THAT HAS THE BELL PAINTED--
UH, POINTED BACKWARDS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT SARAH PLAYS.
AND LET ME CONTINUE THERE-- OKAY.
"SARAH IS ALSO PERFORMING WITH OUR COMMUNITY WIND ENSEMBLE,
"THE GRAND RIVER WINDS,
"AND WILL BE PERFORMING WITH THEM THIS EVENING
"AT THE ST. CECILIA MUSIC CENTER"-- IS THAT CORRECT?
OKAY, I GOT THAT RIGHT.
AND THEN, THERE'S ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM DR. CAROL VAN RANDWYK--
"SARAH IS DOING OUTSTANDING WORK IN MUSIC THEORY AND AURAL COMPREHENSION."
AND THEN, SUPPORT FROM DR. DEBORA DeWITT--
"I ALSO SUPPORT SARAH APOL'S NOMINATION
"FOR THE 'EMERGING STUDENT LEADER AWARD.'
"A FEW THINGS ABOUT SARAH THAT I WOULD ADD AS WE CONSIDER HER NOMINATION
"IS HER WORK IN PIANO ENSEMBLE CLASS,
"WHERE SHE IS A DEFINITE LEADER,
"AND HER WORK IN ORGANIZING PIANO AND VOICE STUDENTS
"FOR PERFORMANCE IN LOCAL RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES."
SARAH APOL.
(applause)
AND THEN, OUR SECOND "EMERGING MUSIC STUDENT
"ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP AWARD" WINNER
IS ANOTHER SARAH.
THIS IS SARAH WORDELMAN, AND SARAH IS ALL IN BLACK OVER HERE.
AND THIS IS WORDS FROM CAROL VAN RANDWYK.
DR. VAN RANDWYK WAS HER NOMINATOR.
SHE SAYS SARAH WORLDEMAN IS DOING "OUTSTANDING WORK IN MUSIC THEORY
"AND AURAL COMPREHENSION."
THESE ARE THE TWO REALLY TOUGH COURSES THAT WE--
OR COURSES OF STUDY THAT WE OFFER HERE IN THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT.
A LOT OF STUDENTS END UP DROPPING OUT
BECAUSE THEY'RE UNABLE TO COMPLETE THOSE CLASSES.
AND THEN, SUPPORT FROM PROFESSOR BRIAN MORRIS
FOR CAROL'S NOMINATION OF SARAH WORDELMAN
AS THE "EMERGING MUSIC STUDENT ACADEMIC AWARD,"
UM, MR. MORRIS SAYS, "SHE IS A CONSCIENTIOUS STUDENT
"IN HER SOLO GUITAR STUDIES,
"AS WELL AS IN THE GUITAR ENSEMBLE."
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT SARAH WORDELMAN
IS THAT STUDENT WHO DEFINES QUIET LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE,
WHICH IS NO EASY TASK.
SARAH.
(applause)
NOW, I KNOW I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE SOMETHING PHYSICAL TO GIVE THEM,
AND I THINK THEY'RE HERE.
RIGHT HERE?
THERE WE GO.
OKAY, SO THIS-- THANK YOU.
I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED.
THE "EMERGING MUSIC STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD" IS PRESENTED
TO SARAH APOL FOR OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC
AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE APRIL 13th, 2012.
SARAH.
(applause)
WHOOPS.
OKAY.
AND THEN, THIS "EMERGING MUSIC STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD"
IS PRESENTED TO SARAH WORDELMAN,
FOR OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC
AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, APRIL 13th, 2012.
SARAH, CONGRATULATIONS.
(applause)
OKAY, WE HAVE ONE OTHER AWARD TO--
ACTUALLY, TWO OTHER AWARDS BUT ONE OTHER AWARD CRITERIA.
THIS IS THIS-- THIS-- LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN.
I SOUNDED LIKE ELMER FUDD.
"DISTINGUISHED MUSIC STUDENT ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP AWARD."
AND THESE ARE BEING AWARDED TO TWO STUDENTS.
THE FIRST ONE IS EMILY SHAIEB,
AND THAT NOMINATOR WAS DR. STEPHEN BARTON,
WHO IS OUR DIRECTOR OF CHORAL ACTIVITIES,
WHO WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE HE HAS A CHOIR REHEARSAL.
EMILY IS A CURRENT MUSIC MAJOR WHO LOVES TO PERFORM
AND WILL BE PRESENTED IN HER THIRD HONORS RECITAL PERFORMANCE
DURING THE WINTER SEMESTER.
EMILY TAKES A VERY ACTIVE LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE COLLEGE CHOIR,
IN WHICH SHE HAS PERFORMED FOR TWO YEARS.
EMILY IS EXTREMELY INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS
AND SHE HAS DEDICATED HER TIME TO LEARNING MASTERY OF THE I.P.A.,
WHICH IS THE INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET.
THIS ALLOWS VOICE MAJORS TO SING IN JUST ABOUT ANY LANGUAGE,
EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
EMILY CONDUCTS THROUGH RESEARCH--
THOROUGH RESEARCH IN HER VOCAL STUDY,
AND FOR THE CONCERT REVIEW ESSAYS IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE CLASS.
EMILY'S G.P.A. PLACES HER AMONG THE BETTER OVERALL ACADEMIC STUDENTS
IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
EMILY SHAIEB IS AN OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC AND APPLIED MUSIC STUDENT AT GRCC.
IN THE VOCAL STUDIO, SHE HAS DISTINGUISHED HERSELF
AS AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMER,
HAVING PERFORMED IN THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT'S PRESTIGIOUS HONORS RECITAL
WHICH SHOWCASES OUR FINEST PERFORMERS,
IN THREE OUT OF FOUR SEMESTERS IN WHICH SHE HAS STUDIED VOICE AT GRCC.
SHE WAS THE SECOND PLACE WINNER IN THE "ADULT FEMALE" VOCAL CATEGORY
OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF SINGING IN MICHIGAN,
AND THE STATE COMPETITION WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2011
WHICH WAS HELD AT EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY.
SHE HAS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE OPERA GRAND RAPIDS COLLEGIATE VOCAL COMPETITION
HELD IN GRAND RAPIDS
AND THE NICHOLAS LOREN VOCAL COMPETITION HELD IN HOLLAND, MICHIGAN.
EMILY HAS ALSO DISTINGUISHED HERSELF IN THE CLASSROOM,
MAINTAINING A 3.5 G.P.A. DURING HER TIME AT GRCC.
EMILY PLANS TO GRADUATE NEXT YEAR--
THANK GOODNESS, WE GET TO KEEP HER HERE FOR ANOTHER YEAR--
WITH HER ASSOCIATE'S OF ARTS DEGREE IN MUSIC,
AND TO AUDITION AT SEVERAL FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS
WITH THE DREAM OF PURSUING A CAREER IN OPERA.
AND THEN, A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT HERE FROM DR. DEBORA DeWITT--
"I ALSO SUPPORT DR. BARTON'S NOMINATION OF EMILY SHAIEB
"FOR THE 'DISTINGUISHED STUDENT LEADER AWARD.'
"SHE IS ALSO DOING EXCELLENT WORK IN MUSIC HISTORY,
"AND CONTRIBUTES IN POSITIVE WAYS TO CLASS AND IN SUPPORT OF HER FELLOW STUDENTS."
SO, LET'S HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR EMILY SHAIEB.
(applause)
AND THEN, I GET TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
I THINK I'LL DO IT IN THAT ORDER.
CONGRATULATIONS.
