Two words describe it well: “National Champions!”
On March 24, Ferris fans and alumni across the nation joined a national television audience of over three million people who watched our very own men’s basketball team, led by head coach Andy Bronkema, defeat Northern State University 71-69 to capture the first NCAA Division II national championship in Ferris’ history. Thank you to all the alumni and fans who made their way to the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, or who supported our team from afar, witnessing history in the making.
Not only was this monumental victory a first for Ferris, but it was the first national championship by a Division II men’s basketball team in Michigan. Over 300 colleges and universities compete in Division II basketball, with 64 teams represented in this year’s NCAA post-season tournament—and only one earned the National Championship, our own Ferris State University Bulldogs. They finished the season with a record of 38-1, the best record in the history of Division II basketball. In this issue, you can read all about the excitement and accolades our team received. It is indeed a proud time to be a Bulldog!
As we celebrate the present, we are also very proud of the legacies of our past. Our founders, Woodbridge and Helen Ferris, welcomed both men and women of all ages to Ferris Institute. They also welcomed African-American and international students as early as 1900. We knew diversity and inclusion were paramount to Mr. and Mrs. Ferris, but recent research by David Pilgrim and Franklin Hughes, of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, has uncovered something quite remarkable. I invite you to read more about their research and findings.
Today we are living out the vision of our founders, to “make the world a better place.” From the Ferris Youth Initiative to the new collection of artwork donated to the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, we are confident our founders would be proud of how we are providing opportunities for our students that will change the course of their lives forever. It is my hope the work we do inspires you to become involved, both Now & Always, with Ferris State University. Together, we can and will do great things.
We look forward to seeing you. Please keep in touch, as we enjoy hearing from you and take pride in your successes.
Sincerely,
David L. Eisler
President