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We are thankful for those who have made an estate gift to The Ferris Foundation. Here are their stories.

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Dewaine V. and Jana B. Robinson’s Ferris State University Legacy

Dewaine and Jana Robinson’s legacy has already changed the lives of 170 students and because it’s an endowment, this is just the beginning.

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A Hockey Family Helps Students Shoot for Their Goals

The MacIver Family Ice Arena Endowed Fund was established through a planned gift from Mary Kay and Mark MacIver. The MacIver family has a long history with Ferris.

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A Memorable Ferris Experience Prompts Devoted Alumnus to Pay It Forward

Luke Wyckoff credits his success and happiness to his rich time at Ferris. He is now ensuring that students have access to the same gifts he did, through scholarship endowments.

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Investing in Ferris Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Bob Creswell has been an advocate for Ferris State University for more than 50 years, from generously providing a partnership with his manufacturing company to giving his financial support.

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Retired Deans Support the Leaders of Tomorrow

Retired Ferris deans Nancy Peterson-Klein and Matt Klein are leaving a legacy at their favorite university in the form of an endowed scholarship that also pays tribute to Nancy’s parents.

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Every Reason to Give

John Fenn is neither a Ferris alumnus nor a typical Ferris donor. His reasons for giving are many, and all are powerful.

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Ensuring Student Athletes Are Well Equipped

Because of their longtime enthusiasm and support of Ferris State University hockey, Bob and Carla Miller established an endowment fund to help further support the team and pay tribute to Carla’s father.

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Helping the Next Generation of Fix-It Folks

Even as a young boy, Phillip J. Lapekas (T ’63) was always drawn to anything mechanical. Whether it was taking things apart or putting them back together, learning how they worked always drew his attention immediately.

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Setting an Example of Financial Responsibility

For Nicole and Carl Pearson, graduates of the College of Pharmacy, financial responsibility and estate planning have driven their passion for giving at a relatively young age.

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Opportunity and Education: The Essentials

Alumnus Dale DeHaan and his wife, Ellen, believe education enriches lives. That’s why they are determined to help lessen the burden of debt for Ferris students.

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Investing in Student Success

As a first-generation college student who worked four jobs his senior year at Ferris, Dr. Douglas Call has been helping lighten the load for other students for nearly two decades, and will continue to do so through a gift from his estate.

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Building Bright Futures for Ferris Students

See how John and Mary Garvelink, some of the happiest people on Earth, are paying it forward to support Ferris students.

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Alumna's Gift Allows Ferris Students to Thrive

See what inspired Dr. Teresa Cook to create an endowment to benefit accounting students at Ferris State University.

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Alumnus Gives Back for Future Nurses

Earl Friese remembers the day he arrived at Ferris and the impact it had on his life. In addition to creating a scholarship for the School of Nursing that honors two special people in his life who were nurses, he hopes his legacy gift will inspire others to pay it forward in the future.

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Providing Opportunities and Celebrating Friendships

While at Ferris State University, Bob Byrnes and his class formed lifetime friendships. In honor of their 50th anniversary, the Pharmacy Class of 1967 is providing opportunities for future students.

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Changing Lives at Ferris

William P. Maher R.Ph., D.D.S., M.S., graduated from Ferris State University's College of Pharmacy in 1976. He went on to earn a degree in dentistry and practiced in both fields for 19 years. A sitting professional on the Board of Dentistry and a Diplomate on the American Board of Endodontics, he is also certified by the American Board of Dentistry.

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Words to Live By

"Do what you can do." Those are Steven Harvey's wise words. After 30 years of giving, Steven and Tami Harvey did what they could do for Ferris State University: a $150,000 life insurance policy. The generous planned gift is a token of the couple's love for Ferris.

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