AND THEN, THE SECOND AWARD WINNER
FOR THE "DISTINGUISHED MUSIC ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP AWARD"
IS MR. PATTERSON McKINNEY.
I'VE KNOWN PATTERSON FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.
HE IS ACTUALLY DOING A DOUBLE MAJOR IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE
AND IN RECORDING TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS EXTREMELY RARE.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER HAD ANYBODY DO BOTH OF THOSE AT THE SAME TIME.
AND HE HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS...
HIS NOMINATOR WAS PROFESSOR MIKE GILLAN, WHO'S OUR DIRECTOR OF BANDS.
"PATTERSON HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP FOR TWO YEARS,
"AS PERCUSSION SECTION LEADER.
"HE HAS PLAYED IN WIND ENSEMBLE, GRAND RIVER WINDS,
"THE KENT PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA, AND PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE.
"PATTERSON IS ALWAYS PREPARED FOR REHEARSAL
"AND MAINTAINS PERFECT ATTENDANCE.
"HE HAS EMBRACED THE ROLE OF PERCUSSION SECTION LEADER
"AND KEEPS THE SECTIONS HE PLAYS IN, ON TASK.
"PATTERSON'S ACADEMIC WORK IS ALSO STELLAR,
"AND HE HAS BEEN INVALUABLE AS A ROLE MODEL TO ALL MUSIC STUDENTS."
AND THEN, SOME SUPPORT FROM DR. CAROL VAN RANDWYK--
"PATTERSON HAS DONE IMPRESSIVE WORK IN COMPOSITION LESSONS."
DR. VAN RANDWYK TEACHES PRIVATE COMPOSITION LESSONS
TO OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BEING COMPOSERS.
AND, "HE WAS AT THE TOP OF HIS CLASS IN BOTH THEORY AND AURAL COMPREHENSION."
AND THEN, SUPPORT FROM DR. DEBORA DeWITT--
"I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF PATTERSON McKINNEY
"FOR THE 'DISTINGUISHED MUSIC STUDENT ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP AWARD.'
"PATTERSON IS CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT IN ALL OF HIS WORK
"IN BOTH MUSIC HISTORY AND PIANO TECHNIQUES.
"ACADEMICALLY, HE'S TERRIFIC.
"I JUST HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH HIM
"FOR HIS PAPER CONSULTATION IN MUSIC HISTORY.
"HE HAS SHOWN EXCELLENT RESEARCH SKILLS
"AND IS A STUDENT WHO GRASPS THE DETAILS OF COMPLICATED SUBJECTS."
AND THEN, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT PATTERSON WILL BE LEAVING US
AT THE END OF THIS YEAR,
AND HE'LL BE TRANSFERRING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN,
WHERE HE WILL BE MAJORING IN PERCUSSION COMP-- UH, COMP--
UH, PER-- PERFORMANCE, CORRECT?
AND WE'RE VERY SAD TO LOSE PATTERSON, BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED
THAT HE'LL BE MOVING ON TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
PATTERSON McKINNEY.
(applause)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(applause)
(indistinct speaking). (all laughing)
>> I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE, UM...
FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCE AWARDS,
PROFESSOR MIKE DeVIVO AND DR. ROBERT HENDERSHOT,
FACULTY MEMBERS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT,
TO PRESENT OUR SOCIAL SCIENCE AWARD.
(applause)
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FIRST, LET ME ASK BOB TO INTRODUCE THE RECIPIENTS
OF THE RESEARCH PAPER COMPETITION.
GO AHEAD, BOB. >> THANK YOU.
HELLO, I'M BOB HENDERSHOT.
I TEACH "WORLD HISTORY" IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT...
AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TODAY TO INTRODUCE THE WINNERS
OF THIS YEAR'S SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT RESEARCH PAPER COMPETITION,
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THE SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT'S BEEN DOING
FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
AND WE GET MORE APPLICANTS EACH YEAR,
THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF THE FACULTY MEMBERS,
AND ALSO TO THE OFFICES OF DEAN LAURIE CHESLEY
AND ASSOCIATE DEAN MICHAEL VARGO,
UH, FOR FUNDING THE COMPETITION AND FOR ALWAYS BEING SUPPORTIVE
OF SUCH SCHOLASTIC EFFORTS.
THE CREATION OF THE COMPETITION WAS DESIGNED TO REFLECT EXCELLENCE
IN THE FIELD OF RESEARCH AND WRITING IN SOCIAL SCIENCE CLASSES,
OF WHICH MUCH IS DONE AND, UH...
THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT IS OF EXCELLENT WORTH.
PERHAPS NO OTHER ASSIGNMENT...
CAN SO WELL DRAW TOGETHER
ALL OF THE SKILLS THAT WE VALUE IN OUR STUDENTS
AND SCHOLARS, RIGHT?
RESEARCH PAPERS LEAD OUR STUDENTS TO SEEK OUT INFORMATION,
TO DIGEST INFORMATION, TO ANALYZE IT, TO CRITICALLY EVALUATE IT,
AND THEN TO CRAFT THEIR OWN INTERPRETATION OF WHAT IT MEANS--
WHAT IS THE CAUSATION OF A PARTICULAR PHENOMENA?
WHAT IS ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND EXPERIENCE?
AND...
THAT'S WHAT'S SO WONDERFUL TO SEE IN THE RESEARCH PAPERS
THAT OUR STUDENTS PRODUCE.
WELL, ANYWAY, THIS YEAR, WE HAD ABOUT A DOZEN APPLICATIONS--
ER, SUBMISSIONS TO THE COMPETITION, AND THEY WERE ALL EXCELLENT.
AND I'M NOT JUST SAYING THAT.
I MEAN, THEY REALLY WERE WONDERFUL,
AND A COMMITTEE OF FACULTY MEMBERS FROM SOCIAL SCIENCE
WAS CHARGED WITH EVALUATING THEM, WHICH WAS A DIFFICULT PROCESS.
BUT ULTIMATELY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAD TO SETTLE ON THREE WINNERS,
AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT THEY WERE ALL CHOSEN.
THEY ARE ALL PEOPLE WHO PRODUCED THEIR RESEARCH PAPERS
IN THE COURSE OF HISTORY CLASSES...
UM, AND THEY'RE ALL HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND SO, I'LL CALL THEM UP,
AND WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR EACH OF THEM,
AND THEN EACH ONE-- EACH--
FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD WINNER HAS WON A HUMBLE HONORARIUM.
AND I ALSO HAVE A SMALL GIFT, RIGHT, FOR EACH OF THEM.
IT'S A SMALL PEN
THAT SAYS THE "GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE" ON IT.
WE THOUGHT THAT WAS AN APPROPRIATE SYMBOL
FOR THE VICTORS IN THE COMPETITION, RIGHT?
AS SOME OF THE FINEST WRITERS AND RESEARCHERS
IN OUR CAMPUS COMMUNITY.
SO, OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER IS MEGAN ESPARSA
WHO, FOR THE "WORLD HISTORY 215" CLASS
PRODUCED A WONDERFUL RESEARCH PIECE
ENTITLED "SLAVE MESSIAHS-- THE CENTRALITY OF RELIGIOUS PROVIDENCE
"IN THE THREE SERVILE WARS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN."
A WONDERFUL PIECE-- OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER.
PLEASE, HELP ME TO WELCOME AND AWARD MEGAN ESPARSA.
(applause)
OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER IS BRIAN WOODIN,
FOR THE "WORLD HIST--"
ER, THE "H.S. 293" SEMINAR CLASS ON WORLD WAR I AND THE INTERWAR PERIOD.
