ACC Breaks Ground for the Ferris H. Werth Electrical Power Technology Center

Transcription

1 Spring 2014 ACC Breaks Ground for the Ferris H. Werth Electrical Power Technology Center Alpena Community College held a ceremonial groundbreaking on April 10 to mark the beginning of the construction of the Ferris H. Werth Electrical Power Technology Center. More than 135 individuals attended, including elected local and state officials, business and industry leaders, community members, and donors. The $5 million project is a partnership between the State of Michigan, Alpena Community College, and private financial resources. On June 25, 2012, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed a higher education capital outlay bill granting $2.5 million to ACC for its Electrical Power Technology Center. ACC began its fundraising efforts in May of 2011 to raise the required $2.5 million match. To date, a total of $4,867,712 has been raised, which includes a $1 million bequest from the estate of Alpena businessman Ferris H. Werth. The new 19,459 square foot expansion project will be attached to the World Center for Concrete Technology building, placing two premier technical programs side by side. The new facility will include three classrooms, two technical labs, a computer lab, faculty offices, and bays for heavy equipment. In addition, the expansion will have an indoor high lab for power pole training and a garage to store and maintain instructional equipment. At the groundbreaking ceremony, ACC President Dr. Olin Joynton welcomed guests and introduced dignitaries. He said, Today s ceremony marks a significant translation from vision to reality for a project that brings ACC s mission together with electrical power industries critical to Michigan s rising economic stature. It signifies in a big way ACC s investment in training that leads to real careers for those in our region, and all over Michigan, who aspire to better their lives, support their families, and make contributions to their own communities." Groundbreaking for the Ferris H. Werth Electrical Power Technology Center. Additional remarks were made by John Briggs, ACC Board of Trustees Chairman; Sue Fitzpatrick, ACC Foundation Board of Trustees President; Stephen Fletcher, Alpena Power Company Chairman and Co-Chair of the Building a Powerful Future Campaign; Roy Smith, ACC Utility Technology Instructor; and Ben Ruthig, ACC Utility Technology student. In addition to the speakers, the following participated in the groundbreaking: Molly Bruski, daughter of Ferris H. Werth; George LaFleche, Honorary Campaign Chair, Ann Burton, Campaign Co-Chair, Gary Dawley, Besser Foundation; Cindy Gabara, DeVere Construction Company; Chris Mackey, SHW Group; and Jerrod Villarreal, President of the Utility Workers Union of America-Local 286. The Ferris H. Werth Electrical Power Technology Center was designed by SHW Group, with DeVere Construction Company serving as construction manager. The facility is expected to open in January 2015.

2 Stephen Fletcher, Alpena Power Company Chairman and Co-Chair of the Building a Powerful Future Campaign, shared his comments with attendees. Approximately 135 individuals attended the groundbreaking for the Ferris H. Werth Electrical Power Technology Center. Dr. Olin Joynton, ACC President, welcomes guests and dignitaries to the Ferris H. Werth Electrical Power Technology Center groundbreaking ceremony. Sue Fitzpatrick, ACC Foundation Board of Trustees President, chats with Penny Boldrey, ACC Foundation Executive Director. Dr. Olin Joynton and Penny Boldrey discuss the new project with ACC alumni Jake Lewis and Pat Savoie. A reception was held at the World Center for Concrete Technology following the groundbreaking ceremony.