BRIAN PRODUCED A PIECE-- UH, A RESEARCH PIECE--
ENTITLED "THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD--
"TECHNOLOGY AND IDEOLOGY IN THE INTERWAR PERIOD."
AGAIN, RIGHT, AS OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER-- A WONDERFUL PIECE--
AND IS HE HERE?
EXCELLENT.
(applause)
>> THANKS.
>> AND FINALLY, OUR THIRD PLACE WINNER IS ANNA EMIG.
AND AGAIN, FOR THE SEMINAR ON WORLD WAR I AND THE INTERWAR PERIOD,
ANNA PRODUCED A VERY THOUGHTFUL AND NUANCEDLY ARGUED PIECE
ENTITLED "TECHNOLOGY AND IDEOLOGY DURING THE GREAT WAR IN THE INTERWAR PERIOD."
AND ONCE AGAIN, A WONDERFUL--
A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RESEARCH AND WRITING DONE HERE AT THE COLLEGE.
(applause)
WELL, THAT'S IT FOR THE RESEARCH PAPERS,
BUT I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM SOCIAL SCIENCE,
PROFESSOR MIKE DeVIVO,
TO TALK ABOUT OUR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS THIS YEAR.
(applause)
>> THANKS, BOB... THANKS A LOT.
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
ADMINISTERS "THE ELIZABETH KNAPP SCHOLARSHIP,"
WHICH IS AWARDED TO A STUDENT
THAT HAS ENGAGED IN EXEMPLARY WORK
IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES,
NOMINATED BY A FACULTY MEMBER
IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES.
AND THIS YEAR, THE SCHOLARSHIP IS AWARDED
TO MICHAEL VITALES-LANUZA.
(applause)
AND MIKE WILL BE PURSUING STUDIES
IN ANTHROPOLOGY.
MICHAEL, PLEASE COME AND ACCEPT YOUR AWARD.
(applause)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY. >> (indistinct speaking).
>> YOU CAN SIT DOWN, THAT'S OKAY.
IF YOU WANT TO STAY UP HERE, YOU CAN. (audience laughing)
IT'S UP TO YOU. (laughing)
OKAY.
AND, UH...
PRESENTLY...
I HAVE AWARDS FOR THE STUDENTS
THAT HAVE BEEN TASKED
WITH ENGAGING IN PARTICIPATION
IN GAMMA THETA UPSILON,
SO I'LL ASK THE FIVE STUDENTS-- YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE--
TO PLEASE COME AND STAND UP HERE,
SO I DON'T HAVE TO CALL YOU EACH ONE AT A TIME.
(laughing)
(clearing throat)
AND EACH OF THESE STUDENTS--
EACH OF THESE STUDENTS HAS REALLY ENGAGED
IN VERY SOLID ACADEMIC STUDY
FOR AT LEAST--
AT LEAST ABOUT A YEAR.
IN FACT, THREE OF THEM-- SARAH, KARA, AND LINDSEY--
THE FIRST THREE HERE--
WERE INVOLVED IN THE STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE
TO SOUTH AFRICA THIS PAST SUMMER.
AND I THINK THEY WOULD ALL SAY THAT IT WAS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE
IN MANY WAYS.
AND THEY CAME UP--
ER, THEY RETURNED TO THE U.S. AS LEADERS, ESSENTIALLY.
AND SO, FOR THEIR WORK--
FOR ALL OF THESE STUDENTS' WORK IN, ESSENTIALLY,
ENGAGING IN THE SERVICE OF GEOGRAPHY,
TO THE COLLEGE AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, IN MANY WAYS,
THEY ARE AWARDED
THE "LAMBDA UPSILON ACADEMIC SERVICE AWARD."
(applause)
THANK YOU-- WAIT, THERE'S MORE.
THERE'S MORE-- HOLD ON.
I SHOULD PROBABLY TELL YA-- IT'S BEEN A GREAT--
IT'S BEEN A GREAT YEAR FOR GAMMA THETA UPSILON
AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
NOT ONLY DID THE STUDENTS THAT WERE INVOLVED
IN THE SOUTH AFRICA STUDY ABROAD
BECOME VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM HERE,
BUT IT WAS ARRANGED THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO AWARD NICK KRISTOF,
WHO WAS PART OF OUR DIVERSITY LECTURE SERIES,
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP INTO OUR CHAPTER OF LAMBDA UPSILON.
AND AS YOU KNOW, NICK KRISTOF IS A LUMINARY IN JOURNALISM,
AND HE ALSO ENGAGED IN THE DELIVERY OF SPECIAL SESSIONS
AT THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN GEOGRAPHERS ANNUAL MEETING THIS YEAR.
I SHOULD INDICATE TO YOU THAT THE...
THE, UM...
EXPERIENCE, I GUESS, THAT...
THE THREE STUDENTS HAD
AND IN THE STUDY ABROAD, UH, COURSE
WAS VERY CAPTIVATING,
AND I THINK THEY WERE FINDING THEMSELVES INSPIRED
BY THE FIELD,
AS WELL AS THEIR STUDIES IN GEOGRAPHY.
AND...
THEY ENGAGED IN THE...
PUBLICIZATION--
ER, GENERATING PUBLICITY ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF GIRLS
IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA,
CONCERNING THEIR NEED TO BECOME EDUCATED.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE LAST YEAR, AS WELL,
BY STUDENTS IN GAMMA THETA UPSILON.
AND THEY, UM...
RAISED FUNDS
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES
OF NOT JUST A FEW GIRLS,
BUT THEY RAISED FUNDS TO SUPPORT--
TO FULLY FUND THE EDUCATION
OF NINE GIRLS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
THROUGH A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES.
AND IT'S THIS TYPE OF GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
THAT IS AN IMPERATIVE.
IN OUR STUDIES IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES,
WE HAVE LEARNED
THAT THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS AND WOMEN IS AN IMPERATIVE,
AND IT ACTUALLY AMELIORATES DISPARITIES
BETWEEN AND AMONG SOCIOECONOMIC CLASSES IN LESS-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES,
WHILE ALSO REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD OF CONFLICT.
SO IT, IN A SENSE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE CONFLICT IN THE WORLD TODAY--
I NOW HAVE A SON IN AFGHANISTAN WHO IS IN THE MARINE CORPS.
I'M HOPING THAT THROUGH THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS AND WOMEN,
PERHAPS THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, MY GRANDCHILDREN
OR GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN WON'T FIND THEMSELVES IN THE SAME CONFLICT...
BECAUSE, ESSENTIALLY, THIS MATTER OF EDUCATING GIRLS AND WOMEN IS,
IN MANY WAYS, A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE.
AND IT'S NOT ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT IT BENEFITS US ALL.
IT IS, TRULY, A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP.
SO, EACH OF THESE STUDENTS ARE ALSO RECEIVING
THE "LAMBDA UPSILON AWARD IN GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP."
(applause)
I SHOULD MENTION THAT BECAUSE OF THEIR FIELD STUDIES WORK...
OH, YEAH, THERE'S MORE. (laughing)
THEY DIDN'T KNOW THIS.
BECAUSE OF THEIR WORK IN FIELD STUDIES THIS TERM,
THEY ARE EACH ENTITLED
TO A "GEOGRAPHY LIVES" FIELD STUDY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD.
(applause)
AND, ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE EVERYBODY'S GETTING AN AWARD...
I SHOULD PROBABLY MENTION TO YOU THAT...
THIS IS REALLY A SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE.
THEY'RE REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR HUMANITY,
AND...
I HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL AWARDS
THAT I'M GOING TO...
GOING TO OFFER HERE.
AND ONE HAPPENS TO BE THE "GAMMA THETA UPSILON ANNUAL AWARD
"FOR EXCELLENCE IN GEOGRAPHY,"
WHICH IS THE STUDENT WITH THE BEST ACADEMIC RECORD--
IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL AWARD-- BRIAN WOODIN.
(applause)
YOU'RE REALLY COLLECTING THEM THERE, AREN'T YOU, BRIAN?
I MEAN, MY GOODNESS.
MAYBE-- WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE
IS GONNA HAVE ANYTHING FOR YOU.
(laughing) AND THERE IS ONE LAST AWARD.
AS WE LOOK AT THIS MATTER OF LEADERSHIP
AT THIS LEADERSHIP BANQUET...
I SHOULD PROBABLY ACCENTUATE THAT WE DO HAVE A LEADERSHIP AWARD
THAT EMPHASIZES THE NOTION OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP.
A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER IS ONE WHO MOTIVATES US TO DO MORE
THAN WE ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO DO,
HERE, IN THE BENEFIT OF HUMANITY.
GANDHI, KING,
ARE JUST EXAMPLES OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERS.
AND HERE, WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER
THAT WORKED TIRELESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES,
MAKING THINGS WORK,
MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR HUMANITY AS...
SHE, ESSENTIALLY, GOT THINGS TOGETHER
TO RAISE FUNDS,
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF HER COLLEAGUES, TO...
PROVIDE FOR THE EDUCATION OF THESE GIRLS IN AFRICA,
AND, ESSENTIALLY, SAVED THEIR LIVES.
SO, KARA APODACA,
THE "LAMBDA UPSILON LEADERSHIP AWARD" THIS YEAR
IS AWARDED TO YOU.
(applause)
I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON AND TALK ABOUT THINGS HERE.
I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ME. (chuckling)
BUT THESE ARE REALLY SPECIAL PEOPLE,
AND THEY CERTAINLY DESERVE
TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EFFORTS,
BECAUSE THEY ARE AMONG THE FEW THAT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE CHARLES--
ER, COACH CHARLES WELLS, THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR,
MEN'S FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR,
T.J. CARNEGIE, MEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH,
CHIP WILL, WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL COACH,
TO PRESENT OUR ATHLETIC AWARDS.
(applause)
(whispering) HI, COACH. >> THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO FIRST THANK THE STUDENT BODY FOR HAVING US BE A PART OF THIS.
AND IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE BACK, ONCE AGAIN, AT THE BANQUET.
UM, THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING PLACE THAT A LOT OF OUR FUTURE LEADERS
ARE GONNA COME FROM.
THE FUNNY PART OF THIS WAS THAT YESTERDAY,
I HAD LUNCH WITH ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS
THAT WAS A PART OF OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT YEARS AGO,
AND THAT PERSON IS SARA SMOLENSKI, WHICH IS JUDGE SMOLENSKI,
AND SHE CAME THROUGH THIS ATHLETIC PROGRAM
AND DID A LONG OF GREAT THINGS THEREAFTER.
SO, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT LEADERS COME OUT OF THIS BUILDING
MANY, MANY YEARS OVER THE YEARS, OKAY?
NUMBER ONE, I'M GONNA START OUT WITH MY BASKETBALL COACH,
AND I'M GONNA GIVE THE FLOOR TO HIM,
AND HE'S GONNA PRESENT THE FIRST AWARD TO ONE OF OUR YOUNG MEN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHARLIE.
I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT "THE MERLE STORR AWARD" TO ALEX LYLE,
WHO WAS ONE OF OUR CAPTAINS THIS YEAR--
A GREAT LEADER FOR OUR PROGRAM.
UM...
WE, UH--
WE HAD A SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL SEASON,
AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE LEADERSHIP
AND THE COMMUNICATION AND THE HARD WORK OF ALEX LYLE,
SO HE IS MOST DESERVING OF THIS AWARD.
(applause)
>> OUR NEXT AWARD WILL BE GIVEN OUT BY CHIP WILL, OUR VOLLEYBALL COACH.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE UP HERE
TO HELP REPRESENT THE FEMALE ATHLETIC PROGRAM--
THE "DONALD BLACK AWARD."
ONE THING THAT MAYBE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
WITH OUR ATHLETIC COACHES HERE,
COMPARED TO THE ACADEMIC SIDE OF THINGS
IS WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO GO OUT
AND RECRUIT SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GONNA BE PART OF OUR PROGRAM,
AND THE ONE THING THAT WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR
IN RECRUITING SOME OF THE BEST KIDS IN THE AREA
IS PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE
AND MAKE THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM BETTER.
AND THAT WAS THE ONE THING THAT, GOING INTO THIS YEAR,
NICKI WAS THE FIRST KID THAT I BROUGHT INTO OUR PROGRAM
BECAUSE I KNEW SHE WAS GONNA BE ONE PERSON
THAT WAS GONNA MAKE OUR PROGRAM AND MAKE OUR SCHOOL BETTER.
AND...
THE REASON THAT WE'VE HAD SUCCESS THE LAST FIVE YEARS
AND FINISHED THIS YEAR
AS THE BEST ATHLETIC FEMALE PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY,
UH, FINISHING SEVENTH IN THE NATION,
WAS DUE TO A GREAT RECRUITING CLASS
AND A GREAT INDIVIDUAL HELPING LEAD THAT PROGRAM,
AND NICOLE CZEHOWSKI FROM ROCKFORD--
UH, LIKE I SAID--
CARRIES A 3.5 GRADE POINT AVERAGE...
JUST REALLY IS AN INDIVIDUAL
WHO PEOPLE WANT TO PLAY WITH, WANT TO BE AROUND.
UH, I TRUST HER TO BABYSIT MY KIDS, WHICH SAYS A LOT.
BUT REALLY, KINDA MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN COMING BACK--
YOU KNOW, AFTER SHE WOULD LEAVE THE SCHOOL--
AND THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT YOU WANT FROM AN ATHLETIC TEAM
AND AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM, IS NOT JUST A TEAM.
YOU WANT TO BUILD A PROGRAM.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THAT PROGRAM SPECIAL,
AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME BACK FIVE, TEN, FIFTEEN, TWENTY YEARS LATER
TO BE AROUND THAT ATHLETIC PROGRAM
AND WEAR A GRCC SWEATSHIRT AND A SHIRT,
PROUD WHEN THEY'RE AN ADULT,
AND REPRESENT THAT SCHOOL TO THEIR FULLEST,
AND THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT I'M SURE NICOLE,
GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, AND THROUGHOUT HER LIFE,
UH, WILL BE A PROUD REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR GRCC ATHLETIC PROGRAM
AND OUR GRCC ATHLETIC VOLLEYBALL TEAM.
SO, I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THIS AWARD TO NICKI CZEHOWSKI.
(applause)
>> THIS NEXT AWARD THAT I WILL BE HANDING OUT MYSELF
IS GONNA BE GOING TO A YOUNG MAN THAT PLAYED ON OUR FOOTBALL TEAM,
UM, DESHAWN BYRD.
DESHAWN BYRD IS AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT,
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, BUT AN OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL.
UM, HE'S THE KIND OF PERSON THAT I WOULD TRUST WITH MY FAMILY,
I WOULD TRUST HIM WITH THE SCHOOL,
I WOULD TRUST HIM WITH ANYTHING THAT I OWN.