3 Alumnus Joe Gentry Named 2013 Citizen of the Year The Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce named Joe Gentry the 2013 Citizen of the Year during its annual membership dinner on February 20. With more than 500 people in attendance, Joe was stunned to hear his name announced for this unexpected honor. Genuinely humbled, Joe said when accepting the award, I love this community. This year s Chamber theme is teamwork, so this isn t a 'me' award, this is a 'we' award. Joe is an Alpena native and a 1971 graduate of Alpena Community College. In 1973 he earned a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University, going on to earn a Masters of Arts degree from Lake Superior State University in Since 2001, Joe has served as the Vice President of Human Resources at First Federal of Northern Michigan. He previously worked as the Industrial Relations Manager for Lafarge-Presque Isle Corporation for nine years and the Personnel Manager for Besser Company for 18 years. Joe has a lengthy history of community service and has donated his time and talents to benefit a wide variety of organizations. His commitment to higher education, and ACC in particular, is evidenced by his role as an ACC Board of Alpena's 2013 Citizen of the Year, Trustees member since 2004, an adjunct instructor since 1999, coach of the ACC Joe Gentry, with his wife, Dawn. cross-country team, assisting with curriculum development, serving on advisory boards, and participating on the Alumni Gifts Committee for the Pathways to the Future Campaign. Joe is a running enthusiast and has completed over 30 marathons and more than 100 shorter races. Nicknamed the Godfather of Running, Joe is a founding member and leader of The Dork Brothers, a racing team which has promoted running and fitness through local races and racing events for almost 30 years. Because of his passion for running, Joe is often sought out by other organizations for his expertise in organizing races such as Zonta's Walk for Women 5K Run, the Dr. Peter Aliferis Memorial Run, Lisa s Run, Team Triple Threat Running for a Cause, and the Spud Run. Joe's heart for service extends to his church family at Grace Lutheran Church where he has been a lifelong member and has held leadership positions on the church council and various committees. Additional community involvement includes Alpena Regional Medical Center Development Council s Business Relations Committee, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan-Alpena, Sunrise Mission, Shelter, Inc., St. Bernard s Friendship Room and the Northeast Michigan Coalition for the Prevention of Homelessness and Hunger. The Anna and Jesse Besser Legacy Society The Anna and Jesse Besser Legacy Society is a group of generous individuals who have made a bequest in their estate plan to Alpena Community College or to the ACC Foundation. These special gifts help ACC establish scholarships for deserving students or provide support to programs and departments that otherwise would not be funded through the College's general budget. Each year thousands of individuals exercise their privilege to determine the final distribution of their estates and designate a portion of their assets to benefit and support a variety of charitable organizations such as the ACC Foundation or Alpena Community College. Making a bequest to ACC through a will or trust is one of the simplest ways for individuals to make a significant contribution that might not otherwise be possible during their lifetime. For making an unrestricted bequest, here's a recommended statement: I bequeath the sum of $ or % of my adjusted gross estate as finally determined for federal estate tax purposes, whichever is the lesser, to the Alpena Community College Foundation, 665 Johnson Street, Alpena, Michigan 49707, for its general purposes. To direct your gift to a specific program, department, or other area of interest, the wording should be to the Alpena Community College Foundation, 665 Johnson Street, Alpena, Michigan 49707, for the benefit of... If you would like information about the benefits of naming ACC or its Foundation in your will or trust, please contact the Development Office at (989)

4 Mathew Grant (2nd from left) received the Deputy Ryan Seguin Memorial Scholarship. Pictured with him is (L-R) Lori Seguin, Barb Szczesniak and Phil Seguin. ACC Foundation Hosts Annual Scholarship Luncheon To show appreciation to donors for their generous support of student scholarships, the ACC Foundation held its 18th annual scholarship luncheon on March 27 at the APlex in Alpena. A total of 185 people attended, including scholarship recipients, donors, ACC staff, and Foundation and College Board of Trustees members. ACC President Olin Joynton welcomed guests and thanked the donors for their generous support. ACC Foundation Vice President Nancy Coombs shared that during the academic year, the ACC Foundation awarded a total of 296 scholarships totalling $144,000. Scholarship gifts make a difference, and they can help a student start, stay, and succeed at ACC. The event also provided ACC s benefactors with an opportunity to see how they are making a difference in the students lives. Connecting our student scholarship recipients with their benefactors is a very special experience and one that many look forward to each year, said ACC Foundation Executive Director Penny Boldrey. The program featured student speakers Joanna Cooper and Paige Lewandowski, who shared their gratitude and appreciation to those who provided scholarships to ACC s students. ACC sophomore Paige Lewandowski, the 2013 Miss Sunrise Side, said, I believe I can speak for all of the students when I say we are very fortunate to have the generous support from the individuals, businesses and organizations gathered here today to help us pursue our educational goals. Scholarship Memorializes Alumna Susan Grulke The Susan R. Grulke Memorial Scholarship was recently established with the Alpena Community College Foundation by her family and friends. Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1953 to Francis and Jean Reynolds, Susan and her family moved to Alpena in She was a 1971 graduate of Alpena High School, a 1973 graduate of ACC, and a 1975 graduate of Central Michigan University, where she majored in journalism. While at ACC, Susan was actively engaged in the classroom and immersed in campus activities. She was the editor of the student newspaper, The Polemic, Vice- President of Golden Z, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and performed in numerous ACC musicals and theatrical programs. Susan was recognized for her outstanding academic efforts and student leadership during the May 23, 1973 commencement ceremony, where she became the first recipient of the prestigious Anna Besser Award. In 1975, Susan married alumnus Michael Grulke and moved to Rogers City, where they raised their children, Megan and Scott. Susan worked as a news writer and photographer for The Alpena News for 17 years and a news writer, columnist and copy editor for The Presque Isle County Advance for 10 years. Susan enjoyed her journalism career and earned several awards through the Michigan Press Association. Susan Grulke Susan was active in her community and served on a wide variety of boards and organizations, including the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Hurons Athletic Boosters Association, Alpena General Hospital Development Council s Community Relations Committee, and the ACC Foundation s Alumni Gifts Committee for the Pathways to the Future Campaign. In 1999, Susan was diagnosed with the rare lung disease, Idiopathic Pulmonary Hypertension, and underwent a double lung transplant in Susan passed away on April 10, 2012, and this scholarship memorializes her desire to assist individuals pursuing an education at ACC. To make a donation to the Susan R. Grulke Memorial Scholarship Fund, please contact ACC Foundation Executive Director Penny Boldrey at (989) or boldreyp@alpenacc.edu.