THAT'S HOW TRUSTWORTHY THIS INDIVIDUAL IS.
HE'S NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HE'S ALSO A LEADER,
AND HE'S A PERSON THAT I THINK, DOWN THE ROAD,
IS GONNA BE RECKONED WITH, AS FAR AS IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE.
HE'S GONNA BE AN OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL THAT IS GONNA GO VERY FAR.
HE WILL ALSO BE LEAVING US THIS YEAR,
AND HE WILL BE HEADING TO ARKANSAS STATE,
AND THAT'S GONNA BE OUR FINAL DESTINATION.
HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT, BUT I DO. (audience laughing)
SOMETIMES, YOU BECOME MOM AND DAD WHILE YOU'RE HERE IN THIS ROLE, AS WELL.
SO, TODAY, DAD HAS SPOKEN, AND THAT'S WHERE MY SON SHALL GO.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, DESHAWN BYRD.
(applause)
THIS LAST AWARD THAT I HAVE IN MY HAND HERE
IS FOR THE "HUNSBERGER AWARD."
IT'S FOR A FACULTY MEMBER
THAT SHOWS OUTSTANDING QUALITIES AND LEADERSHIP.
AND WITHOUT A DOUBT, AS I WALKED AROUND
AND TALKED TO ALL OF THE FACULTY IN MY BUILDING,
WHO WOULD THEY RECOMMEND?
AND THIS INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY RECOMMENDED IS MIKE ROCHE,
WHO IS OUR ATHLETIC TRAINER,
BUT MIKE CANNOT BE WITH US BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A 2 O'CLOCK GAME TIME.
SO, I WILL TAKE THIS AWARD UP TO THE GAME FIELD
AND MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE THAT TO HIM.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE STAFF UP HERE,
AND WE'VE APPRECIATED EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO FOR US.
WE'VE APPRECIATED THE PATIENCE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION
AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE STUDENT BODY, AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> AT THIS TIME, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE DAN ZEHR,
FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR,
TO THE STAGE TO PRESENT THE CREATIVE DINING SERVICES AWARDS.
(applause)
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
ON BEHALF OF CREATIVE DINING SERVICES AND THE ENTIRE GRCC CAMPUS DINING TEAM,
IT IS AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THE TWO RECIPIENTS
OF THE "2012 C.D.S. STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD."
TO PRESENT THESE AWARDS, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY EXECUTIVE CHEF
AND KITCHEN SUPERVISOR, MISS NANCY RUTLEDGE.
(applause)
>> EACH YEAR, CREATIVE DINING SERVICES PRESENTS A SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
TO THE STUDENT OR STUDENTS
THAT WE BELIEVE EXEMPLIFY THE CORE VALUES
OF CREATIVE DINING,
WHICH ARE INTEGRITY, CREATIVITY, FLEXIBILITY, SENSITIVITY, AND FAMILY.
THE TWO YOUNG LADIES WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS THIS YEAR
ARE MISS SHANTA...
AND MISS ROSY.
THEY STARTED WITH US IN THE FALL.
THEY'VE BEEN WONDERFUL ADDITIONS TO OUR STAFF.
ROSY IS A NURSING MAJOR
AND SHANTA IS MAJORING IN PSYCHOLOGY.
SO, WE WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK.
(applause, cheering)
>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE VINCE JAMES,
PRESIDENT OF "GRCC CARES"
AND MY PARLIAMENTARIAN OF STUDENT CONGRESS,
TO PRESENT THIS YEAR'S "MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AWARD."
(applause)
>> WOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
UM, I'D FIRST LIKE TO START OFF BY SAYING "THANK YOU"
TO THESE TWO LOVELY LADIES TO MY LEFT--
TONJA, PRESIDENT OF STUDENT CONGRESS, AND WHITNEY--
FOR ALL THEY'VE DONE THIS YEAR FOR STUDENT LEADERSHIP
AND PUTTING ON THIS EVENT.
(applause)
AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE "MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AWARD."
THE "MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AWARD" IS PRESENTED
TO A CURRENT STUDENT AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
WHO EXEMPLIFIES THE SPIRIT OF MARTIN LUTHER KING.
THROUGH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND CAMPUS SERVICE,
SEEKING TO BRING CHANGE
AND TO PROMOTE THE PHILOSOPHY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING.
WILL THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED
COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE THEIR CERTIFICATE OF NOMINATION.
THE FIRST ONE IS PATRICIA TURNER.
(applause)
AND THE SECOND NOMINEE IS TERRILL CHARLESTON.
(applause)
WILL YOU GUYS, ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE JOIN ME
IN CONGRATULATING THESE TWO NOMINEES.
(applause)
IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
THE "MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AWARD" RECIPIENT FOR 2012.
THIS YEAR'S "MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AWARD" RECIPIENT
IS PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY
AND ON CAMPUS HERE AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
THROUGH AN INVOLVEMENT IN BOTH BLACK STUDENT UNION AND STANDOUT,
WHICH IS GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S GAY AND STRAIGHT ALLIANCE,
THIS STUDENT IS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THE RECIPIENT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY PROGRAMS
TO HELP PROMOTE CHANGE AND AWARENESS
SUCH AS WORLD AIDS DAY...
WHICH WAS A PROGRAM
WHICH RAISED FUNDS FOR THE AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION,
PROMOTE AIDS AWARENESS ACTIVITIES,
AND OFFERED H.I.V. TESTING FOR STUDENTS HERE AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
THIS STUDENT HAS ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THE LIVES OF SEVERAL INNER CITY SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE--
WHO ARE-- THAT-- WHO ARE OR NEAR FAILING OR DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS RECIPIENT MENTORED SEVERAL OF THESE STUDENTS,
EMPHASIZING AND (indistinct) THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
AS WELL AS THE OTHER BENEFITS OF ATTENDING COLLEGE
IN HOPES OF INSPIRING THEM TO APPLY THEMSELVES
AND REACH THEIR LIFE GOALS.
IN THIS FUTURE-- IN THE FUTURE, THIS AWARD RECIPIENT
HOPES TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
AT DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY
WITH A CONCENTRATION ON HOSPU-- HOSPITILI-- HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT--
SORRY ABOUT THAT. (laughing)
TONGUE TWISTER.
PLEASE, HELP ME IN CONGRATULATING TERRILL CHARLESTON,
THE 2012 WINNER OF "MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AWARD."
(applause, cheering)
>> NO, I'LL (indistinct). (giggling)
SORRY, WRONG PERSON.
>> WE'LL GET IT STRAIGHT EVENTUALLY.
UM, OKAY, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE BRITTANY KOZAKIEWICZ,
SECRETARY OF CAMPUS ACTIVITIES,
TO PRESENT THIS YEAR'S "BENHAM SERVICE LEARNING AWARD."
(applause)
>> ALL RIGHT. (chuckling)
THE "BENHAM SERVICE LEARNING AWARD" IS PRESENTED
TO THE CURRENT GRCC STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED
AND HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP IN SERVICE LEARNING ACTIVITIES.
THIS STUDENT MUST ALSO MAINTAIN A MINIMUM CUMULATIVE G.P.A. OF 2.5
AND WILLING-- OH, WILL THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS
WHO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED PLEASE COME FORWARD
TO RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATE OF NOMINATION--
TRAVIS SLOOTER AND MYRIAH WILLIAMS.
(applause)
IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE
TO INTRODUCE THE "BENHAM SERVICE LEARNING AWARD" RECIPIENT
UP FOR 2012.
THIS YEAR'S "BENHAM SERVICE LEARNING AWARD" WINNER
HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN SERVICE DURING THEIR TIME HERE AT GRCC,
AS WELL AS PROMOTING SERVICE TO OTHERS ON CAMPUS AND IN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS AWARD RECIPIENT FIRST BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE SERVICE
DURING THE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY CLASS
WHERE THE CLASS WAS ENCOURAGED TO SPEND TIME
IN THE EQUINE CENTER FOR THERAPEUTIC RIDING.
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES THERAPY FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES
THROUGH INTERACTING WITH AND RIDING HORSES.
THE RECIPIENT SAID THAT AFTER THEIR INITIAL SERVICE EXPERIENCE
THAT "MY HEART AND MIND WERE CHANGED FOREVER."
FROM THEN ON, THIS STUDENT HAS BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT THE EQUINE CENTER,
AND HAS PLANNED SERVICE EVENTS FOR GRCC STUDENTS AT THIS SAME FACILITY.
THIS STUDENT HAS ENTHUSIASTICALLY HELPED IN PLANNING
AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICE PROJECTS
THAT THE TRiO PROGRAM HAS ORGANIZED COMMUNITY,
AS WELL AS PARTICIPATING WITH MANY ACADEMIC SERVICE LEARNING EVENTS,
WRITES THE NOMINATOR.
IN ADDITION, THIS STUDENT HAS ALSO SERVED PEER MENTOR
FOR THE TRiO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICE PROGRAM ON CAMPUS,
WHERE SHE PARTICIPATES IN REGULAR SERVICE WITH PROGRAMS
SUCH AS "CONNOR'S NIGHT" AT THE GRAND RAPIDS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM,
THE GRAND RAPIDS HOME FOR VETERANS, AND "IN THE IMAGE."
AFTER FIRST PARTICIPATING IN FIRST SERVICE LEARNING ACTIVITY,
HER PASSION FOR SERVICE GREW.
SHE BECAME A SMALL GROUP LEADER
WORKING WITH THE EQUINE CENTER, ONCE AGAIN,
AND MOST RECENTLY, BECAME A LEADER
WITH THE ANNUAL GRCC "PASS IT FORWARD" EVENT.
DURING THIS EVENT, THIS RECIPIENT WORKED AT THE LITERACY CENTER OF WEST MICHIGAN
AND WAS ABLE TO INVOLVE HER FAMILY IN THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK.
SHE QUOTES, "IT WAS A GRATIFYING EXPERIENCE
"THAT MY KIDS STILL TALK ABOUT IT TODAY."
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THIS "BENHAM SERVICE LEARNING AWARD"
WITH MYRIAH WILLIAMS. >> THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> YEAH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
>> OH, DO YOU WANT YOUR PAPERS, OR... OKAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EMILY SMITTER,
COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR OF STUDENT CONGRESS
AND PRESIDENT ELECT OF CAMPUS ACTIVITIES TO THE STAGE
TO PRESENT THE "CEDRIC WARD LEADERSHIP AWARD."
(applause)
>> THE "CEDRIC WARD LEADERSHIP AWARD" IS PRESENTED TO A STUDENT
WHO DEMONSTRATES OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND OUR COLLEGE,
AND MUST HAVE A MINIMUM COMMUNI-- COMMUNITIVE--
(laughing) COM-- OKAY.
I'M JUST GONNA SKIP THAT WORD. (audience laughing)
G.P.A. OF 2.5 OR HIGHER.
WILL THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED
PLEASE COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATE OF NOMINATION--
CANDACE BOSCH, WHITNEY CUNNINGHAM, BROOKE PURNELL,
SARAH RYDER, SAMANTHA SEE, TRAVIS SLOOTER,
MIKE-- I'M SORRY IF I SAY THIS WRONG-- TREECE?
>> TREECE. >> TREECE?
AND CHAKA WHITE.
(applause)
IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
THE "CEDRIC WARD LEADERSHIP AWARD" RECIPIENT FOR 2012.
THIS YEAR'S "CEDRIC WARD LEADERSHIP AWARD" RECIPIENT
HAS GROWN AND DEVELOPED INTO A FANTASTIC LEADER ON CAMPUS.
LIKE MANY STUDENTS,
THIS RECIPIENT WASN'T EXPECTING TO GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS.
THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD JUST GO TO CLASS...
AND LEAVE.
HOWEVER, ALL THIS CHANGED ONCE SHE JOINED CAMPUS ACTIVITIES.
SHE BECAME ACTIVELY INVOLVED DURING HER FIRST YEAR,
VOLUNTEERING TO HELP OUT WITH EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS WHENEVER SHE COULD,
AND BECOMING A GREAT ROLE MODEL TO THOSE AROUND HER.
AND SHE WAS ALWAYS GIVING POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT.
DURING HER FIRST YEAR, THE RECIPIENT ALSO TOOK ON THE ROLE
OF CO-CHAIRING "FINALS RELAXER," ONE OF THE LARGEST--
ONE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S LARGEST EVENTS,
AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A HUGE SUCCESS.
AFTER HER FIRST YEAR AS A CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MEMBER...
I'M SORRY. (laughing)
UM, SHE BECAME THE PRESIDENT FOR--
ER, SHE BECAME ON THE EBOARD FOR THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR, THE AWARD RECIPIENT IS PRESIDENT OF CAMPUS ACTIVITIES.
HER NOMINATOR EXPRESSED THAT SHE IS AN EXCELLENT PRESIDENT
FOR CAMPUS ACTIVITIES,
AND HAS STEPPED UP AS A LEADER WHEN THE GROUP NEEDED HER MOST.
SHE HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB LEADING THE GROUP THIS YEAR,
AND HAS ENCOURAGED THOSE, WHO MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISE,
TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE ORGANIZATION AS WELL.
THE AWARD RECIPIENT HAS ALSO BEEN A LEADER IN OTHER AREAS,
NOT JUST CAMPUS ACTIVITIES.
LAST SUMMER, SHE WAS A NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION AMBASSADOR,
WHERE SHE WAS TASKED WITH HELPING TO ACCLIMATE NEW STUDENTS
TO THE GRCC CAMPUS.
HER WELCOMING PERSONALITY AND GENUINE SMILE
MADE THE STUDENTS FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE
AND EXCITED TO ATTEND THE COLLEGE.
HER-- THIS STUDENT IS ALSO A TUTOR ON CAMPUS,
WHERE HER PATIENCE, KINDNESS, AND KNOWLEDGE
TO HELP OTHER STUDENTS ADVANCE IN THE CLASSROOM... YEAH.
IN THE COMMUNITY, THIS AWARD RECIPIENT IS VERY ACTIVE IN HER CHURCH COMMUNITY.
SHE VOLUNTEERS IN THREE DIFFERENT AREA CHURCHES,
WHERE SHE HELPS OUT WITH RETREAT PLANNING,
ORGANIZING MEETINGS,
PLANNING SOCIAL EVENTS, AND LEADING RETREATS
FOR BOTH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THIS AWARD RECIPIENT'S FUTURE PLANS ARE TO ATTEND AQUINAS COLLEGE
NEXT YEAR IN THE FALL
AND PURSUE A DEGREE IN THEOLOGY,
WHERE SHE HOPES TO BECOME A YOUTH MINISTER.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE WHITNEY CUNNINGHAM
AS THIS YEAR'S "CEDRIC WARD LEADERSHIP AWARD" RECIPIENT.
(applause)
>> THAT WAS SILLY.