5 ACC Nursing Alumna Named Director of Nursing Following an extensive statewide search, ACC alumna Melissa R. Fournier has been selected as ACC s Director of Nursing. Melissa succeeds Dr. Mary Linton who served as the nursing director/nurse educator for the past six years. While Melissa has been employed at ACC for 16 years, her academic career actually started in the fall of 1993 when she took a calculus class as a dual enrolled Alpena High School senior. Melissa enrolled in ACC in the fall of 1994 and began taking classes toward a degree in chemistry. She was invited to become a tutor, and that ignited the spark which allowed her to see her potential as an educator. In 1996, Melissa was admitted into the Licensed Practical Nursing Program and realized then that she could make an impact on the world in nursing. In addition to her rigorous studies, Melissa continued to tutor, served as class secretary, was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and was actively involved in the Civil Air Patrol. Melissa Fournier named new ACC Director of Nursing. Melissa graduated from the Registered Nursing Program in 1998 and was invited by ACC nursing faculty and the program director to work at ACC as an adjunct instructor. Melissa said, It was a dream come true for me, and my loyalty has remained with ACC ever since. While working as an adjunct instructor, Melissa gained real world nursing experience in a physician's office, an extended care facility, and in the cardiac unit of a hospital. Melissa continued to keep her skills and knowledge current and earned a Bachelor of Nursing degree from Lake Superior State University in She also received a Master of Science in Nursing, Community Health Nursing from Wayne State University in In 2003, Melissa realized another dream when she became a full-time instructor in the ACC Nursing Program. She received the Russell H. and Fromilda Y. Wilson Endowed Teaching Chair Award, along with a $5,000 stipend which enabled her to obtain further education in the art of injury simulation. Busy Student Appreciates Scholarship Support Scholarship hi support from generous ACC donors and her job at the ACC Bookstore have provided Mary Myers the opportunity to pursue a degree in Utility Technology. Alpena Community College Lady Lumberjacks volleyball and basketball player Mary Myers thrives on her rigorous schedule. Her life as a student-athlete consists of attending class, working in the ACC Bookstore, volleyball and basketball practice, games, and many late nights studying. This can be an overwhelming experience for most students. However, Mary has a tremendous work ethic and excellent time management skills that have helped her succeed both on and off the court. She finds time to volunteer and has helped to organize a campus-wide blood drive. She has also participated in ACC s Hoops for Hope event, which raised funds for the Alpena Regional Medical Center s Mammography Subsidy Fund. ACC English Instructor Shawn Sexton said, Mary is an excellent example of a student-athlete. She does not use athletics as an excuse for poor or late work. She finds the time to excel at both. Mary is a 2013 graduate of Boyne City High School where she graduated third in her class with a grade point average of She decided to attend ACC to pursue a degree in nursing, but has recently changed programs and now plans to earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in Utility Technology. Like most college students, Mary must rely on student loans, grants and scholarships to pay her tuition. Her family does not qualify for financial aid even though her father has been unemployed and exhausted his unemployment benefits. Mary s job in the Bookstore, along with scholarships awarded through the ACC Foundation, have helped her pay for her education. Mary said, I am very grateful, appreciative, and honored to be a scholarship recipient. I will continue to strive to do my best as a student and athlete at Alpena Community College.

6 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage P A I D Permit No. 87 Alpena MI Johnson Street Alpena, MI RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Help keep our mailing list current. Please let us know if this individual no longer lives at this address by calling toll free Ext or ing boldreyp@alpenacc.edu. Alpena Community College alumni have played a significant role in supporting the College and its students through the ACC Foundation, the official fundraising arm of the College. This non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization is governed by a 17-member Board of Trustees comprised of business and community leaders. Approximately $800,000 has been donated to the ACC Foundation by alumni over the past 20 years. This money has been used to fund capital expansion projects and provide much-needed scholarships and support to departments, programs and endowment funds. In addition, some alumni direct their donation to the area where the need is the greatest and provide unrestricted support. More and more alumni are choosing to support ACC. All gifts, no matter the amount, contribute to the College s continued success in providing higher education opportunities to the residents of Northeast Lower Michigan. There are a number of ways in which you can make a donation, and the ACC Foundation encourages alumni to make gifts in the manner that is most convenient and beneficial for them. You can contribute using the enclosed gift envelope, or you can donate online using your credit or debit card (Visa, Master Card, Discover and American Express) through the College s secure website. To make an online contribution, go to and click on the Donate Online Today icon. Golf Event Tees Off on August 23 at River s Edge Golf Club Mark your calendars for the 2014 Robert M. Granum Memorial Scramble for Scholarships to be held at the River s Edge Golf Club on August 23. This four-person scramble costs $90 per person. Proceeds provide scholarship support to ACC students. For more information, call (989) or visit the ACC website at