OKAY. (laughing)
NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK TRAVIS SLOOTER, PRESIDENT OF THE GERONTOLOGY CLUB,
TO THE PODIUM TO PRESENT
THE "JERRY BENHAM AWARD FOR STAFF AND FACULTY."
>> (whispering) MIKE TREECE. >> MIKE TREECE TO THE PODIUM.
(laughing)
(applause)
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
IT'S AN HONOR TO REPRESENT THE STUDENT BODY
IN HANDING OUT THIS AWARD.
THE "JERRY BENHAM" AWARD IS GIVEN ANNUALLY
TO A FACULTY OR STAFF MEMBER
WHO IS ACTIVELY SUPPORTING STUDENTS' INVOLVEMENT
AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT,
AND ACTS AS A MENTOR AND A ROLE MODEL FOR STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.
THESE AWARD WINNERS ARE AN ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS
AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PRESENT THEIR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS.
THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT HONOR,
AS THE WINNER IS NOMINATED BY THE STUDENTS.
THE RECIPIENT FOR THIS YEAR'S "JERRY BENHAM AWARD"
IS GIVEN TO AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS ENCOURAGING STUDENTS
TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.
THE NOMINATOR SAYS THAT THIS PERSON ADVOCATES
FOR BOTH THE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS OF HIS STUDENTS.
AS AN ADVISOR FOR THE STUDENT ORGANIZATION,
HE IS A CHAMPION FOR OUR SUCCESS.
IN ADDITION, HE IS AN OUTSTANDING ROLE MODEL
AS AN EDUCATOR AND IN HIS FIELD.
THIS AWARD RECIPIENT IS PASSIONATE AND STRIVES FOR EXCELLENCE,
BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS RECIPIENT IS THAT, UM...
HE IS AN EMBODIMENT OF ENCOURAGEMENT,
AND HIS PASSION IN HIS FIELD IS THE IMPETUS FOR MY OWN SUCCESS.
SO, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THIS YEAR'S
"JERRY BENHAM AWARD FOR FACULTY AND STAFF" TO MR. MIKE FABER.
(applause)
>> MIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE IT TO HIM? >> SURE.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW THE STUDENTS CAN BE SO BRAVE
AS TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY ANYTHING, 'CAUSE I'M SHAKING.
BUT, UH...
ALL I CAN SAY IS "WOW," AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH
TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS AWARD,
AND IN PARTICULAR TO THE STUDENTS IN THE GERONTOLOGY PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY A TWO-WAY STREET.
THOSE OF YOU WHO TEACH KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A ONE-WAY STREET,
THAT WE LEARN AS MUCH FROM OUR STUDENTS AS THEY LEARN FROM US,
AND EVERY TIME WE ENCOURAGE AND INSPIRE THEM,
THEY ENCOURAGE AND INSPIRE US.
UM, SO, I HAVE TO THANK THE STUDENTS IN OUR PROGRAM
FOR HELPING TO INSPIRE ME
AND HELP ME TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON.
I ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT I DON'T DO IT ALONE,
THAT ANY ABILITY I MAY HAVE IS A GIFT FROM GOD.
SO, I THANK HIM AND I THANK ALL OF YOU.
THANKS.
(applause)
>> I AM PLEASED TO INVITE ERIC MULLEN, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT LIFE
AND INTERIM DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS,
TO THE STAGE TO PRESENT OUR LAST AWARD OF THE EVENING--
ER, THIS AFTERNOON,
THE "BRIAN KLOET STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AWARD."
ERIC?
(applause)
>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I WAS REFLECTING ON THE OPENING REMARKS THAT DEAN TINA HOXIE SHARED WITH US
ABOUT LEADERSHIP BEING A RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE ACCEPT,
AND I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT WHOLE-HEARTEDLY,
AND I THINK AS WE HEAR THE STORIES OF OUR STUDENTS TONIGHT
AS THEY PERFORMED ON THE FIELD, THE COURT, IN THE CLASSROOM,
THROUGH SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ORGANIZATIONS,
INVOLVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES ON OUR CAMPUS,
IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT SO MANY STUDENTS HAVE ACCEPTED THAT RESPONSIBILITY
AND DONE SO WITH EXCELLENCE.
I'M SO THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY
THAT CELEBRATES YOU, PROMOTES YOU,
AND IS A PART OF YOUR DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH, AND EDUCATION.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT LEADERSHIP
IS NEVER DONE IN ISOLATION.
IT'S ALWAYS DONE WITHIN THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH OTHERS.
AND ALTHOUGH WE'RE CELEBRATING SO MANY OF YOU
WHO HAVE DONE AMAZING THINGS IN YOUR TENURE HERE AT GRCC,
YOU CERTAINLY HAVE NOT DONE THAT UNTO YOURSELVES.
SO, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE TWO GROUPS.
ONE, I'D LIKE TO ASK EVERY MEMBER OF OUR STAFF AND FACULTY COMMUNITY--
COACHES, ADVISORS, FACULTY,
ADMINISTRATORS, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PRESIDENTS--
I THINK I SAW HIM EARLIER, TOO--
PLEASE, STAND UP 'CAUSE WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND SUPPORTS.
(applause)
AND THEN, THERE'S ONE, I THINK, EVEN MORE IMPORTANT GROUP
THAT WE'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK TODAY...
AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSEST AND DEAREST TO US--
OUR PARENTS, OUR PARTNERS, OUR SPOUSES, OUR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS,
OUR AUNTS AND UNCLES IF THEY'RE HERE, OUR CHILDREN.
IF YOU'RE HERE SUPPORTING SOMEONE, PLEASE STAND UP.
WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU AS WELL.
(applause)
THANK YOU.
IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE "BRIAN KLOET STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD,"
AND THIS IS PRESENTED TO A STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVE
AND INVOLVED IN STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND CAMPUS LIFE.
THIS STUDENT HAS HAD TO ESTABLISHED A CROSS-COLLEGE INTEREST IN CAMPUS LIFE,
COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND BEEN HELPFUL IN PROMOTING
THE OVERALL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE THROUGH OUTSTANDING CITIZENSHIP
AND HAVE A CUMULATIVE G.P.A. OF A MINIMUM OF 2.75 OR HIGHER.
WILL THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED,
PLEASE COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATE OF NOMINATION--
YVAN ALVAREZ... (applause, cheering)
WHITNEY CUNNINGHAM... (applause)
KENDRA JONES... (applause)
BRITTANY KOZAKIEWICZ... (applause, cheering)
JEFFREY NOEL... (applause)
AND TRAVIS SLOOTER. (applause)
THIS IS THE HIGHEST HONOR THAT WE DO GIVE TO STUDENT LEADERS ON OUR CAMPUS,
AND I'D LIKE TO-- I KNOW ALL OF THESE FOLKS HERE,
AND THEY'RE VERY TALENTED, WILDLY PASSIONATE
ABOUT GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY,
AND I THINK IT'S AN OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT THAT THEY'VE BEEN NOMINATED.
I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THEM ALL AGAIN.
CONGRATULATIONS.
(applause)
IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
THE "BRIAN KLOET STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD" RECIPIENT FOR 2012.
THIS RECIPIENT-- THE NOMINATOR WHO NOMINATED THEM SAYS,
"HE IS A REMARKABLE YOUNG MAN WHO HAS SHOWN VERY STRONG LEADERSHIP...
"AND SERVES IN THE COMMUNITY AS AN ASSISTANT--"
OOPS, PARDON ME.
THIS IS PRINTED FRONT TO BACK-- (indistinct).
THE NOMINATOR REMARKED THAT THIS IS "A VERY REMARKABLE YOUNG MAN
"WHO HAS SHOWN VERY STRONG LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN BOTH HIS COLLEGE LIFE
"AND HIS PERSONAL LIFE.
"THIS STUDENT PRIDES HIMSELF ON HIS FIRM FOUNDATION IN LEADERSHIP,
"EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE,
"AND A STELLAR TRACK RECORD IN ACADEMICS."
THIS STUDENT ATTRIBUTES THE BEGINNING OF HIS INVOLVEMENT AT GRCC
WITH BECOMING A TRiO PEER MENTOR,
WHICH HAS ALSO SHAPED HIS LEADERSHIP ABILITY,
PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE,
AND DIVERSIFIED HIS EDUCATION WHILE REVEALING NEW INTERESTS
AND AREAS OF STUDIES.
DURING HIS TIME AS A PEER MENTOR, THIS RECIPIENT HAS ORGANIZED FUNDRAISERS
FOR CHILDREN IN HAITI,
COORDINATED A STUDENT ORGANIZATION FAIR,
AND PROMOTED NUMEROUS CAMPUS VISITS TO FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS
FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE TRiO PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS A PEER MENTOR,
THIS STUDENT IS PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVICE AS A MICHIGAN SERVICE SCHOLAR,
WHICH REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF 300 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS
IN ONE ACADEMIC YEAR.
THIS STUDENT HAS LED SEVERAL SERVICE EVENTS
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
THE NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AT THE EQUINE CENTER FOR THERAPY,
THE "PASS IT FORWARD" EVENT WHICH HELPED FEED HOMELESS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
AT PARK CHURCH,
AND HE HAS SERVED AS THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING LIAISON TO STUDENT CONGRESS,
WHERE HE'S PROMOTED SERVICE AMONG OUR STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ON CAMPUS.
WHILE BEING ACTIVELY INVOLVED ON CAMPUS,
THIS AWARD RECIPIENT HAS ALSO ACCRUED A VERY STRONG G.P.A.,
HAS MADE THE DEAN'S LIST, WORKS TWO JOBS,
AND ACTIVELY SERVES THE COMMUNITY AS AN ASSISTANT SCOUT MASTER
IN HIS LOCAL BOY SCOUT TROOP.
IN THE FUTURE, THIS STUDENT HOPES TO RECEIVE
A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN PALEONTOLOGY.
I'LL LET MY SON-- NINE YEAR OLD, WHO WANTS TO DO THAT, TOO--
KNOW ABOUT THAT. (audience laughing)
IT'S TRULY MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS AWARD,
AS I MET THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT IN HIS FIRST SEMESTER
AS I TAUGHT HIS "C.L.S. 100-- INTRO TO COLLEGE" CLASS.
IN OUR CLASS, I WAS IMMEDIATELY IMPRESSED BY HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE,
WORK ETHIC,
AND WILLING TO HELP HIS CLASSMATES BECOME BETTER THEMSELVES.
I'M SO PLEASED TO SEE HOW HARD HE HAS WORKED HERE AT GRCC,
AND VERY PROUD OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM,
ON OUR CAMPUS, AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
PLEASE, JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING TRAVIS SLOOTER
AS THIS YEAR'S "BRIAN KLOET STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD."
(applause, cheering)
>> OH, MAN.
HEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> I APOLOGIZE.
THERE WAS ONE OTHER PERSON THAT WAS TO RECEIVE A NOMINATION FOR THAT.
IT WAS A MISTAKE HERE-- IT FELL OUT OF MY PILE.
BUT JUSTIN BUL-- IS HE IN THE AUDIENCE?
JUSTIN, YOU HERE? (applause)
JUSTIN?
I APOLOGIZE, JUSTIN-- THIS GOT MIXED IN WITH SOME OTHER CERTIFICATES,
BUT CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
THIS IS AN HONOR THAT STUDENTS ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS, JUSTIN.
(applause)
>> TALL...
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THE STUDENT INVOLVEMENT TRIBUTE VIDEO.
EACH YEAR, STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS DO AMAZING WORK ON CAMPUS.
THIS VIDEO WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS ON CAMPUS
AND THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE THIS PAST YEAR.
(funky music)
>> INCLUSIVE. >> WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY.
>> CARING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. >> LOVE.
>> PASSION FOR SERVICE. >> GRCC CARES.
>> GRCC CARES.
(funky music)
>> THE HOTTEST TRENDS.
THE LATEST FASHIONS.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
GRAND RAPIDS-STYLE-- FASHION AND DESIGN CLUB.
(funky music)
>> EMPOWER. >> UNIVERSAL.
>> FINDING OUT WHO YOU ARE. >> EXPRESSING WHO YOU ARE.
>> BLACK STUDENT UNION.
(funky music)
>> ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS. >> REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE.
>> VOLUNTEERING IN YOUR COMMUNITY. >> FOR YOUR ENVIRONMENT.
>> BIODIVERSITY CLUB. >> BIODIVERSITY CLUB.
(funky music)
>> THE VOICE FOR THE STUDENTS. >> OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COLLEGE.
>> LEADERSHIP! >> TAKING THE INITIATIVE.
>> COMMITMENT. >> STUDENT CONGRESS.
>> STUDENT CONGRESS.
(funky music)
>> INSTILLING INDEPENDENCE.
BRINGING HOPE.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT CLUB.
(funky music)
>> CREATIVE...
INNOVATIVE...
REAL-LIFE FILM EXPERIENCE.
FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOVE FILM.
GRCC FILMMAKERS.
(funky music)
>> WE'RE EDUCATING PEOPLE WHO ARE AGING.
SOCIAL INTERACTION!
ONGOING LEARNING FOR OUR AGING COMMUNITY.
GERONTOLOGY CLUB.
(funky music)
>> ENTREPRENEURS. >> INNOVATION.
>> CREATIVITY. >> SELF-MOTIVATED.
>> RISK-TAKING. >> CREATIVITY.
>> ALL IN AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET.
>> ENTREPRENEURIAL GROWTH ORGANIZATION.
>> ENTREPRENEURIAL GROWTH ORGANIZATION.
(funky music)
>> DIGGING DEEPER INTO GERMAN CULTURE.
>> (speaking German).
>> CONNECTING WITH YOUR ROOTS.
>> A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. >> GERMAN CLUB.
>> (speaking German).
(funky music)
>> DIVERSITY. >> (speaking Spanish).
>> GLOBAL. >> I.S.O.
>> INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORGANIZATION.
>> CONNECTING WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY.
>> FAMILY. >> (speaking Spanish).
>> HISPANIC STUDENT ORGANIZATION.
(funky music)
>> ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS. >> ENHANCING YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.
>> EXCITING EVENTS. >> I LOVE COLLEGE!
>> CONNECTING WITH OTHERS. >> EVERYTHING'S FREE!
>> TEASERS AND GOOD TIMES. >> IT'S THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.
>> CAMPUS ACTIVITIES. >> CAMPUS ACTIVITIES.
(funky music)
(applause)
>> AS YOU CAN TELL, WE HAVE INCREDIBLY TALENTED STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF,
WHO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED GREAT THINGS THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR.
>> WE'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE PRESENTERS,
AND CONGRATULATE ALL THE NOMINEES AND RECIPIENTS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON
IN CELEBRATING THE WONDERFUL YEAR WE'VE HAD.
(applause)